Add Daily Method

[locust267]

Hi, I've just put enough ammonia into my tank to bring it up to 5ppm.

Last time I cycled my tank I used the add and wait method which took around 8 weeks (I dont mind the wait).

However, this time I am hoping to keep Malawi Cichlids and I've read that due to overstocking it may be a good idea to use the "add daily" method, so that the filter contains more bacteria.

I've read the pinned article and it does state that high ammonia may slow the process, does anyone have any experience with this?

This method seems to be the least used on the forum, so if anyone has any advice for me can you please let me know

Depending on what is said here, I may change my mind to add and wait...

Vicki

 

[ctsv510]

I haven't done the add daily method, but it was recently discussed in a thread here. The supposed benefit to doing it is the creation of a larger bacteria colony to support heavy stocking. The downside is that it takes longer and you have the potential to grow the wrong type of bacteria with very high levels of ammonia. I don't know the details on the later, but it doesn't sound good.

My opinion is that you can do a regular add and wait fishless cycle to establish your bacteria, and then enlarge the colony of bacteria through either doing your over-stocking slowly, or extend your fishless cycling past where you are converting 5 ppm of ammonia into nitrate in 12 hours. You should be able to over-feed with ammonia until you can process 6 or 7 ppm to nitrate in 12 hours. As far as I know no one has done this as a test, but I don't know why it wouldn't work.

 

[locust267]

Thanks for the reply, i'll try to find that thread later and also have a look for evidence online.

Don't like the sound of wrong bacteria, lol.

 

[ctsv510]

Here is the thread I was referring to: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/374034-addwait-v-add-daily-fishless-cycle/

Again, no real solid reasons with supporting evidence of how or why the add daily method would be better.

 

[locust267]

Here is the thread I was referring to: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/374034-addwait-v-add-daily-fishless-cycle/

Again, no real solid reasons with supporting evidence of how or why the add daily method would be better.

Hmm, thanks for the link, very interesting and I think I'll opt for the add and wait, and like you said can always continue with ammonia for a longer than normal, mixing the two a bit to see end results.

Just one more questions though... What is this bad bacteria and what evidence has been found of it in the aquarium world??

Cheers

 

[ctsv510]

edit....more research....

It looks like there is a type of bacteria that grows in high ammonia environments and needs a lot of ammonia to survive. More ammonia, that is, than will be created by fish in an aquarium. I suppose the harm in creating that bacteria during your cycyle is that this bacteria would not survive once the fish were introduced, and you would end up going through a cycle again to produce the bacteria that thrive in the lower ammonia concentration environments such as our aquariums. Makes sense I guess.