fake feeding tanks

[jcarroll]

I've heard it's good to fake feed when you feel your cycle is complete. Wouldn't this spike nitrate levels? I'm almost to this point, but am afraid of nitrates

 

[ophiura]

Uhhhh, Flake food???
Fake food would not spike your levels at all

ANY food may spike nitrate levels...though I do not expect a "spike" just that it is a closed system and in most cases that nitrate just accumulates unless you have other things in place (eg refugium, DSB). But if you are excessively concerned about nitrate levels, it can ruin the fun in the hobby. Get set up in a regular water change schedule, don't overstock, don't overfeed....that is the important thing. But keeping nitrates at 0, for example, can take the joy out of it, IMO.

 

[bigarn]

By "fake feed" I think he/she means feeding the tank to challenge the cycle. :thinking:

 

[ryanhayes9]

yeah, ur suppost to feed it to start the cycle i think

 

[ophiura]

Ah yeah, as a challenge to be sure the cycle is complete. Yeah, feed the tank at least a week with food (coould be any, really) as if you had fish in it. If you see no change in ammonia or nitrite, the tank is cycled.
As for the nitrates, I still say that you will miss the joy of the hobby if you live by the numbers. Nitrate, IMO, is nothing to be scared of. It is something to track to see how your tank is doing...are you over feeding, over stocked, not doing water changes...a road sign for you. Not something that will kill the tank tomorrow.
I've worked with systems that have nitrate levels over 200ppm with no issues

 

[jcarroll]

Thank you, I'll fake feed for a week just to be safe then before adding my cleaning crew