Rex is right in a sideways way. The nitrogen processors are actually contained within a thin biological film, as opposed to be free in the water or randomly distributed in the tank. N.B. The ATTACK ON OTHER MEMBERS IS UNWARRANTED and IS NOT WELL RESPECTED here on TFF.
Actually it seems that fishguy2727 has expressed the expected outcome of changes to a tank fairly well in an easily understood manner with the exception that a biofilm must be formed to establish a cycled condition since the ammonia and nitrite processors are a part of that film.
Back to the real subject here, depending on the type of filter you are using, changing the gravel may or may not affect your cycle. If you have a UGF,you will lose your cycle completely with a gravel change because the gravel is the biofilter in that kind of arrangement. If you have a HOB, sponge or canister filter, you will not see a gravel change in terms of the cycle.
Please ignore the day count on BigNose's cycling example. The day count was used for mathematical verification of his theoretical bacteria reproduction rate and only addressed the ammonia processing bacteria. In a practical sense, we do not know our starting bacterial populations. Also it often takes twice as long to establish the nitrite processing bacteria as it does to establish the ammonia processors. Throw away your calendar and test your water.
Actually it seems that fishguy2727 has expressed the expected outcome of changes to a tank fairly well in an easily understood manner with the exception that a biofilm must be formed to establish a cycled condition since the ammonia and nitrite processors are a part of that film.
Back to the real subject here, depending on the type of filter you are using, changing the gravel may or may not affect your cycle. If you have a UGF,you will lose your cycle completely with a gravel change because the gravel is the biofilter in that kind of arrangement. If you have a HOB, sponge or canister filter, you will not see a gravel change in terms of the cycle.
Please ignore the day count on BigNose's cycling example. The day count was used for mathematical verification of his theoretical bacteria reproduction rate and only addressed the ammonia processing bacteria. In a practical sense, we do not know our starting bacterial populations. Also it often takes twice as long to establish the nitrite processing bacteria as it does to establish the ammonia processors. Throw away your calendar and test your water.
Don't exactly know where the train came off the tracks, but I think I got enough info to answer my questions, or formulate my own conclusions.
and I don't plan on changing the substrate anyway...just thinking I might be able to use some gravel as well to help start a cycling in a new tank.
