zeolite, brightwell aquatics etc..

tor101898 · 09/19/2009, 06:49 PM

Just curious--I've seen the 14 day tank cycle with zeolite,does brightwell aquatics have something similar.
I've also heard that vodka can also be used to cycle a tank. any thoughts....

Agu · 09/19/2009, 08:44 PM

What's your rush? Patience cycles a tank and it's free.

jmo,

Tswifty · 09/19/2009, 10:53 PM

+1

tor101898 · 09/20/2009, 09:23 AM

no rush, believe me. this tank has been in the works for 5 months, one or two more would not make a difference. just curious as to what has changed in the past few months. I've been in this hobby since I was 8 yo and cycled more than my share. this is an upgrade from a 120 gallon that was up for 9 years.

stanlalee · 09/20/2009, 10:44 AM

zeolite removes ammonia so that its toxic effects dont harm the livestock. I wouldn't exactly call that quick cycling. it doesn't cycle any faster, the zeolite is just artifically removing the biological load (ammonia) so its not harming anything. It seems counter productive since the removal of ammonia by the zeolite is preventing the neccessary ammonia to proliferate the appropriate number of ammonia processing bacteria for the TRUE load the tank is seeing without the zeolite interference. it could make for weaker initial biofiltration if you stop using zeolite before you have a real load (fish, inverts ect).

the quickest legit way to cycle a tank is buying fully cured rock and/or sand locally. you have basically no cycle, the local store did all the work for you. it might not be strong established biofiltration (depending on the biological load during curing: read the exposure to ammonia during curing) but it will be enough to begin stocking your first fish or corals.

09/19/2009, 06:49 PM	#1
tor101898 Plankton27 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Staten Island,NEW YORK Posts: 582	zeolite, brightwell aquatics etc.. Just curious--I've seen the 14 day tank cycle with zeolite,does brightwell aquatics have something similar. I've also heard that vodka can also be used to cycle a tank. any thoughts.... __________________ Alex "The sea is everything... An emmense reservoir of nature where i roam at will...." CAPT. NEMO Current Tank Info: Marineland DD 200 gallon, custom built stand 50"L X 38"W X 33"H,I-tech 400 skimmer with tunze 9410 and 9420 pumps, custom made MRC sump, Two Vortech Mp40w.

09/19/2009, 08:44 PM	#2
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	What's your rush? Patience cycles a tank and it's free. jmo, __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

09/19/2009, 10:53 PM	#3
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	+1 __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

09/20/2009, 09:23 AM	#4
tor101898 Plankton27 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Staten Island,NEW YORK Posts: 582	no rush, believe me. this tank has been in the works for 5 months, one or two more would not make a difference. just curious as to what has changed in the past few months. I've been in this hobby since I was 8 yo and cycled more than my share. this is an upgrade from a 120 gallon that was up for 9 years. __________________ Alex "The sea is everything... An emmense reservoir of nature where i roam at will...." CAPT. NEMO Current Tank Info: Marineland DD 200 gallon, custom built stand 50"L X 38"W X 33"H,I-tech 400 skimmer with tunze 9410 and 9420 pumps, custom made MRC sump, Two Vortech Mp40w.

09/20/2009, 10:44 AM	#5
stanlalee Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hampton roads, va Posts: 1,799	zeolite removes ammonia so that its toxic effects dont harm the livestock. I wouldn't exactly call that quick cycling. it doesn't cycle any faster, the zeolite is just artifically removing the biological load (ammonia) so its not harming anything. It seems counter productive since the removal of ammonia by the zeolite is preventing the neccessary ammonia to proliferate the appropriate number of ammonia processing bacteria for the TRUE load the tank is seeing without the zeolite interference. it could make for weaker initial biofiltration if you stop using zeolite before you have a real load (fish, inverts ect). the quickest legit way to cycle a tank is buying fully cured rock and/or sand locally. you have basically no cycle, the local store did all the work for you. it might not be strong established biofiltration (depending on the biological load during curing: read the exposure to ammonia during curing) but it will be enough to begin stocking your first fish or corals. Last edited by stanlalee; 09/20/2009 at 10:52 AM.