Tank'd show- Instant Cycle??

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by Todd_Sails, May 13, 2012.

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  1. jtnova13

    jtnova13 Bristle Worm

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2012
    Messages:
    132
    I like the show. Brett looks like a horse.

    (disclaimer: my tank is still cycling)

    I tested my params yesterday when i got home from work
    Ammonia: .25
    Nitrite: .1
    Nitrate: 5

    I added Microbacter7, waited 1 hour, tested again.
    Ammonia: 0
    Nitrite: 0
    Nitrate: 0

    Now, whether it just clears up the water column for the time being or it finally finished my cycle... I'll let you know when I get home today and test it :).
     
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  3. greysoul

    greysoul Stylophora

    Joined:
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    Albuquerque
    I recall having this discussion a bit over 3 years ago when I started my first tank.

    There's nature, and in the end when all humans are gone, there will still be nature...

    If we took the view that nature should be left to do what nature will there would several billion less people on Earth. 100% natural harvesting of wild food would not feed the current population, medicines and vaccines would never be used, so people would die of such basic ailments as flu, and polio would never have been stopped.

    Sometimes science makes things better.

    In the lab there's a technique known as inoculation. In short, you artificially add a desired biological entity to a growth medium and alter the natural environment to benefit it's growth and you can cheat nature, growing things at extremely unnatural rates. This is most commonly done with... bacteria!

    It's done with beer - most brewers add yeast to speed up fermentation. Lambic beers rely on naturally occurring yeast and take longer to brew, yield a lower alcohol content, and are more difficult to control.

    It's done with food crops, where beneficial bacteria and fungi are introduced to the plants and soil to compete with harmful pathogens and prevent blights, rots, insect infestations, and other things that would drastically reduce yields. Even planting a field is a form of inoculation, putting seeds in the ground in a manner that is not natural (animals, wind, runners, etc.)


    So why on Earth should we ignore thousands of years of the evolution of science that can benefit our tanks? I used a few inoculations on my tank. I used a chemical/bacterial product, as well as various bits of rock from multiple tanks, and a cup or so of good sand from an established tank. I added a bit of vodka, and let the tank run.

    My cycle took less than 5 days. Even testing it with some squid meat I didn't see any rise in nitrogen compounds , so I added 3 Chromis damsels and still saw nothing. I added some coralmorphs (zoas, xenias, rhodactis) and they thrived. I added some more fish, no significant nitrogen spikes. I don't know how else to define a cycle other than establishing a colony of bacteria cable of processing the metabolic wastes of the inhabitants of the system in an efficient enough manner to prevent the stress or or loss of life.

    I didn't even see any problems till a few months ago, and I can't see how that would be related to my quick cycle of my tank 3+ years ago (I'm sure someone will find a way, despite not having all the facts).

    If you want to split hairs I would say it's true that bacterial colonies are always changing and evolving, and in that sense a cycle is NEVER complete if you think a cycle is only complete when there is an absolute ratio and cell count of specific strains and locations of bacteria in a system... if that's what this is about, then I guess you have to set up a tank, and never add anything because by THAT logic the cycle never finishes, and any time you change something the entire process starts over again entirely.

    Personally, I think it works. It's not natural, but what's natural about rocks from Fiji, sand from the Caribbean, corals from Palau, fish from Hawaii, and snails from Florida being put in a glass box full of water mixed up with dry chemicals?


    *shrug*
     
  4. FatBastad

    FatBastad Zoanthid

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  5. SAY

    SAY Ocellaris Clown

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    I agree, we would be better off with several billion less people on earth. ;)
     
  6. Renee@LionfishLair

    Renee@LionfishLair 3reef Sponsor

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    Our sponser sells bacteria. He has great literature to discuss this topic. Go to Dr. Tim's section.