Cycle

[elbowdeep]

So I thought Id throw this out there.

I know some people jump the gun and dont fully cycle a tank before they place fish in it. I know I have many many times with freshwater tanks.

What happens when you do a water change before a tank is fully cycled. Will it cause the tank to start a cycle all over again? If you see your parameters are off and change some water then what happens.

When I see my parameters off I typically do a water change to correct it.
So at this time then what?

I.E.----So at this time that I see my nitrates are to high and do a water change then will this cause my 3 weeks of cycling to restart all together? Will it slow it down? Will it cause no effect?


Will this differ from salt and fresh?


I hope anyone that reads this is following me and in case your wondering Im playing a little devils advicate here.
Been surfing the net and just reading on the amount of people that dont cycle.

[HASTINGSRJ]

definatly going to pay attention to this thread...since I am still cycling....and really dont know when I can actually add fish...lol

[oceandude]

It might just be me, but every time I have started a tank with all new stuff...water, sand, rock I have let it go the complete cycle before doing anything else.

If I use established sand, water and L/R from another unit and also swish around perhaps an old filter pad with protein and such, I find it to be minimal time and treat it as a regular tank and carry out water changes and all. It might not be accepted by others here...it has worked for me on many occasions.

[johnett]

I set up Lauren's with rock out of my tank some water out of my tank and new live sand (you know in the bag) I never seen a cycle. But I had no die off on that rock because I went from my living room to her bedroom and it was a 14 gal. and the rock and water was out of my 120 gal.

Now if I was going to do a bigger tank than hers I would watch it for a cycle

[CritterHeaven]

For FW - if you use filter media from an established tank and "feed" it for a week or so, cycle is minimal I have found. Fish can be added pretty quickly. I

For SW - I have now started up about 4 tanks. Live rock and sand help minimize the cycle, again a week seems pretty good.

If you are past the ammonia and nitrite spikes, you are pretty much good to go I think. Nitrates can only be removed by water changes and this should be done before adding fish. If you are still in the ammonia or nitrite spikes, changing a vast quantity of water can slow your cycle down (though should not restart it).

That has been my experience anyway.

[elbowdeep]

bump