Yet another cycling question...

[lippy415]

So I think I get the whole process, but here is my question. Once cycled, can you not clean your gravel or replace your filter media? That is where I get confused. We have an UGF and a canister filter. I believe you are supposed to add charcoal once a month and replace that cloth thing that goes around it regularly. If I do that and clean the gravel, does it ruin the cycle? I'm currently only in day 3 of cycling, so there is some time but just wondered if once cycled does it stay cycled forever?

Erin

[Weezer]

Gravel vacuuming is OK, swishing the filter media in tank water is OK, is this a flishless cycle ? .........:)

[jonnyfry]

you can still clean everything in tank water , meds and untreated tap water can mess with the bacteria . but other than that you should be good .

[Weezer]

To answer the other part of your ? it will stay cycled as long as your beneficial bacteria source is not disturbed or killed off, thats why many people run multiple filters in case one goes down or they need to replace the media, lots of good bacteria is in the substrate also, carbon is a preference and does not necessarily need to be used at all, I use it 24/7......:)

[lippy415]

Yes, I am doing a fishless cycle. My husband did not really understand cycling and then we read a ton of articles on it last night. That is when he brought up the question of if the cycle ever ends. He thought by changing the filter and cleaning the gravel we'd have to start all over. Glad to hear we don't!

Erin

[Weezer]

Yes, I am doing a fishless cycle. My husband did not really understand cycling and then we read a ton of articles on it last night. That is when he brought up the question of if the cycle ever ends. He thought by changing the filter and cleaning the gravel we'd have to start all over. Glad to hear we don't!

Erin
You don't want to change the filter when it gets dirty, just clean it off in a pail of tank water..........:)

[silentskream]

some people change the filter media completely.. by doing so, there's still plenty of bacteria in your gravel, so the cycle won't start over.


the term "Cycling" doesn't refer to the actual nitrogen cycle itself, but it refers to getting the nitrogen cycle working in your tank. Once you've gotten it working, it happens all by itself, and there's not much you can do to stop it (funny thing about nature heh)
Really the only way you would have to start the "cycling" process over again is if you replaced all the filter media and all the gravel andall the decorations at the same time.
If you use a gravel vac, most of the bacteria will stay on the gravel, its just the extra crud that you get out.
Some people dont ever change their filter media (like me) I just rinse it off really well to get the crud off it (but not in tap water!! use old tank water!) If you do change your filter media, it won't be the end of the world.. like i said before, there's plenty of bacteria in your gravel to "seed" the new filter media and get it full of bacteria.

[Slappy*McFish]

I agree. ^

[lippy415]

Thanks for all the info! You are all so helpful. :)

[Rbishop]

The "cycle" is an on going process, maintaining at an equilibrium with the available food source. You can change the filter , but might have a mini spike as the correct level of bacteria re-establishes. The bacteria are on anything that touches the water, including the substrate and decor.