Cycling Question if you'd Please...

J

js04crew

AC Members
Feb 1, 2006
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Hello All,
I am new to the aquarium hobby and enjoying it so far, kind of...I have an aquar clear 50 power filter and an undergravel filter running on a 26g bow front tank in the cycling process. I have some cories and danios. I have been performing water changes/cleaning gravel since start up on January 24. I am eagerly waiting for nitrites to rise. My question is: Is it good to vacuum the gravel everytime a water change is performed? Will doing this delay the cycling process?

Thanks to all!
 
Yes, and no. Cleaning the substrate each time removes solid wastes, which over time, can accumulate and increase nitrates in the system. too much solid wastes can also reduce the flow through the substrate, limiting the potential media for bacteria to colonize. The bacteria are adhered to the gravel, though, and won't be easily removed by substrate cleaning. Nor will water changes extend the time of the cycle--keeping the ammonia and nitrites as low as possible will improve the survival odds for the fish, which is good. The bacteria colonies will continue to grow.
 
OrionGirl said:
Yes, and no. Cleaning the substrate each time removes solid wastes, which over time, can accumulate and increase nitrates in the system. too much solid wastes can also reduce the flow through the substrate, limiting the potential media for bacteria to colonize. The bacteria are adhered to the gravel, though, and won't be easily removed by substrate cleaning. Nor will water changes extend the time of the cycle--keeping the ammonia and nitrites as low as possible will improve the survival odds for the fish, which is good. The bacteria colonies will continue to grow.
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Thank you much appreciated
 
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