Why increases tank cycling...

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M

mushroomsoup

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 15, 2009
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Australia
in my opinion (feel free to prove me otherwise) sand increase the time it takes for a tank to cycle by at least a few weeks.

Reason:
-sand, although has more surface area than gravel, constantly gets moved around in the tank. If there were any good bacteria growing on the grain of sand it would be covered by other sand not allowing oxygen to get to it and killing it. Where as gravel constantly has aerated water passing through, allowing the growth of bacteria.

if i was starting my tank from scratch again, i would go for gravel.

the end

:)
 
Bacteria is not going to colonize areas that don't have a flow of oxygen and nutrients very much. Most all of the colonization is going to happen within your filters. IMO it should make no difference whether it's sand, gravel or bare bottom.
 
If you are stating that the oxygen will kill off the bacteria you are wrong. Bacteria need oxygen to thrive hence the use of bio-wheels.
 
Your kinda right and kinda wrong...

Fluidized Bed Filters are moving sand. But you substrate doesn't get moved around that much. Sand does need to be stirred deeply twice a week so that anaerobic pockets don't develop.

Gravel substrate does accumulate more bacteria, but allows detritus to gather in the cracks causing problems.

The most important thing to remember tho, is that it's the filter your cycling, not the tank.

You don't want to depend on the gravel for the tanks biological filtration.

Dr Joe

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I think gravel cycles faster because gravel traps waste and builds the ammonia and bacteria up. While sand doesn't really hold waste..
 
Dr Joe;2828989; said:
The most important thing to remember tho, is that it's the filter your cycling, not the tank.

You don't want to depend on the gravel for the tanks biological filtration.

Dr Joe

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Click to expand...

It took my XP3 packed with ceramic noodles, a sponge filter and a hob filter (both from an established tank) to cycle my tank.

I wouldnt depend on gravel for biological filtration but every little bit of exta bacteria in the tank does help.

i think im just lad the cycle is finally over hahaha :) a little less stress
 
mushroomsoup;2828815; said:
in my opinion (feel free to prove me otherwise) sand increase the time it takes for a tank to cycle by at least a few weeks.
:)
Click to expand...

i dont think sand gravel rock or bare bottom affect the time to fully cycle.


The bulk of the BB are living on the bio media in the filter where there is a continuous flow of oxygenated water.

Proof:

take any tank with any substrate

put new water in it........... attach a fully cycled filter of the correct size and the system is instantly cycled independent of the substrate

or take the same idea and begin fresh just adding ammonium chloride

you will find all the systems to be fully cycled in about 6 weeks
 
26pets;2829056; said:
I think gravel cycles faster because gravel traps waste and builds the ammonia and bacteria up. While sand doesn't really hold waste..
Click to expand...


the waste is either in the tank or in the filter it still rots

with an ammonium chloride cycle there is no waste
 
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