Before I Cycle | Rock & Substrate

[Simply__J]

Do you have to cycle with substrate?

From what I understand you HAVE to cycle with rock, but what about substrate? Can I cycle with out it and add it after? Thanks ahead for your help.

 

[ETORRES477]

A lot of people have bare bottom tanks so you do not need a substrate to cycle.

 

[Jimbo662]

cycle with the substate / rocks in the tank. during the cycle process bacteria grow and spread and you want the bacteria in / on everything. People have reported a mini cycle happen after adding rocks / sand to the tank after the initial cycle.

 

[Simply__J]

Appreciate the help.

 

[bearjohnson]

+1 to Jimbo662.

If you're planning on having substrate in the tank, then it should be there during the cycle.