Fishless Cycling Advice

[dissimulo]

Hi all,

I came across the following advice in aid of speeding up the process of fishless cycling:
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[list=1][*][size="2"]Run the aquarium at a high temperature, up in the low to mid eighties, Fahrenheit.[/size] Only do this if you have no pets in the aquarium which need lower temperatures. The higher temperature leads to faster cycling.

[*] [font="verdana][size="2"]Keep the tank only about 50-65% full. This creates a waterfall effect as the water leaves the filter, and when the water from the filter hits the surface of the aquarium water, there is a great deal of water turbulence, exposing more water to more air more quickly, and leading to increased oxygenation, and thus, faster cycling.

[/size][/font][*][font="verdana] [/font][font="verdana][size="2"]Keep the aquarium light on 24 hours per day during cycling. Only do this if you have no pets in the aquarium which need less light, or which need darkness. The increased light leads to faster cycling.

[/size][/font][*][font="verdana] [/font][font="verdana][size="2"]Use as many air stones and air pumps as you have access to, which will fit in the aquarium. Keep them all running all the time. This leads to increased oxygenation, which leads to faster cycling. Only do this if you have no pets in the aquarium which need calm, or still water.

[/size][/font][*][font="verdana] [/font][font="verdana][size="2"]Keep the filter running the entire time the aquarium is undergoing the cycling process. This increases water flow, and insures that good bacteria build up in the filter material, both of which lead to faster cycling. [/size][/font][/list][font="verdana][size="2"]
[font="verdana][size="2"]Realising one or two pointers may be unconventional, feedback will be appreciated to determine the reliability of the above advice. Feel free to contribute your own advice in aid of speeding up a fishless cycle. [/size][/font]

[font="verdana][size="2"]Cheers,[/size][/font]

[font="verdana][size="2"]Luke.[/size][/font]

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[OldMan47]

If you have fish in the tank:
1. Run the tank at an appropriate temperature for the fish.
2. Keep the tank at a level where the filter and heater will work properly
3. Only put the light on when it is needed. The particular bacteria we are trying to grow do not do well in full light but since they live in the filter that is seldom a problem. Continuous lighting is a good way to end up with green water.
4. Extreme methods of circulating water can indeed promote optimum oxygenation but a typical filter promotes a high enough oxygen content that there is little more that can be accomplished in that way.

5. Finally some good advice. Definitely keep the filter running continuously, and not just while cycling the tank.

If you are doing a fishless cycle, it can be helped slightly by increasing temperatures into the low 80s but not enough to be worthwhile doing unless it is easy to adjust the heater both up and down.

Have you even read the fishless cycling and fish-in cycling threads we have here on TFF? You can reach them using links in my signature area.

 

[dissimulo]

If you have fish in the tank:
1. Run the tank at an appropriate temperature for the fish.
2. Keep the tank at a level where the filter and heater will work properly
3. Only put the light on when it is needed. The particular bacteria we are trying to grow do not do well in full light but since they live in the filter that is seldom a problem. Continuous lighting is a good way to end up with green water.
4. Extreme methods of circulating water can indeed promote optimum oxygenation but a typical filter promotes a high enough oxygen content that there is little more that can be accomplished in that way.

5. Finally some good advice. Definitely keep the filter running continuously, and not just while cycling the tank.

If you are doing a fishless cycle, it can be helped slightly by increasing temperatures into the low 80s but not enough to be worthwhile doing unless it is easy to adjust the heater both up and down.

Have you even read the fishless cycling and fish-in cycling threads we have here on TFF? You can reach them using links in my signature area.

Yes I have read the threads. I did mention this was advice I had come across and so isn't my own, hence wanting some validation as to how reliable it is. I realise most pointers mentioned aren't awfully conventional, E.g. keeping the tank at 50-60% full - common sense would say not to, for the sake of aquarium equipment. Also, it is aimed at those performing a fish-less cycle as opposed to a fish-in cycle.

Cheers,

Luke.

 

[arobinson1984]

Hi,

1. Ideal temp for fishless cycling is around 29c/84F

2. I dont see how this would make a difference to be honest, you would risk damaging equipment that needs to be fully submerged etc and would need to use a smaller amount of ammonia which corresponds with the amount of water in the tank to reach the desired ppm.

3. Leaving the lights on for 24 hours whilst adding ammonia in my opinion will only lead to one thing, algae, and masses of it.

4. Again dont see how this will help too much to be honest. Bacteria will grow where there is good water movement, them main obvious place being inside your filter, air stones etc will not affect water movement through the filter.

5. Yes always leave filter on 24/7 apart from when cleaning.


Andy