Help me understand why dosing carbon wont help with faster cycle?

[DrewBrees713]

My tanks are done cycling but just for future reference help me understand why adding carbon, sugar, vinegar etc wont make the cycle faster? Thanks!

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

The "cycle" in reef tanks is all about growing bacteria that turn ammonia into nitrate. Dosing organic carbon grows bacteria that consume nitrate and phosphate. Two different types of bacteria.

Plus, the bacteria grown with organic carbon dosing consume nitrates. If the tank is still cycling, there likely isn't any nitrate for them to consume. So they might not grow at all.

If you want to start the cycle more quickly, you can use a bacterial additive designed specifically for that purpose. These products can start and finish a cycle in just a few days. A member here is doing some detailed testing to determine which works best.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bacteria-in-a-bottle-myth-or-fact.403226/
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bacteria-in-bottle-busting-myth-seneye-style.456820/

 

[DrewBrees713]

I thought most, if not all bacteria, consume readily available carbon vs secondary food source? Thanks for the links. They'll make great reads for me tonight when i get home.