View Full Version : Cycle in a bucket????
BeerBudgett
02-22-2005, 4:01 PM
Well, there I was at work when a brain storm hit.....
Could you do a fishless cycle in a 5 gallon bucket? What I mean is this:
Take a large sponge filter ( not a filter sponge, a sponge filter has the air stone inside, tube comming out the top, yadda yadda yadda...) drop it in a bucket of water and then do a "fishless cycle" in the bucket.... Then when that Aqauarium that you have been dreaming about goes on sale, plop in the sponge filter and VIOLA!!!! Instant Cycle!!!
Like I said it was "Work Brainstorm"..... All my other "brilliant" ideas went nowhere at very high speed but somehow this makes some kind of perverted sense to me... I realize the load you could put against this sponge filter would probably be a bit smaller, due to the smaller water capacity of the bucket, but would'nt that be ok as long as the tank is stocked slowly????
I have very thick skin so sling all the arrows you want! It just occurred to me and I wonder if there is any validity to the idea.
Maj0rFiSh
02-22-2005, 4:15 PM
It wouldnt have cycled though, you need ammonia, nitrites, nitrates ect to fully establish the filter...
OrionGirl
02-22-2005, 4:34 PM
It will work if you dose the bucket with ammonia. Same principal as fishless cycling.
BeerBudgett
02-22-2005, 5:03 PM
It wouldnt have cycled though, you need ammonia, nitrites, nitrates ect to fully establish the filter...
I am sorry I was not clearer. I said "fishless cycle" thinking eveyone would know about the ammonia and regular testing to make sure it was actually growing bacteria.....
OrionGirl: BTW how long after "cycling" would I have to wait before it would be "saturated" with bacteria???
Kasakato
02-22-2005, 5:07 PM
After you see nitrates and no ammoina+nirtates 24 hours after you add ammoina your "bucket" has cycled.
BeerBudgett
02-22-2005, 5:21 PM
After you see nitrates and no ammoina+nirtates 24 hours after you add ammoina your "bucket" has cycled.
Thanks.
I am pretty clear on the whole "fishless cycle" thing, I guess I need to go back to school and retake my written english classes. :rolleyes:
What I meant to ask was how long to leave the sponge in the "cycled" bucket to make sure it is saturated with bacteria. I know if you toss a new sponge in an exsisting filter you should leave a month or so for the "colonies" to build up...(Thanks, Harlock) But since this sponge filter is being used from the start, how long should it be left in???
Maj0rFiSh
02-22-2005, 5:23 PM
If you wanted cycled water quick, most LFS sell it for around 20p a gallon...
BeerBudgett
02-22-2005, 5:39 PM
If you wanted cycled water quick, most LFS sell it for around 20p a gallon...
As I was saying.....so much for MY brainstorms...... :(
BTW 20p = what in Arizona Money? :D
I routinely fishless cycle biofilters separate from the tank - as most of my tanks are planted, and I don't want algae bloom from the ammonia. But I do have a stockpile of spare tanks, so using one 1/2 the volume of the targeted tank is no biggie, and fishless provides a bigger margin of safety than I really need - I don't overstock, the target tank is planted, and the biofilter is insurance more than necessity.
qtaquaman
02-22-2005, 6:07 PM
If you wanted cycled water quick, most LFS sell it for around 20p a gallon...
Whats cycled water? I'm only familar with cycled filters/ cycled aquariums.
daveedka
02-22-2005, 6:14 PM
It souds like a very workable Idea to me. clean, safe and ready when you want it.
If you wanted cycled water quick, most LFS sell it for around 20p a gallon...
Cycled water is essentially a misnomer, the bacteria colonize on surfaces, and are not free floating in the water column in any real or usable quantity. If an LFS is selling it they are fooling their customers.
Dave
OrionGirl
02-22-2005, 6:56 PM
Once the test results showed 0, you could keep dosing it with ammonia and it would remain viable. You'd have a few days between the last feeding an putting it in a stocked tank, but not many.
Agreed--'cycled' water is snake oil, at best filtered water, at worst, water from their systems (ie, full of nitrates, toxins, potentially medications, and other wastes).
BeerBudgett
02-22-2005, 7:40 PM
Once the test results showed 0, you could keep dosing it with ammonia and it would remain viable. You'd have a few days between the last feeding and putting it in a stocked tank, but not many.
:bowing:
Thanks for all the help and information, OrionGirl. And also to all those who have been kind enough to reply with their ideas and comments. You folks have saved me alot of heartache and aggravation and I really appreciate it.
:bowing: