does cycled water go away?

[fishdude]

once u do a water change does cycled water go away. Also if a tank is not cycled is it harmful to the fish?

 

[Pufferpack]

Once the water is cycled I think the bacteria will keep it that way. I think the only way you would lose the "cycle" is if you changed out too much water thus reducing the amount of beneficial bacteria in the tank to a point where it is no longer able to do it's job. ...not much of an answer but I'm sure others will be able to give you a better explanation.

 

[LesGerber]

Look at a cycled tank as your citys waste water treatment center, the waste water comes in and they add chemicals to the water to break it down. The Nitrites in therory are the same as the chemicals they add. After they get it broke down then they add different ones to make them safer...Thats what the Nitrates do make the water safer. After the get the water safe to return to nature, then they return it to the eco system. This is where you come in and do your regular water changes......you in essence are comming along and changing the water in small doses to allow more waste to be broken down


Les

 

[superman]

cycling a tank has more to do with the bacteria that grows in the tank itself (on the gravel, in your filter, on any other rocks or wood you have in your tank) cycling a tank has less to do with the water itself, since the beneficial bacteria grow on stationary objects.

 

[dolphin]

Hi Fishdude.

The full answer is, even though it is called cycling the tank, the process of cycling is the multiplication of bacteria in your chosen filter, too a level that there are enough of them to breakdown the ammonia that the fish produce into less harmful nitrite and then to the least harmful nitrate.
The reason for water changes is to dilute the nitrate to keep it within a safe level for the fish to live in.
Chemicals that the water companies add to the drinking water to kill harmful bacteria, will kill your filter bacteria if you add too much fresh water, or do not allow it to mature before you add it to the tank, or do not treat it with a commercial treatment for new water. These same chemicals that the water companies add will damage your fishes gill.

Small water changes on a regular basis, with prepared water will keep your fish healthy.

If a filter is not cycled then it is dangerous if the tank is overstocked (overstocking could be the tanks final allowed stocking level), as the ammonia will build up to a toxic level and kill the fish (new tank syndrome).



Hope this helps.

Dolphin