Bacteria question

[DuvalTilWeDie904]

Hello everyone,

Im just about ready to start cycling my first 75 gallon saltwater tank! I currently have 80 lbs of dry rock and 80 lbs of live sand with bacteria from CaribSea. I also have a bottle of Bio-Spira bacteria thats good for 75 gallons and some fishless fuel for an ammonia source. From my understanding, the reason for cycling so long is to allow the bacteria in the aquarium to become strong enough to handle the bioload in our tanks.

Heres my question...Is there anything wrong with adding extra bacteria and extra drops of ammonia (like alot more) during the cycle to help the process go by faster?

 

[blaxsun]

The reason most people opt for the longer cycle is well, because it's cheaper. If you have Bio-Spira (more expensive) you can basically insta-cycle your tank and add fish right away (especially if you also have the live sand). You don't necessarily need more bacteria if you have Bio-Spira and I'm honestly not sure there's any benefit.

 

[DuvalTilWeDie904]

The reason most people opt for the longer cycle is well, because it's cheaper. If you have Bio-Spira (more expensive) you can basically insta-cycle your tank and add fish right away (especially if you also have the live sand). You don't necessarily need more bacteria if you have Bio-Spira and I'm honestly not sure there's any benefit.

Wow really??? I cant imagine so many people spending all of their money on equipment, just to cheap out on Bacteria. I cant imagine looking at an empty tank for months, just to save a few dollars. Thanks very helpful!

 

[Idech]

I wouldn’t add more bacteria than needed, it will only stall your cycle. Also, if you use Dr Tim’s ammonia, take the instructions with a grain of salt and go slowly. Use 1/4 of what it says and test before adding more. Following the instructions will give you 3-4 times what is needed (2 ppm).

 

[Lavey29]

Wow really??? I cant imagine so many people spending all of their money on equipment, just to cheap out on Bacteria. I cant imagine looking at an empty tank for months, just to save a few dollars. Thanks very helpful!

It's not months but a week or two to ensure you have a good cycle going before fish. It ensures the fish won't have to cycle your tank which can be stressful or worse.

 

[blaxsun]

Wow really??? I cant imagine so many people spending all of their money on equipment, just to cheap out on Bacteria. I cant imagine looking at an empty tank for months, just to save a few dollars. Thanks very helpful!

Really. When I upgraded and decided to insta-cycle my tank with Bio-Spira, it cost me about $100 through Amazon. People thought I was nuts spending that to shave weeks off the cycle...

 

[Spare time]

I wouldn’t add more bacteria than needed, it will only stall your cycle. Also, if you use Dr Tim’s ammonia, take the instructions with a grain of salt and go slowly. Use 1/4 of what it says and test before adding more. Following the instructions will give you 3-4 times what is needed (2 ppm).

That is impossible for more cycling bacteria added to stall a cycle.

 

[Idech]

That is impossible for more cycling bacteria added to stall a cycle.

Why ? Go ahead and test it : add 8 ppm of ammonia in a tank and tell me how long it’s going to take for cycling.

By « stalling », I mean delaying; taking 2-3 times the number of days it should take, if not more.

 

[GARRIGA]

Doubt one can add too much autotrophic bacteria and post cycling I keep adding more ammonium chloride at increasing dosages to stress test the system prior to introducing life. I also then introduce heterotrophic bacteria and now add a carbon source such as NoPox. In the past I would flake food to get denitrification started but carbon dosing much simpler and effective. Last cycle took this approach and dropped nitrates to under 5 ppm. Effectively removing the need to change the water as most often do.

 

[Spare time]

Why ? Go ahead and test it : add 8 ppm of ammonia in a tank and tell me how long it’s going to take for cycling.

By « stalling », I mean delaying; taking 2-3 times the number of days it should take, if not more.

The only way that could mess up the cycle is if:

1. You dose an absolutely insane amount of ammonia, while you have very few bacteria to remove nitrite. The nitrite can get so high that it kills the bacteria that produces it. Again, you have to put an utterly ridiculous amount of ammonia in. This would be fixed by a water change or adding a lot more cycling bacteria.

2. You add tons of ammonia, but have 0.00 phosphate, which would could slow things down. Again, not common at all.

 

[moz71]

Slow is the way to go. When I tried to “speed” up process with added bacteria or ammonia, it always resulted in a much worse ugly phase then had to deal with that. When slow, ugly phase was at a minimum.

 

[Reefdiculous22]

So I’m having the opposite affect in my tank. I’m on day 6 with Dr. Tims. Today is the day I am suppose to add more ammonia. My PH is around 8.44 salinity is around 33ppm alk is 10.7 temp is around 77-78 degrees F. The ammonia is around 1.5 -2.0 ppm but the nitrite is somewhere between 2-5ppm. I have a hard time reading the color chart. My wife says it’s 2 . So the nitrites are higher than my ammonia. Also nitrate is between 5-10pm. This would be the last dose of ammonia according to the chart but I’m wondering if I should skip this dose or not as I don’t want to overdose the system. What are your guy’s thoughts. Thanks and cheers

 

[am3gross]

yup like said, slower the better, nothing good happens fast in this hobby.

 

[Reefdiculous22]

Thanks