Do We Need To Cycle In 12 Hours?

[JDs4me]

I have looked at other (obviously hugely inferior) websites and forums through google...this appears to be the only one that advocates continuing with cycling up until the nitrites clear in 12 hours.

This is quite a significant difference between what we are waiting for here and what they say, which is that as soon as your 2-3ppm ammonia leads to zero ammonia and nitrites you are cycled, with no mention of a 12 hour turnaround!

Someone with the knowledge please enlighten me?

 

[paulyoung666]

is it just to make absoloutely sure that it is ok , just wondering myself .....

 

[CezzaXV]

When I was cycling, I was told that 24 hours is the time you really need, but we go for 12 hours to be on the safe side.

I found the first time I got zero ammonia, my next redose cleared within 24 hours, even though it wasn't the 12 I was waiting for.

If you think of it from the fishes' point of view, you don't want the ammonia to be hanging around at all, it needs to disappear pretty much instantly. Having it clear eventually isn't good enough.

 

[JDs4me]

When I was cycling, I was told that 24 hours is the time you really need, but we go for 12 hours to be on the safe side.

I found the first time I got zero ammonia, my next redose cleared within 24 hours, even though it wasn't the 12 I was waiting for.

If you think of it from the fishes' point of view, you don't want the ammonia to be hanging around at all, it needs to disappear pretty much instantly. Having it clear eventually isn't good enough.

Nothing wrong with working to safe parameters but I don't want to be hanging around if my present 6 hours to clear ammonia and 14 hours to clear nitrite is good enough for my stocking levels, which won't be bordering on maximum for my tank initially...

My first stocking won't be adding ammonia at anywhere near the artificial levels I am working at now, so I feel happy to go ahead! I assume that increasing stock levels gradually will give the bacteria time to respond and populate to meet any extra demand placed upon them, based on the 'more nutrient, more growth' premise?

Thanks for responding CezzaXV

 

[Aqua Tom]

When I was cycling, I was told that 24 hours is the time you really need, but we go for 12 hours to be on the safe side.

I found the first time I got zero ammonia, my next redose cleared within 24 hours, even though it wasn't the 12 I was waiting for.

If you think of it from the fishes' point of view, you don't want the ammonia to be hanging around at all, it needs to disappear pretty much instantly. Having it clear eventually isn't good enough.

Nothing wrong with working to safe parameters but I don't want to be hanging around if my present 6 hours to clear ammonia and 14 hours to clear nitrite is good enough for my stocking levels, which won't be bordering on maximum for my tank initially...

My first stocking won't be adding ammonia at anywhere near the artificial levels I am working at now, so I feel happy to go ahead! I assume that increasing stock levels gradually will give the bacteria time to respond and populate to meet any extra demand placed upon them, based on the 'more nutrient, more growth' premise?

Thanks for responding CezzaXV

Well one of the big advantages about fishless cycling & the 12 hour cycle is this, if your filter can cycle 3-4-5ppm ammonia in 12 hours then no matter what stock we introduce then the filter will be able to handle it.
Hence the recomendation that you add 80>100% stock straight away. If you add a small amount of stock then you have basicly wasted your time & effort as the bacteria will die back.

Up to you.


Tom

 

[JDs4me]

Thanks Tom...I don't consider that I have wasted my time and effort at all...I have cycled to the level I need for the quantity of fish I initially intend to stock with. I can't go for max stock as I can't get the particular species of fish I want yet; even when I do have them I won't be maxing out the recommended stock level for my tank. In the meantime I am happy that the tank is ready for fish that won't be stressed in the short term as I already have the bacteria I want in there!

What would be a waste of time is if I continue to cycle a tank thats ready for me...perhaps others here don't appreciate that if they are not maxing out their tank stock-wise immediately (or ever), then they don't need the 12 hour turnaround, and so don't have to wait months to cycle!

 

[CezzaXV]

I would say you're all right to add fish now, since you're pretty much there. I wouldn't go for an excessive stocking, but your filter should easily be able to handle a medium load at your point in the cycle. In all likelihood, you're likely only a day or two away from clearing both in 12 hours anyway, and both are already well under the 24 hour point.

As I said earlier, myself and most other people end up where once the initial dose has cleared, it goes back to zero pretty quickly, so I don't think any time is wasted really.
I say go for it.

 

[JDs4me]

I would say you're all right to add fish now, since you're pretty much there. I wouldn't go for an excessive stocking, but your filter should easily be able to handle a medium load at your point in the cycle. In all likelihood, you're likely only a day or two away from clearing both in 12 hours anyway, and both are already well under the 24 hour point.

As I said earlier, myself and most other people end up where once the initial dose has cleared, it goes back to zero pretty quickly, so I don't think any time is wasted really.
I say go for it.

excellent, thanks for that confidence boost! Ilyodons in on sunday!!