Cycling

[phuakl]

Hi,

Will like to find out a bit more about cycling of my nano fish tank.

I have been cycling the fish tank with a dead prawn for a week. With only the mechanical filter (Sponge only) and using the water which i salt mix myself.

As i am using fan only, the water tend to evaporate. Therefore i topped up with Distilled water.

(1) Do i need to change 10% water weekly?

(2) When can i add in the Bio medium (eg.BIOHOME PLUS) in the compartment?

[clownfish_forever]

IMO,

1) Not sure how nano is your tank but water change to some people are subjective. Quite a handful people practice this to remove the unwanted nutrient from the tank.

2) Yes, you should. The point for cycling is to allow your tank to cultivate enough bacteria to help you with breakdown the harmful ammonia to nitrite to nitrate to nitrogen. So a mechanical filter will not do it. Unless you have other ways to remove them.

[patricklhc]

I cycle my tank with canister filter (ceramic ring and active carbon inside) and slimmer running. No fan at all water change only done when ammonia and no2 are at 0. About 3 days later I added in prawn and let it run for another week before putting in live rocks

[ShadowHunter]

What is the size of your tank? What live stock you intending to keep?

[inwear]

Cycling period is usually at least 3 -4 weeks. Don't hv to change ur water, maybe topup as you are using a fan. Patient is important & doing readup helps

[phuakl]

Haha.. Thank you for the advise.

Actually, i was thinking to change around 5% of water.

Do you think it is good?

[MadScientist]

Doesn't make much difference as bacterial population is very dynamic. If you have higher or lower nutrients, the population will increase or reduce within the hour

[phuakl]

Do you mean that until Ammonia is 0ppm or after 6 weeks, then i will need to do a 10% of water change?

[MadScientist]

Do you mean that until Ammonia is 0ppm or after 6 weeks, then i will need to do a 10% of water change?

What i meant is changing water doesn't hurt, neither will not changing water. Just don't change 100% daily.

[phuakl]

I see. Thank a lot for your advise.

What i meant is changing water doesn't hurt, neither will not changing water. Just don't change 100% daily.