Tank Cycle time

[Kaz]

I've been cycling my newly set up tank for almost 2 weeks & based on the levels of Nitrite currently in the tank which have been decreasing for the last 2 days I was wondering if it is at all possible for a tank to pass through the nitrogen cycle in less that the usual 4-6 weeks that seems to be the norm?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[MartinE]

With good live rock sometimes you will not get ammonia or nitrite at all depends on whats in the tank and how much die off you have.

 

[ChrisV]

Just space out new coral/fish additions, keep up with water changes, fresh carbon, plenty of current, and you should be fine.

Watch closely for spikes as you add things

Good luck
-CV

 

[Anonymous]

My nano build off tank cycled in 3 days! 8O But I didn't feel comfortable enough about it, so I made it cycle 2 more times. Just added some food the second time, and the thrid time was when the tank was moved and my sponges died. On the bright side, I now have a more stable tank :lol: .

 

[Anonymous]

It can certainly happen, but don't rush things! Just because a tank has stabilized doesn't mean it can support a huge bioload. IMO the bacteria that reduces the ammonia can "hold its own" in a tank with good live rock starting out but still needs time to reproduce in quantity before it can support more fish/coral.

Every time you add more bioload until the tank is mature, the bacteria have to catch up, and that takes time.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Law, you couldn't be more right. Time and patience are the keys to this hobby.

I like the new avatar btw, it's so much more becoming of you :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Law, you couldn't be more right. Time and patience are the keys to this hobby.

I like the new avatar btw, it's so much more becoming of you :lol:

Thanks!

 

[WRASSER]

:idea: :idea: Hey LAW couldn't you make the Dog show it's teeth 8O like the clown did 8O 8O 8)
Any how, just put some fish that you like in it and let it set for six or more months so the bio-load builds up. Then start to put things in it SLOWLY. :!: 8) :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

If it were me I would let it go at lease 4 weeks before adding any thing. After that if all test well start adding things slowly. Give the tank time to adjust between adding things and do not add a bunch of stuff at once.

 

[smartin]

I have a question for your response Wazzle, not because I think you are wrong just because I do not understand this and it has always puzzled me.

If he has a tank with nothing but LR and LS that has now fully cycled and there is nothing else in the tank such as fish or corals to produce fresh ammonia wouldn't the existing bacteria die off from lack of food and the whole cycle need to be started again or is there something adding ammonia to the tank that I am not aware of.

Once again I do not doubt your answer this is just something I have always wondered.

 

[ChrisV]

Eventually the bacteria would die off without anything to eat... Really have no idea how long that would take though. If you were to take all the fish out of a fully stocked and cycled tank, leaving it that way for a month or 2 I think you would have a problem adding them all back at once.

Doesnt that sound about right? that ? was for wazzle couldnt help but to throw my $.02 in

 

[Anonymous]

I would think that eventually the bacteria would die back, just like anything that runs out of food.

 

[MartinE]

It seems to me that your tank will "cycle" any time their is more of a addition of ammonia than their is bacteria built up to take care of it. So tanks go through many cycles in their lives, one just needs to go slowly and let the bacteria populations keep up. But you can reach a apex which the tank cannot support any more bio load.

 

[aweeks95]

in a small tank, say my 15g, does taking your time meen you sould wait about 2-3 weeks after you add a new coral before you even think about adding another? that is what i think i am just wondering if anyone else sees it that way. ya know, the whole "tank goes through many cyles" sounds right to me.

 

[MartinE]

I dont see anything wrong with taking your time adding corals to a tank, gives you time to see how they act and the coral time to settle in. Although corals do not pose as big a problem as say fish because fish produce ammonia.

 

[ChrisRD]

If he has a tank with nothing but LR and LS that has now fully cycled and there is nothing else in the tank such as fish or corals to produce fresh ammonia wouldn't the existing bacteria die off from lack of food and the whole cycle need to be started again or is there something adding ammonia to the tank that I am not aware of.

IMO it's not a big concern. There will be die-off and decomposition of organics from live rock/sand that will produce sufficient fuel to sustain bacteria for many months. Keep in mind that some folks allow a tank to sit with nothing more than live rock/sand for months - even upwards of a year before they start stocking fish.