Cycling a 225g

[MrTuskfish]

I know that bioballs aren't that bad. I had a 120 years ago with them and was very successful with softies, mushrooms, and zoas. I never lost any fish until the whole thing crapped out because of a power surge from a storm. I just want to get everything stable to begin with so that I don't need to mess with equipment. They are out for now.

Nitrate don't bother fish anyhow, except possibly at extremely high amounts. Maybe not at all. This surprises many folks; but nitrate is just a problem for coral and other inverts. (Also promotes algae). If bio-balls are kept free of detritus; a tank will not produce any more nitrate than any other method of filtration. Any system will produce a level of nitrate dependent on the ammonia (and then nitrite) produced. The problem with bio-balls is that they harbor only aerobic bacteria and cannot convert the nitrate into harmless nitrogen. When the same ammonia is processed into nitrite, and then nitrate, by LR; the same LR cultures anaerobic bacteria (to convert nitrate to nitrogen gas) right next to the aerobic. The system that relies primarily on LR, not bio-balls, will produce the same level of nitrate; but much/most of the nitrate is converted to nitrogen and never reaches the water column.

 

[MrTuskfish]

^^^^^^meant "nitrate doesn't"...^^^^^ My proof reader has been disciplined.