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05/09/2015, 09:37 AM | #1 |
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Basis of Tank Cycling
Just curious as to the basis for knowing a tank is cycled when ammonia and nitrites drop to 0 within 24 hours. Ammonia i can kind of understand due to its toxicity, but why 24 hours and not any other increment? According to Randy Holmes-Farley's article (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.php), nitrites aren't toxic to marine fish at levels likely to be encountered in our tanks (LC50s in the 100-300 ppm range). So why is waiting until nitrites dropping to 0 within 24 hours an indicator of when cycling is done?
Also what is the basis for the concentration of ammonia dosing? I commonly see 2 ppm referenced, but does this correspond to a typical bioload? |
05/09/2015, 09:49 AM | #2 | |
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Also you want to let the nitrite drop accordingly with in that time frame because just like the microbes that convert ammonia efficiently the microbes that convert the nitrites also need to become efficient before adding the livestock otherwise it could build up. Whether or not it could build up to toxic levels I do not know. You also cannot convert ammonia to nitrates only nitrites to nitrates and corals need a little bit of nitrates IMO to thrive |
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05/09/2015, 09:52 AM | #3 |
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Azendake a guy on this forum will tell you that feeding what you plan to feed your bioload daily during a cycle will set your bacteria population to around the amount of ammonia is being produced. The idea is sound, I think there a lot of variables though that will make this close to being right but not dead on. I also don't think its needed. The bacteria will always adjust on their own with or with out doing this.
Last edited by jminick2; 05/09/2015 at 10:34 AM. |
05/09/2015, 10:33 AM | #4 | |
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Most people have a stocking idea, but end up with more then they originally planned, cause you know we all impulse buy from time to time.
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80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work" |
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05/09/2015, 10:50 AM | #5 |
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Jminick gave a pretty good reply. I would speculate the 2ppm number came about through peoples experiences, like so many other things in this hobby.
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Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT |
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