Bluetangclan
03/03/2015, 12:35 PM
Another fun question, like I have said in other threads, I did reef tanks for over a decade including a successful planted marine tank in years past. I went on hiatus and just found out it isn't polite to cycle a tank with chromis anymore. Far enough back I do not remember all the details which is why I am asking particulars here. I have also had cichlid tanks and bred WC African cichlids for quite a few years. More pertinent was my freshwater planted discus tank I ran for awhile until I got bored with it. In freshwater planted tanks you add the plants when you start the tank. No waiting for a cycling period or anything like that. Throw in the gravel, plant the plants, pour water and wait for it to clear.
Now in salt water I am more than aware the cycle is much more severe, you could throw even less hardy fish in a FW tank and expect them to live, in SW only the really strong ones like chromis are going to make it. So should I start the tank with LR and sand and wait for the cycle to end or start the tank with macro algae and plants(plus sand and LR) and do the cycle that way? Will any of the chemicals from the cycle even bother macroalgae. Ammonia is a fertilizer as are nitrates. Having plants in a FW tank cycles the tank faster. The cycle is the same for both FW and SW except for the types of bacteria involved and the severity. I wonder if it would speed up the cycle?
Note I am still in research phase and the current 120(160)gal tank this will be in still has several cichlid colonies thriving in it, so I wont be doing this tomorrow. Also note I will not be using chromis to cycle the tank.
Now in salt water I am more than aware the cycle is much more severe, you could throw even less hardy fish in a FW tank and expect them to live, in SW only the really strong ones like chromis are going to make it. So should I start the tank with LR and sand and wait for the cycle to end or start the tank with macro algae and plants(plus sand and LR) and do the cycle that way? Will any of the chemicals from the cycle even bother macroalgae. Ammonia is a fertilizer as are nitrates. Having plants in a FW tank cycles the tank faster. The cycle is the same for both FW and SW except for the types of bacteria involved and the severity. I wonder if it would speed up the cycle?
Note I am still in research phase and the current 120(160)gal tank this will be in still has several cichlid colonies thriving in it, so I wont be doing this tomorrow. Also note I will not be using chromis to cycle the tank.