Cycling A Tank Faster..

[-=Efrain=-]

I am just doing some research on the subject and ran across this information on fresh water and was wondering if it can be applied to salt water.. I have nothing but time as my fish and coral are doing well in their temporary home and just wanted to get your thoughts on each step and if you agree or disagree and why?

1. Run the aquarium at a high temperature, up in the low to mid eighties, Fahrenheit. Only do this if you have no pets in the aquarium which need lower temperatures. The higher temperature leads to faster cycling.

2. Keep the tank only about 50-65% full. This creates a waterfall effect as the water leaves the filter, and when the water from the filter hits the surface of the aquarium water, there is a great deal of water turbulence, exposing more water to more air more quickly, and leading to increased oxygenation, and thus, faster cycling.

3. Keep the aquarium light on 24 hours per day during cycling. Only do this if you have no pets in the aquarium which need less light, or which need darkness. The increased light leads to faster cycling.

4. Use as many air stones and air pumps as you have access to, which will fit in the aquarium. Keep them all running all the time. This leads to increased oxygenation, which leads to faster cycling. Only do this if you have no pets in the aquarium which need calm, or still water.

5. Keep the filter running the entire time the aquarium is undergoing the cycling process. This increases water flow, and insures that good bacteria build up in the filter material, both of which lead to faster cycling.

 

[renisel]

The only one of those that I would be inclined to fully agree with is the first one. I would expect that cranking up the temperature would help the bacteria to multiply more quickly. Many of the others seem to be aimed at providing adequate oxygen for the bacteria. If your tank has sufficient flow for a reef tank, this should be all you need to get enough oxygen to your growing bacteria populations. I don't see why light would help. If anything, it will cause algae to grow, feeding on nutrient sources that might otherwise feed the bacterial growth you're looking for when cycling the tank. Of course, this is all just conjecture; I haven't run any controlled experiments to test any of it.

 

[saltyguy51]

I'm sure you are going to get alot of feed back when peoples get up and around, but I posted a while back about speeding up the cycle process by adding pure amonia because I read an article somewhere that by doing this it would only take a few weeks. One of the mods on here said that they used to do that but it really didnt speed it up that much but you could add a decent amount of fish right away at the end of the cycle. Probably the best way is to wait it out or do the live sand/rock thing if you want to spend the money.

 

[1boatnut]

I'm sure you are going to get alot of feed back when peoples get up and around, but I posted a while back about speeding up the cycle process by adding pure amonia because I read an article somewhere that by doing this it would only take a few weeks. One of the mods on here said that they used to do that but it really didnt speed it up that much but you could add a decent amount of fish right away at the end of the cycle. Probably the best way is to wait it out or do the live sand/rock thing if you want to spend the money.

My last tank I did just that,along with seeding the tank.
Cycled in 6 days

 

[Pufferpunk]

You can instantly cycle a tank with a good supply (meaning it was kept refrigerated from manufacturing to tank) of Bio-Spira.

 

[saltyguy51]

You can instantly cycle a tank with a good supply (meaning it was kept refrigerated from manufacturing to tank) of Bio-Spira.

That stuff really works? I thought people said it didnt do the trick, but for the price it should do what it says it will!

 

[saltyguy51]

My last tank I did just that,along with seeding the tank.
Cycled in 6 days

I just cant see how a tank can go through all the steps to be cycled in 6 days?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Seeding the tank & feeding with ammonia should cycle a tank within 7-10 days: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/

Interesting articles on Microbes:
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/library/water-filtration/aquariummicrobespart1/
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/library/water-filtration/aquariummicrobespart2/

 

[dohc97]

Biospira always worked in my freshwater tanks, never used the saltwater version but as Jeni stated having a good batch is essential.

 

[saltyguy51]

Seeding the tank & feeding with ammonia should cycle a tank within 7-10 days: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/

Interesting articles on Microbes:
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/library/water-filtration/aquariummicrobespart1/
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/library/water-filtration/aquariummicrobespart2/

So this would be the same in SW as FW?

 

[1boatnut]

You can instantly cycle a tank with a good supply (meaning it was kept refrigerated from manufacturing to tank) of Bio-Spira.

Expensive,but true.
I did exactly that in a 125 and added fish the same day.
Not a single loss

 

[Pufferpunk]

So this would be the same in SW as FW?

Different microbes but yes.

 

[adamjr]

So where does one find a GOOD supply of Bio-Spira for saltwater?

 

[Pufferpunk]

I believe DFS to be trustworthy. The problem is usually at the supply house. I have a wholesaler friend who was visiting one & he saw huge amounts of boxes in the warehouse that was about 90 degrees & the supplier said they had been there for over a month. I remember being at a LFS & saw a packet on their counter. I mentioned it should be kept refrigerated & they argued that I was wrong. I told them to look at the directions. They went & put this warm packet that had been on their counter for weeks, in the fridge for sale.

 

[HighlandReef]

i tried the powder stuff when i cycled my 210, it took 6 weeks to cycle and threw a second small ammonia spike like 2 weeks after that, so almost 8 total
the stuff i tried did not help me any but was a powder form and was not refigerated.

 

[Pufferpunk]

No way can live bacteria live in a powdered form.

 

[HighlandReef]

i wouldnt go so far to say that but agree for our hobby not beneficial
working in a hospital... you'd be suprised what bacteria can live on

 

[Pufferpunk]

Not the same nitrifying bacteria necessary to cycle a tank.

 

[chippster]

I can no longer find the refrigerated Bio-Spira. I've ordered it from DFS and picked it up at Petland in the past. Now both places care the shelved version. I think that that version works as I have used it in setting up qt tanks in a hurry.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Is that Safestart?