Cycling question

capschamp · 01/09/2019, 06:08 PM

I plan on cycling with a piece of shrimp, but I am not ready to add salt to my setup yet as I don’t like my current return pump and am going to swap it out. If anything goes wrong, and I have to drain, I don’t want to be out any salt. Can I start the cycle as fresh water, add salt and have the nitrifying bacteria be unaffected with the salinity change?

marzvt · 01/09/2019, 06:29 PM

The tank can only cycle with saltwater. Like the fish, the good bacteria you are trying to populate can’t live in fresh water and won’t populate.
Get used to going through salt. Water changes are your friend. Also you should have a check valve on the return so water doesn’t back flow through the pump line. If your return pump fails you want to be able to replace it.

mcgyvr · 01/09/2019, 08:11 PM

A tank will cycle and some bacterial can live in both salt and fresh waters so you can fill the tank if you really want but its likely better to just wait..
Its entirely possible that after adding the salt much of the bacteria may die off thus causing the tank to start cycling again so there isnt much if any benefit it filling it now..

OldReefGuy · 01/09/2019, 08:56 PM

^+1

nereefpat · 01/10/2019, 09:43 AM

Another option would be to cycle rock in a rubbermaid or something. Then add to you display when it has saltwater...instant cycle.

Dine · 01/10/2019, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

Another option would be to cycle rock in a rubbermaid or something. Then add to you display when it has saltwater...instant cycle.

Currently have a 55 gallon storage tote doing this exact thing. Let’s me cycle the rock while I continue to make decisions and purchase equipment for the rest of the build.

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01/09/2019, 06:08 PM	#1
capschamp Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: N/W Ohio Posts: 101	Cycling question I plan on cycling with a piece of shrimp, but I am not ready to add salt to my setup yet as I don’t like my current return pump and am going to swap it out. If anything goes wrong, and I have to drain, I don’t want to be out any salt. Can I start the cycle as fresh water, add salt and have the nitrifying bacteria be unaffected with the salinity change?

01/09/2019, 08:11 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	A tank will cycle and some bacterial can live in both salt and fresh waters so you can fill the tank if you really want but its likely better to just wait.. Its entirely possible that after adding the salt much of the bacteria may die off thus causing the tank to start cycling again so there isnt much if any benefit it filling it now.. __________________ Who me?

01/10/2019, 09:43 AM	#5
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	Another option would be to cycle rock in a rubbermaid or something. Then add to you display when it has saltwater...instant cycle. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

01/09/2019, 06:29 PM	#2
marzvt Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Vermont Posts: 52	The tank can only cycle with saltwater. Like the fish, the good bacteria you are trying to populate can’t live in fresh water and won’t populate. Get used to going through salt. Water changes are your friend. Also you should have a check valve on the return so water doesn’t back flow through the pump line. If your return pump fails you want to be able to replace it.

01/09/2019, 08:56 PM	#4
OldReefGuy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 542	^+1