Pressurized Co2 While Cycling?

[Geoff1991]

Anyone done it?

Or does the pH get too low for the cycle to continue?

 

[Geoff1991]

Bump, i hate bumping but im not sure whether to keep my co2 running or not while im cycling.

 

[degsod]

Bump, i hate bumping but im not sure whether to keep my co2 running or not while im cycling.

Not really a good idea, as the co2 forms carbonic acid which will drop the pH. This is to be avoided during cycling. I had plants in during cycling and they grew ok. You need to keep the pH around 7.8 to 8

 

[Geoff1991]

Ok, i may switch it off and dose easycarbo for the rest of my cycle.

Thanks.

Also, one question. If the bacteria needs a higher pH to process bacteria, why does the ammonia still get processed when its cycled?

Or does it need the high pH to grow...?

 

[degsod]

Ok, i may switch it off and dose easycarbo for the rest of my cycle.

Thanks.

Also, one question. If the bacteria needs a higher pH to process bacteria, why does the ammonia still get processed when its cycled?

Or does it need the high pH to grow...?

Whilst you are cycling you are basically starting from zero bacteria so you need to give it the ideal conditions to be able to multiply, you could have say a pH of 6.5 and a temp of 25C and the bacteria will grow, the problem is that the bacteria will take a long time to grow, probably weeks ormonths longer and will not be as hardy.

If you do your cycle in the ideal conditions of pH and temp then the bacteria will grow and multiply a lot faster and will be hardier at the end of the cycle. so if the pH drops then the bacteria will be more able to cope.

 

[three-fingers]

The whole point of adding CO2 is to boost plant growth.

More plant growth = more demand for nitrogen, preferably in the form of ammonia, which is what usually spikes during cycling.

So turning it off would be pointless, and could be deadly to the plants, as they have to endure high levels of ammonia, which is toxic to them too (to what extent depends on the species).

In planted tanks, the plants use a lot of the ammonia that would otherwise be used by bacteria.

And your right, if the species of bacteria cant cope with a low pH during cycling - how is it going to cope afterwards? It wouldn't...it wouldn't make sense.

So keep the CO2 on. It will make either no difference to the cycle or speed it up (since the plants will be using ammonia just as they would be later on).

And if you leave it off it could potentially damage some plants.

 

[Geoff1991]

So many different opinions, but whose should i listen to?

Ive switched it on and off about 3 times today...

Edit:

Ive read a thread, and it basically says that with a mature colony pH swings dont matter, but it can slow down the development of a new colony, and ive only just set up my c02 and have only had it on since Thursday, and up until now my plants have done fine with easycarbo...

 

[three-fingers]

Two differing opinions . Obviously I recommend you keep it turned on, and have explained why, countering previous advice.

If its a heavily planted tank, most people on planted forums don't even bother cycling it anyway...and I see no reason why they should.

 

[Geoff1991]

Hmm i wouldnt say its heavily planted and i am going to be stocking it to 1.5" per gallon, so i think itd be for the best to cycle it.

Have a read through this thread when you get a minute and tell me what you think...

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...287217&st=0

 

[degsod]

So many different opinions, but whose should i listen to?

Ive switched it on and off about 3 times today...

Edit:

Ive read a thread, and it basically says that with a mature colony pH swings dont matter, but it can slow down the development of a new colony, and ive only just set up my c02 and have only had it on since Thursday, and up until now my plants have done fine with easycarbo...

Yep thats basically it. In reality when you are cycling a tank you do not need any plants at all, the idea is to get a healthy colony of bacteria, nothing else, for some plants running at the ideal temp for bacteria will kill the plants, with or without the addition of CO2

 

[Geoff1991]

YEah well in an ideal world ive have just cycled with a filter heater and sand... But at the time i didn't know... If only id found this forum.

 

[three-fingers]

For a planted tank, cycling with just a filter heater and sand would just be a big waste of time anyway.

The plants love that ammonia...you can run planted tanks without proper filters easily (they will still need circulation).

I treat the filters in planted tank as good fail safes (just in case something happens with the lighting/CO2 that would lead to an ammonia spike) as the small but "mature" colony of bacteria in the filter media can apparently double within 24 hours to get rid of ammonia spikes.

But the filter bacteria that convert ammonia are less important when the tank is full of growing plants.

Just focus on getting the plants growing nicely, then after a few weeks add some fish if you want.

If you already have fish in a tank that you want to put in this one...then why bother cycling at all when you can just put in some mature filter media?

Basically, cying planted tanks really isnt as important as non-planted tanks (or sparsely planted tanks).

 

[degsod]

YEah well in an ideal world ive have just cycled with a filter heater and sand... But at the time i didn't know... If only id found this forum.

I know exactly what you mean.... have a look at this link

post #36 is probably more relevant ragarding establishing bacteria versus established bacteria.

 

[degsod]

What are your current water parameters of your tank and your tap water?

 

[Geoff1991]

Tap water

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 10ppm
pH 7.6

Tank currently (just did a water test about 20 minutes ago)

Ammonia
4.0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate - Didn't test
pH 7.6 (co2 has been off today)

Fishless cycle by the way