Salinity And Temperature During Cycle

Yellow Eyes · 09/15/2014, 04:02 PM

I am currently cycling my nano tank (20 gallon display with 10 gallon sump) and as I was checking my salinity I thought to myself, "I know there is a range of salinities over which people run their aquarium, I wonder if there is a certain range I should be in during cycling?"

So that is my question, has anyone found or heard of a good salinity to maintain your aquarium at during a cycle? Does a lower SG assist or hurt the bacteria trying to grow?

What about for temperature?

I know everyone is always looking for a faster way to cycle, just thought I would ask out loud.

wooden_reefer · 09/15/2014, 05:07 PM

If you are cycling for a reef tank, routine, you should keep the salinity close to that of the natural ocean, sg 1.025 and temp the tank is intended for.

If you are cycling for QT of fish, and if time is of the essense, then you should aim for lower salinity and moderate temperature, say 1.017 and 85F, slightly bumping up the salinity if needed. This is a good compromise between availablity of O2 and biological activity that increases with temperature.

O2 saturation increases with decreasing temp and decreasing salinity.

09/15/2014, 04:02 PM	#1
Yellow Eyes Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Glen Burnie, MD Posts: 236	Salinity And Temperature During Cycle I am currently cycling my nano tank (20 gallon display with 10 gallon sump) and as I was checking my salinity I thought to myself, "I know there is a range of salinities over which people run their aquarium, I wonder if there is a certain range I should be in during cycling?" So that is my question, has anyone found or heard of a good salinity to maintain your aquarium at during a cycle? Does a lower SG assist or hurt the bacteria trying to grow? What about for temperature? I know everyone is always looking for a faster way to cycle, just thought I would ask out loud.

09/15/2014, 05:07 PM	#2
wooden_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4,670	If you are cycling for a reef tank, routine, you should keep the salinity close to that of the natural ocean, sg 1.025 and temp the tank is intended for. If you are cycling for QT of fish, and if time is of the essense, then you should aim for lower salinity and moderate temperature, say 1.017 and 85F, slightly bumping up the salinity if needed. This is a good compromise between availablity of O2 and biological activity that increases with temperature. O2 saturation increases with decreasing temp and decreasing salinity.