Biomature

[joecoral]

If cycling a tank with Waterlife Biomature, once the nitrite reading has returned to 0, how quickly do fish need to be introduced to the tank before the filter bacteria begin to die off? Or can you resume adding the drops once NO2 has disappeared to simulate a bioload until fish are added?

 

[Jazzzz]

How long have you been cycling what are your other readings?
Amonia
Nitrate

 

[joecoral]

How long have you been cycling what are your other readings?
Amonia
Nitrate

What does that have to do with it? I'm asking a theoretical question; once ammonia and nitrite have peaked and returned to 0, once nitrite reaches 0 how long a window to add fish is there before the bacteria start to die off?

 

[Bignose]

The growth rate and kill rate of the cycling bacteria are slow compared to most of the rest of the bacterial world. The bacteria will die off at about 10% a day without food. I.e. if there are 10 million when you done, in 1 day without food there will be about 9 million, then 8.1 million after two days, etc. This assumes you are keeping them wet and at normal tropical temperatures. They will also be sow to grow, so if you wait more than 1 day to put fish back in, there is a possibility of a mini-cycle as the bacteria change from "hold on as long as possible until starvation" mode back to "grow" mode.

The completely technical answer to your question is 0 seconds. The die off begins immediately after the bacteria are stopped being given food.

 

[joecoral]

ah thanks, thats what I wanted to know. Cheers Bignose!