Let's talk about Cycling!
- Thread starter spanko
- Start date
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Justa a FWIW and sorry if this repeats anything in the excellent write up.
The ammonia->nitrIte->nitrate cycle is the aerobic bacteria driven cycle.
With macro algaes, the macro consume ammonia directly such that all you get is at most a initial nitrate spike. Which then drops to unmeasureable levels as the aerobic bacteria builds up, reducing the ammonia and forcing the macro to use nitrates for its nitrogen.
Actually live rock with lotsa algae should do the same thing.
Just a thought.
worth at most .02
The ammonia->nitrIte->nitrate cycle is the aerobic bacteria driven cycle.
With macro algaes, the macro consume ammonia directly such that all you get is at most a initial nitrate spike. Which then drops to unmeasureable levels as the aerobic bacteria builds up, reducing the ammonia and forcing the macro to use nitrates for its nitrogen.
Actually live rock with lotsa algae should do the same thing.
Just a thought.
worth at most .02
silyman52
New Member
silyman52
New Member
1guydude
Well-Known Member
so sry if its been covered...but i was thinking of this last night before bed. Wat happens to the trites? I mean if anmnonia goes to trates than wat happens to the trites? Does it just slowly continuly build up in our systems? Does the skimmer pull out most everything before it can turn to trites? Any info or in sight would be great!
slice
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///t/386044/let-s-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3421057
so sry if its been covered...but i was thinking of this last night before bed. Wat happens to the trites? I mean if anmnonia goes to trates than wat happens to the trites? Does it just slowly continuly build up in our systems? Does the skimmer pull out most everything before it can turn to trites? Any info or in sight would be great!
Re-read Spanko's post where it says:
Well a brief explanation about the Nitrogen Cycle is in order. You see everywhere there is a breakdown of dead protein material, read plants, animals, waste here, there is a compound called ammonia (NH3) generated during the breakdown. There are bacteria that exist in nature that consume this ammonia. The byproduct of this is a compound called Nitrites (N02). Low and behold there is a bacterium that consumes these Nitrites and turns them into Nitrate (N03).
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///t/386044/let-s-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3421057
so sry if its been covered...but i was thinking of this last night before bed. Wat happens to the trites? I mean if anmnonia goes to trates than wat happens to the trites? Does it just slowly continuly build up in our systems? Does the skimmer pull out most everything before it can turn to trites? Any info or in sight would be great!
Re-read Spanko's post where it says:
Well a brief explanation about the Nitrogen Cycle is in order. You see everywhere there is a breakdown of dead protein material, read plants, animals, waste here, there is a compound called ammonia (NH3) generated during the breakdown. There are bacteria that exist in nature that consume this ammonia. The byproduct of this is a compound called Nitrites (N02). Low and behold there is a bacterium that consumes these Nitrites and turns them into Nitrate (N03).
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///t/386044/let-s-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3421057
so sry if its been covered...but i was thinking of this last night before bed. Wat happens to the trites? I mean if anmnonia goes to trates than wat happens to the trites? Does it just slowly continuly build up in our systems? Does the skimmer pull out most everything before it can turn to trites? Any info or in sight would be great!
In my systems both with macro algaes and not, I do get an nitrIte spike a day or so after adding a fish, starting feeding and so on.
what I have found out is that my limiting the bioload mainly by not adding food, the nitrIte spike only lasts a day or two. And without the plant life I do mean a large spike that pegs the api test kit at 5ppm. In my very first marine tank decades ago I kept adding food and the nitrItes lasted of over a month. When I stopped adding food they dropped to (and stayed at) unmeasurable levels.
Plus I have heard that nitrItes at marine pH levels is not all that dangerous to fish.
my .02
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///t/386044/let-s-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3421057
so sry if its been covered...but i was thinking of this last night before bed. Wat happens to the trites? I mean if anmnonia goes to trates than wat happens to the trites? Does it just slowly continuly build up in our systems? Does the skimmer pull out most everything before it can turn to trites? Any info or in sight would be great!
