cycling my tank..Why is it better to do it over a long time period

TikiPhil · 09/03/2009, 10:52 AM

At all the aquarium stores, everyone tells me to throw some damsils in there or put "bio boost" which would cycle my tank in as little as a day or two. Now I am taking a couple or few months to do it...but when asked why, all I could really say is, I take much stock in what a good friend way into the hobbie tells me. Now when I ask him why taking a long time to cycle is better, he tells me, its always better to take your time with it rather than rush it.....its better for conservation issues... etc
im all about patience, thats not the problem, just wondering if I could get some more SPECIFIC veiws on why its better to cycle your tank naturally and over a long period of time? Perhaps re-assurance that doing it over a long period of time is better? And veiws on if its not better....i like differant veiws...veiws are good...
thanks!

sedor · 09/03/2009, 11:03 AM

1) Because the LFS is working on impulse buys and they want you to take everything home that day. That or they just don't know better and they see a chemical that says it can do it so they believe it. Its not true. There is no magical way to cycle. Just like there isn't some magical way to lose weight, or get ripped.

2) I'm not directing this towards you, but if a month or so is to long to wait for your tank to cycle, this hobby isn't going to be good for you. There is plenty to read and buy and set up while the tank is cycling and if you do it right it will end up much better in the end.

RealReef7 · 09/03/2009, 11:20 AM

Go do some searches on "new to the hobby" their are plenty of people asking the same stuff as you.

landlord · 09/03/2009, 11:30 AM

I believe that forcing a cycle can be done if you are experienced with the tank chemistry involved in doing so.

With that said I can tell you that taking the long road will pay off in spades, it will teach you about the Nitrogen cycle (Ammonia --> Nitrite --> Nitrate) without attempting to force it to happen. You will learn many things during a tank cycle and typically, for the beginner only bad things happens when you try and force it.

Trying to fix a problem that you create is much more difficult if you do not understand what caused it. It causes many to leave the hobby.

Good Luck --> Go read

LobsterOfJustice · 09/03/2009, 11:43 AM

Bio-boost and damsels won't cycle the tank in a day or two. No matter what method you use, it takes time for bacterial populations to develop and break down waste. The only way to make the cycle a day or two is to buy established live rock out of someone else's tank.

mullinsd2 · 09/03/2009, 01:04 PM

lobsterofjustice told you all that you need to know really...... you need "good bacteria" in the tank and that takes a while to establish itself. And, say for instance you dont want to wait, buy some nice liverock and you may or may not experience some sort of mini cycle (it definitely won't be a month...)

09/03/2009, 10:52 AM	#1
TikiPhil Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Hanover Park, IL Posts: 9	cycling my tank..Why is it better to do it over a long time period At all the aquarium stores, everyone tells me to throw some damsils in there or put "bio boost" which would cycle my tank in as little as a day or two. Now I am taking a couple or few months to do it...but when asked why, all I could really say is, I take much stock in what a good friend way into the hobbie tells me. Now when I ask him why taking a long time to cycle is better, he tells me, its always better to take your time with it rather than rush it.....its better for conservation issues... etc im all about patience, thats not the problem, just wondering if I could get some more SPECIFIC veiws on why its better to cycle your tank naturally and over a long period of time? Perhaps re-assurance that doing it over a long period of time is better? And veiws on if its not better....i like differant veiws...veiws are good... thanks!

09/03/2009, 11:03 AM	#2
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	1) Because the LFS is working on impulse buys and they want you to take everything home that day. That or they just don't know better and they see a chemical that says it can do it so they believe it. Its not true. There is no magical way to cycle. Just like there isn't some magical way to lose weight, or get ripped. 2) I'm not directing this towards you, but if a month or so is to long to wait for your tank to cycle, this hobby isn't going to be good for you. There is plenty to read and buy and set up while the tank is cycling and if you do it right it will end up much better in the end. __________________ Ryan

09/03/2009, 11:30 AM	#4
landlord Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Alexandria, KY Posts: 1,937	I believe that forcing a cycle can be done if you are experienced with the tank chemistry involved in doing so. With that said I can tell you that taking the long road will pay off in spades, it will teach you about the Nitrogen cycle (Ammonia --> Nitrite --> Nitrate) without attempting to force it to happen. You will learn many things during a tank cycle and typically, for the beginner only bad things happens when you try and force it. Trying to fix a problem that you create is much more difficult if you do not understand what caused it. It causes many to leave the hobby. Good Luck --> Go read __________________ Forget the Turtle Man, you got the Coral Man Live Action Fragging! Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon SPS Reef (Sump, Fuge, Skimmer, CX reactor, Chemical filtration, Overflow) by Lifereef, 2x400W 20K Radiums on IceCaps, 2x39W T5 "For fun", RK2, 4x Tunze 6055, Aqua Logic 1/3 HP Chiller, DIY RO/DI ATO 2-Part via Litermeter. Lotsa Clownfish

09/03/2009, 11:43 AM	#5
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Bio-boost and damsels won't cycle the tank in a day or two. No matter what method you use, it takes time for bacterial populations to develop and break down waste. The only way to make the cycle a day or two is to buy established live rock out of someone else's tank. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

09/03/2009, 11:20 AM	#3
RealReef7 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: bikini island Posts: 954	Go do some searches on "new to the hobby" their are plenty of people asking the same stuff as you.

09/03/2009, 01:04 PM	#6
mullinsd2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 753	lobsterofjustice told you all that you need to know really...... you need "good bacteria" in the tank and that takes a while to establish itself. And, say for instance you dont want to wait, buy some nice liverock and you may or may not experience some sort of mini cycle (it definitely won't be a month...)