How should I go about cycling a new tank?

Question

A few days ago I asked what I'd need to take care of one betta and a few cory cats in a ten gallon tank. Now, I'm wondering about the whole process of cycling said tank. I understand the principle of it (good bacteria), but do I really have to wait until the tank is healthy before I can put any fish in there? Are corys as fragile as people say, and therefore shouldn't be put in until the tank is completely cycled? Could the betta stay in there for the month or so it supposedly takes? What's this I hear about buying special fish specifically for tank cycling and then returning them?

Answer 1

http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/cycle.html

keep up with water changes if the betta is in there...cos the ammonia could kill it...

Answer 2

Many sites have information on cycling, this is one of them:

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquarium...

Also, you can use fish to cycle your tank.  They naturally produce ammonia through waste, the most popular cycling fish being zebra danios and white cloud minnows.

Answer 3

You can cycle a tank with fish in it,it's just takes longer and risks the health of the fish and requires a lot more work on your part.

  Fishless cycling is the fastest method because you can let the ammonia and Nitrite levels rise to numbers that would kill the fish. Since the bacteria eat (or synthesize,or oxidize) the toxins the more of them that are present the faster they can grow colonies. This method takes 5 or 6 weeks and only endangers your patience.

  Break down and buy a good reference book and read it.

And yes, Cory cats are sensitive to bad water conditions.