In my systems both with macro algaes and not, I do get an nitrIte spike a day or so after adding a fish, starting feeding and so on.
what I have found out is that my limiting the bioload mainly by not adding food, the nitrIte spike only lasts a day or two. And without the plant life I do mean a large spike that pegs the api test kit at 5ppm. In my very first marine tank decades ago I kept adding food and the nitrItes lasted of over a month. When I stopped adding food they dropped to (and stayed at) unmeasurable levels.
Plus I have heard that nitrItes at marine pH levels is not all that dangerous to fish.
my .02
bugsman
Member
I am in the process of cycling a QT. I've been testing every few days. The QT is now in the third week and here are the parameters:
Salinity - 1.024
PH - 7.8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 2.0
Nitrates - Between 10 - 20
Temp 79
All with API test kits.
If I understand correctly, the Nitrites should start going down and then the nitrates and then the tank would be ready to use for quarantine. The QT has no lights so I believe that's why the PH is low. There is nothing in the tank but saltwater and PVC pipe, temp gauge and I have a heater and AquaClear 30 running in a 10g tank. (I started the cycle with a raw shrimp.)
Does this all sound like the correct process??
Salinity - 1.024
PH - 7.8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 2.0
Nitrates - Between 10 - 20
Temp 79
All with API test kits.
If I understand correctly, the Nitrites should start going down and then the nitrates and then the tank would be ready to use for quarantine. The QT has no lights so I believe that's why the PH is low. There is nothing in the tank but saltwater and PVC pipe, temp gauge and I have a heater and AquaClear 30 running in a 10g tank. (I started the cycle with a raw shrimp.)
Does this all sound like the correct process??
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by bugsman http:///t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3430811
I am in the process of cycling a QT. I've been testing every few days. The QT is now in the third week and here are the parameters:
Salinity - 1.024
PH - 7.8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 2.0
Nitrates - Between 10 - 20
Temp 79
All with API test kits.
If I understand correctly, the Nitrites should start going down and then the nitrates and then the tank would be ready to use for quarantine. The QT has no lights so I believe that's why the PH is low. There is nothing in the tank but saltwater and PVC pipe, temp gauge and I have a heater and AquaClear 30 running in a 10g tank. (I started the cycle with a raw shrimp.)
Does this all sound like the correct process??
basically yes.
But with a QT you have the additional problem in that it may be fishless for some time then have fish "dumped in". Under those conditions some macro algaes or other algaes would help prevent the dangerous ammonia spike should the aerobic bacteria not be able to keep up.
Or some keep some bioload (like a few male mollys for instance) to keep the bacteria level up between QT functions.
my .02
Originally Posted by bugsman http:///t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3430811
I am in the process of cycling a QT. I've been testing every few days. The QT is now in the third week and here are the parameters:
Salinity - 1.024
PH - 7.8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 2.0
Nitrates - Between 10 - 20
Temp 79
All with API test kits.
If I understand correctly, the Nitrites should start going down and then the nitrates and then the tank would be ready to use for quarantine. The QT has no lights so I believe that's why the PH is low. There is nothing in the tank but saltwater and PVC pipe, temp gauge and I have a heater and AquaClear 30 running in a 10g tank. (I started the cycle with a raw shrimp.)
Does this all sound like the correct process??
basically yes.
But with a QT you have the additional problem in that it may be fishless for some time then have fish "dumped in". Under those conditions some macro algaes or other algaes would help prevent the dangerous ammonia spike should the aerobic bacteria not be able to keep up.
Or some keep some bioload (like a few male mollys for instance) to keep the bacteria level up between QT functions.
my .02
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by bugsman http:///t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3431172
So it would be to my benefit to maybe put some macro algae in there and some molly's once the cycle completes??
IMHO yes.
Also no need to wait. I would start any tank with macros right from the very first setup.
again just my .02
Originally Posted by bugsman http:///t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3431172
So it would be to my benefit to maybe put some macro algae in there and some molly's once the cycle completes??
IMHO yes.
