Sk8r
03/24/2017, 12:33 PM
Neither the process of cycling nor ro/di are essential for keeping marine critters alive in qt or in an emergency.
What does cycling do? It builds up a bacterial population sufficient to break down waste to nitrogen gas. This lets it leave the tank. As bubbles. You can prevent waste breaking down to ammonia simply by trapping waste in a filter pad and changing the filter pad often enough. My rule is when you see any brown stain on the pad it's time to change it.
What does ro/di do? It provides water from which all minerals have been stripped so that they will not interfere with the chemistry of the salt mix. It further prevents buildup of these unwanted minerals by evaporation of tank water and replacement of water that contains unwanted minerals.
Neither are magical or mystical processes: they simply render a tank capable of sustaining itself longterm with no filter changes; and render the 'base' for your salt mix free of unwanted minerals that would throw the proportions in your salt mix 'off'. Additionally, there are some water supplies with things like low levels of arsenic and such that you would not want accumulating in your tank. You can ask your city for a readout of water testing if you are curious.
But in general, no such hazard equals the hazard of water that's gone bad and has no oxygen. Do be sure that if you are in a hurry to mix saltwater, you mix it until clear, because undissolved salt grains can burn corals and fishy gills: a more powerful pump CAN speed the process, which ordinarily takes about 8 hours. Even a household mixer might serve---but the saltwater splashed onto the mixer would probably do it in. Likewise---you CAN use a microwave to heat cupfuls of tank water or new saltwater to achieve temperature balance.
And if the water is not destined to go into your permanent dt it certainly can't hurt your dt.
What does cycling do? It builds up a bacterial population sufficient to break down waste to nitrogen gas. This lets it leave the tank. As bubbles. You can prevent waste breaking down to ammonia simply by trapping waste in a filter pad and changing the filter pad often enough. My rule is when you see any brown stain on the pad it's time to change it.
What does ro/di do? It provides water from which all minerals have been stripped so that they will not interfere with the chemistry of the salt mix. It further prevents buildup of these unwanted minerals by evaporation of tank water and replacement of water that contains unwanted minerals.
Neither are magical or mystical processes: they simply render a tank capable of sustaining itself longterm with no filter changes; and render the 'base' for your salt mix free of unwanted minerals that would throw the proportions in your salt mix 'off'. Additionally, there are some water supplies with things like low levels of arsenic and such that you would not want accumulating in your tank. You can ask your city for a readout of water testing if you are curious.
But in general, no such hazard equals the hazard of water that's gone bad and has no oxygen. Do be sure that if you are in a hurry to mix saltwater, you mix it until clear, because undissolved salt grains can burn corals and fishy gills: a more powerful pump CAN speed the process, which ordinarily takes about 8 hours. Even a household mixer might serve---but the saltwater splashed onto the mixer would probably do it in. Likewise---you CAN use a microwave to heat cupfuls of tank water or new saltwater to achieve temperature balance.
And if the water is not destined to go into your permanent dt it certainly can't hurt your dt.