As long as water is in the system, a cycle cannot be starved in an open topped reef, in a home setting. dosing the tank with extra feed and nothing to eat or reduce it does no good. A starved cycle has never been demonstrated in reefing, not ever, its among the rumors that circulate online. Lab techs would giggle at the thought of water bacteria starving in a home, but bottle bac salesmen want us fearing the cycle starving so we stay on the hook for supports and refreshments
in fact, MSteven1 in Dr. Reefs bottle bac study, page 98-101 shows an unassisted cycle by sitting rocks in water and merely waiting four months, that’s inverse proof cycles cannot starve. They set in given only time, no direct feed or bottle bac needed.