Also no need to wait. I would start any tank with macros right from the very first setup.
again just my .02
slice
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by bugsman http:///t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3431236
I was just looking up Mollies - aren't they a freshwater fish or am I reading it wrong??
Type "acclimating mollies to sw" in the search field at the top of any forum page.
Originally Posted by bugsman http:///t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3431236
I was just looking up Mollies - aren't they a freshwater fish or am I reading it wrong??
Type "acclimating mollies to sw" in the search field at the top of any forum page.
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by bugsman http:///t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3431236
I was just looking up Mollies - aren't they a freshwater fish or am I reading it wrong??
Yes and marine as well. Like a few other fish mollys can live in either Fw or full marine. In fact they have fewer problems with a white cottony infection in full marine water.
Plus is a newbie can aclimate a FW molly to a marine system, they will have no problem with marine only fish.
Besides they are cheap. Which means not prized for marine systems.
Still just my .02
Originally Posted by bugsman http:///t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3431236
I was just looking up Mollies - aren't they a freshwater fish or am I reading it wrong??
Yes and marine as well. Like a few other fish mollys can live in either Fw or full marine. In fact they have fewer problems with a white cottony infection in full marine water.
Plus is a newbie can aclimate a FW molly to a marine system, they will have no problem with marine only fish.
Besides they are cheap. Which means not prized for marine systems.
Still just my .02
bugsman
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by beaslbob http:///t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3431267
Yes and marine as well. Like a few other fish mollys can live in either Fw or full marine. In fact they have fewer problems with a white cottony infection in full marine water.
Plus is a newbie can aclimate a FW molly to a marine system, they will have no problem with marine only fish.
Besides they are cheap. Which means not prized for marine systems.
Still just my .02
I just did a search like Slice suggested and was really surprised. I think I'll have to get some of those and give it a shot. I would rather have something in the quarantine tank than not since it's running anyway. Thanks so much for your .02 - it's appreciated.
Originally Posted by beaslbob http:///t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3431267
Yes and marine as well. Like a few other fish mollys can live in either Fw or full marine. In fact they have fewer problems with a white cottony infection in full marine water.
Plus is a newbie can aclimate a FW molly to a marine system, they will have no problem with marine only fish.
Besides they are cheap. Which means not prized for marine systems.
Still just my .02
I just did a search like Slice suggested and was really surprised. I think I'll have to get some of those and give it a shot. I would rather have something in the quarantine tank than not since it's running anyway. Thanks so much for your .02 - it's appreciated.
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by bugsman http:///t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3431337
I just did a search like Slice suggested and was really surprised. I think I'll have to get some of those and give it a shot. I would rather have something in the quarantine tank than not since it's running anyway. Thanks so much for your .02 - it's appreciated.
Be careful now.
A nice Qt with thriving caulerpa prolifera and mollies may cause visitors to look at the Qt more then the display.
LOL
I have also heard that prolifera helps the fishs' immune system also.
my .02
Originally Posted by bugsman http:///t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3431337
I just did a search like Slice suggested and was really surprised. I think I'll have to get some of those and give it a shot. I would rather have something in the quarantine tank than not since it's running anyway. Thanks so much for your .02 - it's appreciated.
Be careful now.
A nice Qt with thriving caulerpa prolifera and mollies may cause visitors to look at the Qt more then the display.
LOL
I have also heard that prolifera helps the fishs' immune system also.
my .02
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by bugsman http:///t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3431838
I've been researching caulerpa profilera and my reading is saying that is uses a sand bed. My QT has no sand in it - will it still grow?
It will still grow but does like to anchor itself to sand or rocks.
I would put 1/2" or so of common play sand in there. Keep it simple and cheap.
Or even some lava rocks from landscaping places.
Originally Posted by bugsman http:///t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling/40#post_3431838
I've been researching caulerpa profilera and my reading is saying that is uses a sand bed. My QT has no sand in it - will it still grow?
It will still grow but does like to anchor itself to sand or rocks.
I would put 1/2" or so of common play sand in there. Keep it simple and cheap.
Or even some lava rocks from landscaping places.