Brand New 8 gallon bio cube

[JoshH]

Such a colorful phase! did you get the diatoms yet?

A little bit but then the film algae snuffed it out, I let it take over and then just peeled/Turkey bastered most of it off.

 

[living_tribunal]

Just finished cycling my other Nuvo 10 to transfer my 2 surviving corals over to hopefully wipe out the aptasia for good. Still going through the algae phase right now...

Looks pretty clean to me!

 

[Magellan]

A little bit but then the film algae snuffed it out, I let it take over and then just peeled/Turkey bastered most of it off.

One of the most essential tools for a good nano! Would it be an accurate hypothesis to say that the smaller the tank, the faster it goes through the cycles?

 

[living_tribunal]

One of the most essential tools for a good nano! Would it be an accurate hypothesis to say that the smaller the tank, the faster it goes through the cycles?

I would say the inverse. More surface area = more bacteria.

Bacteria will scale to whatever ppm of ammonia you deliver to it so I don’t think it makes a difference until much higher ammonia levels.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Lots of reefers dose vibrant all the time

@Brew12 doses Vibrant regularly if I recall.

 

[Magellan]

I would say the inverse. More surface area = more bacteria.

Bacteria will scale to whatever ppm of ammonia you deliver to it so I don’t think it makes a difference until much higher ammonia levels.

Wouldn’t it all be proportionate though, assuming 1 pound of rock per gallon?

 

[JoshH]

Looks pretty clean to me!

Yeah it's not looking too bad, just need to get the nitrates down and were laughing, I MIGHT even wrangle up another clownfish pair...

One of the most essential tools for a good nano! Would it be an accurate hypothesis to say that the smaller the tank, the faster it goes through the cycles?

I think it depends on too many variables. Honestly I've let this tank cycle for a few months now with little light and letting it just do its thing, dosed ammonia weekly and didn't think much of it. I've only cycled tanks 4 times and they have all been nanos so I can't really compare them just yet...

 

[NY_Caveman]

Wouldn’t it all be proportionate though, assuming 1 pound of rock per gallon?

Bacteria will populate everywhere and then regulate its metabolism.

 

[NY_Caveman]

The difference in tank size does not matter, but the population of bacteria does. You can stock a nano faster because the amount of fish is small. You would not want to populate a large tank all at once. You need to go slow and let the bacteria colonies adapt.

EDIT: with either it is best to move slow and give the bacteria time. The best practice is letting the microbiology mature slowly.

 

[Magellan]

Yeah it's not looking too bad, just need to get the nitrates down and were laughing, I MIGHT even wrangle up another clownfish pair...



I think it depends on too many variables. Honestly I've let this tank cycle for a few months now with little light and letting it just do its thing, dosed ammonia weekly and didn't think much of it. I've only cycled tanks 4 times and they have all been nanos so I can't really compare them just yet...

Interestingly, google didn’t have an easy answer for me. I saw a post saying “a 100g would take longer than 5” but no reasoning behind it. Just logically thinking it through, the actual number of bacteria at a microscopic level would be way more in a 100g vs in a 5. Assuming you started with uncycled dry rock in both tanks, way more bacteria would need to grow in the larger tank to reach the equilibrium needed to support a proportional amount of life to the 5g. But maybe it grows faster in the larger tank, assuming the amount of food you were ghost feeding (or whatever method you chose to use) was also proportional. Which would mean both tanks take the same length of time.

BRS! Do stuff and tell us about it!!

 

[NY_Caveman]

@brandon429 would probably suggest any tank started with dry rock would be cycled within 45 days. You do not even need to test in my opinion, but it is interesting to watch the cycle unfold which is why I usually do.

 

[brandon429]

Agreed
Today's bottle bac products handle ammonia instantly so 45 days using any combination of boosters/ammonia feed is enough time even without testing

The google search returns on aquarium cycling or marine aquarium cycling are all set at 30 days, not factoring how much ammonia or bottle bac was added. Nearly any open topped vessel of water and surface area cycles in a month or so left to natural devices especially with ghost feeding above

 

[Magellan]

Agreed
Today's bottle bac products handle ammonia instantly so 45 days using any combination of boosters/ammonia feed is enough time even without testing

The google search returns on aquarium cycling or marine aquarium cycling are all set at 30 days, not factoring how much ammonia or bottle bac was added. Nearly any open topped vessel of water and surface area cycles in a month or so left to natural devices especially with ghost feeding above

Nice to meet you Brandon, I’m Brandon

so all things are equal then. Is that just because of how long it takes any given tank to complete the nitrogen cycle, and I’m really overthinking this?

 

[NY_Caveman]

Nice to meet you Brandon, I’m Brandon

so all things are equal then. Is that just because of how long it takes any given tank to complete the nitrogen cycle, and I’m really overthinking this?

The short answer is, yes. Fresh or marine. The bacteria will come even if you add nothing. It is natural.

 

[living_tribunal]

Wouldn’t it all be proportionate though, assuming 1 pound of rock per gallon?

Yup

 

[living_tribunal]

Agreed
Today's bottle bac products handle ammonia instantly so 45 days using any combination of boosters/ammonia feed is enough time even without testing

The google search returns on aquarium cycling or marine aquarium cycling are all set at 30 days, not factoring how much ammonia or bottle bac was added. Nearly any open topped vessel of water and surface area cycles in a month or so left to natural devices especially with ghost feeding above

I don’t even test after 2 weeks!

Just a ton of fritz turbo start, microbacter 7(new for me), and pure ammonia chloride

 

[Magellan]

I don’t even test after 2 weeks!

Just a ton of fritz turbo start, microbacter 7(new for me), and pure ammonia chloride

did you use biomedia as well to start? (I did) took about 2 weeks for my tank as well after adding bacteria at the beginning.

seems like nature will solve the problem no matter what, but definitely possible to help her get her a** in gear!

 

[living_tribunal]

did you use biomedia as well to start? (I did) took about 2 weeks for my tank as well after adding bacteria at the beginning.

seems like nature will solve the problem no matter what, but definitely possible to help her get her a** in gear!

Biomedia? Like pods, phyto, and micro inverts?

 

[living_tribunal]

After my recent wrasse vs blenny violence I’m inclined to say that you should be really cautious. How big is the tank they are in right now? The wrasse might just feel cramped, they can be really active.

@Why-Me I’m convinced you’re a Sado-masochist

 

[sfin52]

Nitrates? What are those?!

Mine sit around 40-60