How long for tank to cycle if using old water?

[pirahna1950]

Seasoning = Cycleing

Untill the crap in your media and filters become broken down to trace elements, bacteria need old water to survive. That could take weeks without old water. I use 25% old water to start every tank with an old filter and have the tank up and running in 48 to 72 hours without any problems what so ever.

The best way I ever saw to slow down the cycleing process was to use all fresh water. Bacteria levels drop a minimum of 40 to 80% when subjected to a 100% water change.

 

[is300zx]

So what's exactly is in the old water that bacterias need in order to survive?

 

[pirahna1950]

Nitrites and Nitrates.

There areat least 3 types of bacteria needed for a healthy tank. One type feeds on amonia and the other 2 feed on the nitrates and nitites produced by the first one. They in turn add O2 and CO2 to the water that helps both plants and animals. The animals in turn create waste that eventually will break down into some amonia and the cycle continues.

 

[is300zx]

Nitrites and Nitrates.

There areat least 3 types of bacteria needed for a healthy tank. One type feeds on amonia and the other 2 feed on the nitrates and nitites produced by the first one. They in turn add O2 and CO2 to the water that helps both plants and animals. The animals in turn create waste that eventually will break down into some amonia and the cycle continues.

Do you test your old water? If you do then your nitrites should be 0 as well as ammonia. There is actually only two types of bacteria in most aquariums. One feeds off of ammonia and breaks it down to nitrite. The other one feeds off of nitrite and breaks it down into nitrate. There is no third one unless you have anaerobic condition like in a denitrator which the third bacteria needs in order to live. This is why people do water changes because the cycles stops at nitrate. And O2 mostly comes from oxygen exchange that happens in the surface of the water not from the bacteria. Fish gives of CO2 from using up O2.

IME you don't even need old water to start up a new tank. All you need is dechlorinated water and a source of food for the bacterias. The source can come from a bottle of ammonia or fish or rotting food. To jump start the cycle you take an established culture of bacterias like bio medias from an established tank and put it in the new tank. You can just feed this cultures so they can multiply and produce more bacterias.

 

[pirahna1950]

is300zx, You have your ways, I have mine. I found that a microscope can be a usefull tool. I'm not going to debate with you. Have a nice day.

 

[rallysman]

FWIW, I always start tanks with dechlorinated tap water. I add temp matched water, add some prime, add an established filter, add the fish, and walk away. This has even worked for me with sensitive fish (My Payara for example). I've never seen a spike in ammonia or nitrite doing it this way, and have never lost a fish doing it this way.

 

[johnptc]

i agree. its not so much the tank but the filter which cycles....yes i know 30% of the bacteria live in the tank gravel etc and not in the filter.........

i did the 5000 gal tank this way......filled, added prime, heated , moved the bio filter from the 2400 and added fish.no spikes no problems...

FWIW, I always start tanks with dechlorinated tap water. I add temp matched water, add some prime, add an established filter, add the fish, and walk away. This has even worked for me with sensitive fish (My Payara for example). I've never seen a spike in ammonia or nitrite doing it this way, and have never lost a fish doing it this way.

 

[Dr Joe]

is300zx, You have your ways, I have mine. I found that a microscope can be a usefull tool. I'm not going to debate with you. Have a nice day.

It's good that you do not want to debate is300zx because you are wrong. No debate about that.

The way detrious is broken down in the filter is by the bacteria. What takes weeks is the bacterial growth to match the amount of 'food' available.

The bacteria use the O2 they do not produce it or you would never be able to get a denitrater to function.

It would be interesting to know what bacteria you are looking at with the microscope.

Please do a search in this forum on these topics, there is alot of good info here.

Dr Joe

.

 

[johnptc]

It's good that you do not want to debate is300zx because you are wrong. No debate about that.

The way detrious is broken down in the filter is by the bacteria. What takes weeks is the bacterial growth to match the amount of 'food' available.

The bacteria use the O2 they do not produce it or you would never be able to get a denitrater to function.

It would be interesting to know what bacteria you are looking at with the microscope.

Please do a search in this forum on these topics, there is alot of good info here.

Dr Joe

.

 

[pirahna1950]

edited for inflammatory comment.