I plan on cycling with a piece of shrimp, but I am not ready to add salt to my setup yet as I don't like my current return pump and am going to swap it out. If anything goes wrong, and I have to drain, I don't want to be out any salt. Can I start the cycle as fresh water, add salt and have the nitrifying bacteria be unaffected with the salinity change?
Cycling question
- Thread starter capschamp
- Start date
marzvt
Member
The tank can only cycle with saltwater. Like the fish, the good bacteria you are trying to populate can’t live in fresh water and won’t populate.
Get used to going through salt. Water changes are your friend. Also you should have a check valve on the return so water doesn’t back flow through the pump line. If your return pump fails you want to be able to replace it.
Get used to going through salt. Water changes are your friend. Also you should have a check valve on the return so water doesn’t back flow through the pump line. If your return pump fails you want to be able to replace it.
mcgyvr
New member
A tank will cycle and some bacterial can live in both salt and fresh waters so you can fill the tank if you really want but its likely better to just wait..
Its entirely possible that after adding the salt much of the bacteria may die off thus causing the tank to start cycling again so there isnt much if any benefit it filling it now..
Its entirely possible that after adding the salt much of the bacteria may die off thus causing the tank to start cycling again so there isnt much if any benefit it filling it now..
OldReefGuy
Well-known member
^+1
Currently have a 55 gallon storage tote doing this exact thing. Let's me cycle the rock while I continue to make decisions and purchase equipment for the rest of the build.
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