Tank Cycling without Water Changes? So confused..

[skjl47]

Not sure why I said Prime, I mean Stability.. college is making me forget things I guess..

I have 2 HOB filters, both have bio-Wheels, already established, I guess, they’ve been sitting for a year and a half though, not plugged in or running. I’m thinking of getting something more powerful though.

If I can I guess I’ll let it get started on its cycle before I go, I’m leaving right after finals, so things may get a little too hectic. If not, when I get home I may just drop some stability in and be done with it.

Hello; If the filters and biowheels have not been in current use there will not be any live bb so they will not be currently established.

 

[Satanas90]

Why not wait till you come back to cycle tank..

Sent from my SPH-D710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[PaiLum92]

Why not wait till you come back to cycle tank..

Yea, I’m thinking I’m just going to do that, seems easier that way. I wanted to be able to just drop some fish in when I got back, but the other way is just easier…

(BTW, I just saw your post about your recent background build for your Oscars, any updates on that? The background is amazing. Would love to see more...)

 

[jclyde13]

That's a very roundabout method of cycling... An easier (and significantly faster) method is to add pure ammonia and either Seachem Stability, Nutrafin Cycle, or a similar product directly to the tank.


OP: If there are no fish in the tank, there's no need to do water changes at all until the very end of the cycle (just to lower the NO3 in preparation for adding fish).

Hello; Yes it is, but the OP will be away for three weeks and no one around will be able to add ammonia or do anything to the tank. At least this is my understanding from reading the first post.

This is true, but that method would not work out well. The amount of ammonia that snails would produce would be miniscule compared to the amount produced by a fully stocked aquarium, and most (if not all) of that ammonia would be consumed by the plants (which, btw, do not produce ammonia). Even if this set up somehow did manage to cycle the aquarium, as soon as the OP adds fish, the cycle would restart, since there wouldn't be enough bacteria to handle the new bioload. It would be best for the OP to just wait and cycle the tank while he's home.

 

[brich999]

Throw in raw shrimp or fish as mentioned previously as it rots, it will produce waste and your tank will get nastier and nastier until one day the bb catches up and the water will sparkle. Since you will be away you wont need to stare at a nasty tank so you will be good.

 

[skjl47]

Throw in raw shrimp or fish as mentioned previously as it rots, it will produce waste and your tank will get nastier and nastier until one day the bb catches up and the water will sparkle. Since you will be away you wont need to stare at a nasty tank so you will be good.

Hello; The time involved leads to the question of will the process peak before three weeks. It would be neat if the population of bb were to max out at the end of the three weeks.

 

[skjl47]

This is true, but that method would not work out well. The amount of ammonia that snails would produce would be miniscule compared to the amount produced by a fully stocked aquarium, and most (if not all) of that ammonia would be consumed by the plants (which, btw, do not produce ammonia). Even if this set up somehow did manage to cycle the aquarium, as soon as the OP adds fish, the cycle would restart, since there wouldn't be enough bacteria to handle the new bioload. It would be best for the OP to just wait and cycle the tank while he's home.

Hello; I agree that the ammonia of a few snails would be small but it should be enough to get a population of bb started and maintained. That is why I posted that the tank could not be stocked with fish as soon as the OP returned. Bacteria can increase in population quickly under good conditions. I tend to add fish to a new setup a few at a time to help avoid an ammonia spike and give the bb population a chance to increase to match the bio-load.
My understanding is that plant cells undergo cellular respiration and produce respiration and waste byproducts much like all cells. For sure during the dark part of a photoperiod when they consume some of the oxygen and sugars produced during photosynthesis for growth and other life processes.
I can not say that I am aware that plants can directly consume ammonia. If so, that would be a handy way to deal with unwanted ammonia. I would like to learn more about this concept.

 

[fook]

Let's not over complicate this. The tank is empty? Either leave it that way and deal with it when you get back or toss a few goldfish in there before you go. Easy. And if your roommates can't watch you throw a few flakes in there and repeat it while you are gone then there is no way they are smart enough to be in college. I don't mean any offense but they should be able to feed a few fish. I'm confident that I could leave for a year and my high school aged kids could completely take care of all of my tanks while I'm gone.