Do small tanks cycle faster than big ones?

FreshyFresh

FreshyFresh

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Jan 11, 2013
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Joel
My 29gal has been in fishless cycling mode since Jan 16. I've been staring at ~4-5ppm ammo since then. Water temp is ~82F. It's got one little java fern in it and a bunch of rocks and fake stuff. It's sitting there happily percolating along.

I also setup a 10gal and got it in fishless mode on Jan 29. Much to my surprise, I just checked the water params to find 1.0ppm ammo, nitrites off the chart and 5.0ppm nitrates!!

The first thing I tested was nitrites. *POW!* it went deep purple! Be still my beating heart!!!

Is this possible in ~5days?? The only difference is this tank has more plants, FloraMax for a substrate instead of pea gravel in the 29 and the 10 has the magical "bio-wheel" filter. I am also able to get the 10gal up to ~84F, where the 29 will max out at ~82 given the house is cool this time if year.

Happy-happy, joy-joy?!?

Joel
 
To answer your question===No, I do not think so. Unless you are talking about a 100gal, verse a 5gal.
 
Thanks tanker!

I guess I got lucky w/ this 10gal.

A week into it, I'm at 0,5,20 (ammo,nitrite,nitrate). I dosed it with ammonia again.. I've been dosing it regularly to keep the ammo 2-5ppm. Water temp has been ~84F, the little bio-wheel filter spinning along. Plants doing good too!

Joel
 
The bright side about cycling is you really only have to do it once on your first tank. Then, at worst, you have mini cycles on the other tanks.
 
Did you seed your second tank from your first tank? If so, then the cycle would be shorter, or almost non-existent.

Emily
 
esoepr1976 said:
Did you seed your second tank from your first tank? If so, then the cycle would be shorter, or almost non-existent.

Emily
Click to expand...

Tnx Emily,

I'm going to do that tomorrow. I'll rub the bio-wheel from the 10gal filter against the sponge on the 29gal filter (almost sounds obscene!:y220d:) Maybe throw some of the FloraMax substrate from the 10 into the 29 too.

Joel
 
FreshyFresh said:
Tnx Emily,

I'm going to do that tomorrow. I'll rub the bio-wheel from the 10gal filter against the sponge on the 29gal filter (almost sounds obscene!:y220d:) Maybe throw some of the FloraMax substrate from the 10 into the 29 too.

Joel
Click to expand...

Neither of those methods is going to work very well. Your best bet is to put your new filter in your old tank and leave it there for a week or so. Then move that filter into the new tank. Instant cycle.
 
A. Nonymous said:
Neither of those methods is going to work very well. Your best bet is to put your new filter in your old tank and leave it there for a week or so. Then move that filter into the new tank. Instant cycle.
Click to expand...

Partly right. Your beneficial bacteria forms on hard surfaces like gravel, decor, etc. You will need to develop it to have a sustainable biosphere. However, using an in-use old filter onto a new tank will jump-start the process. It will decrease the time required somewhat in the cycling of a new tank. By also adding in some of the substrate from the old tank into the new will also help. You can put the old substrate into a nylon bag or similar and then hang it or drop into the tank. Collectively, these items will cut the cycle time required drastically.

What you are trying to build up are both aerobic and anaerobic bacterias that complete the cycling process. Once you add that, you could add 1-2 small fish (small tank) a week until you have max stocking of your choice. Only add the fish as the tank is able to consume the ammonia and the nitrites. It becomes a partial fish-in cycle. Remember to do water changes as needed to reduce ammonia, nitrites and nitrates to a safe level. Ammonia is dangerous at anytime. Only a trace amount is acceptable.

Tank size is relative to fish size. I generally do not do a separate cycle of my large tanks due to waterchanges being done before the water indicates need. My maintenance schedule allows for this and works for me. I also do not acclimate my large fish as I do my smaller ones. I generally just dump in my large fish to get them out of the container as soon as possible due to the likelihood of the container water being unsuitable.
 
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