Cycling disaster, start over?

[blue_soda025]

bacteria is grown and maintained in the decor but that doesnt mean its not freefloating in the water. to say that changing ur water doesnt take away bacteria doesnt make sense if you understand the cycling process.

How does it not make sense? Most of the bacteria colonizes in the filter media and a little of it on gravel/decorations. There is very little that's actually free floating in the water. So changing the water wouldn't affect it very much. That's one of the myths about changing water during a fishless cycle. I did a 50% water change in my tank in the middle of a fishless cycle since I had a pH problem and some other issues. I assure you that the bacteria were still there after that water change because ammonia was still being consumed, as were nitrites.

 

[RISK2123]

How does it not make sense? Most of the bacteria colonizes in the filter media and a little of it on gravel/decorations. There is very little that's actually free floating in the water. So changing the water wouldn't affect it very much. That's one of the myths about changing water during a fishless cycle. I did a 50% water change in my tank in the middle of a fishless cycle since I had a pH problem and some other issues. I assure you that the bacteria were still there after that water change because ammonia was still being consumed, as were nitrites.

u can completly cycle a tank in a day by just using gravel from an established tank. no filter. ur right that theres alot of bacteria in the filter media but if you just move the filter to a new tank it wont cycle as quickly as if you just move the substrate. ive done it both ways.

 

[Yoemen]

hmm

well, that would be dependent on several things:

Size of the tank: A larger tank would be less affected by substrate then a smaller tank. Most substrates (unless well areated) only grow bacteria colonies on the top layer. In a small tank this would definitely be enough to cycle a tank, but in larger tanks, the bacteria in the substrate would have less and less of an effect on the time it takes to cycle. Whereas biomedia in proper filtration situations would cycle a larger tank much faster then substrate due to better access to food, oxygen, and larger impact on said tank.

Proper filtration: This would have a large impact on the speed of a cycle, most filters exagerate their performance, which is why many on this forum and others come close to doubling filtration if not more. If you have your aquarium properly filtered and move the biomedia over, it will cycle much faster then moving substrate over, again even more so in larger tanks.

 

[karna68]

Thanks everyone. So here is my plan, get a new filter, totally drain(?) use squeezings (or substrate?) from the 30 gallon to kickstart it. I will fishless cycle this time with ammonia. Is that right? Also, I have a snail in there now, should I move him to the 30g?

 

[blue_soda025]

I don't think ammonia and nitrite actually affect snails. I have some snails in my tank right now (unwanted ones from live plants, that is) and they seem to be ok.