Doing Things The Hard Way

[abombinus]

Just had a thought. For new people Starting salt water tanks. First off this idea is pure thought. Nothing is being tested. Idea: What if you didnt have to wait for the "Tank to cycle" What if you could control the entire water cycle? Meaning. What if you had a very high powered Filter just for ammonia, and without ammonia we have no Nitrite. Without Nitrite no Nitrate. All these items we want 0 of. So i would just like some imput. im thinking of trying it out. dont get me wrong i dont want to kill anything. an i wont. But i have access to very high water treatment eqiupment. If im missing something please let me know. I do have a nice tank going great doing the normal way. Just trying to bring the hobby to a new lvl.. this is 2001.. salt water should be as easy as Fresh.. PS i know about PH and in this i was planning to use some PH 8.2 powder.

 

[jacrmill]

you would still have to do water changes to replace the trace elements. but i dont think your tank would need to cycle if you could remove the ammonia, before anything go to it. isnt that what a protein skimmer does? try to remove some waste before it becomes nitrates, so i guess youd just be protein skimming on a grand scale.

 

[mr . salty]

By removing the ammo and nitrite you will be keeping the tank from forming the bacteria needed for the tank to function properly.The cycle is needed to grow bacteria to transform excess waste)break it down) into non toxic nitrate. If you were to do this,you would really have nothing more than a glass box with saltwater in it.Everytime you added any life to the tank,it will try to cycle.There are way to setup a new tank without the high spikes in ammo,and nitrite usually associated with the cycle.They are to put lot's of really good(expensive) live rock and live sand right from the start.This rock and sand already has the needed bacteria present,so the cycle will be very short and the spikes may be minimal.

 

[jimi]

How would you remove the ammonia? If it could be done you would have one pure tank that may be good for f/o but keep in mind all algae good and bad need some nitrate.