do we need the on chiller during cycling

[chrislzh]

hi.. i was wondering do we need to on the chiller during cycling....? and one more thing to add is i am into 1 week plus of cycling and my nitrite level is high, what is the best way to reduce it fast.

[jamomatt]

You can run your chiller to reduce evaporation rate. But it is not necessary. High Nitrite is part of the cycle, just wait it out. If you want to speed up the process, I believe there are some bacteria products you can buy off the shelf.

[fongster]

if your tank is an empty tank then there is no need to run the chiller during cycling, true although the evaporation rate would increase but the speed of bacteria build up will be slower, so to hasten the process (i assume you want it to be faster) the chiller being off would benefit more.

high nitrite shows that one portion of the cycle is complete.

you do not want to reduce the nitrite in order to be able to continue cycling.

different types of bacteria convert the different elements into nitrite and nitrate respectively.

nitrosomas--> ammonia into nitrite

nitrobacter--> nitrite into nitrate

thus you will need nitrite to complete the cycle at least until the nitrate stage.

you can theoratically further speed up the process by purchasing off shelf bacteria, however best is to leave the tank to its own devices and increase water contact with atmosphere, via airstone, etc,

you will need places for bacteria to establish, be it, rocks, sand, bio-balls, bio-homme or even filter wool. after cycle is complete the bacteria will be residing in those materials.

the bacteria will build up accordingly, waiting time about 2 weeks to a month depending on different tank situations. when ammonia and nitrite is 0 cycle is complete, nitrate will be higher and a significant water change can be performed. Subsequently fish can be added in at a recommended rate of one fish per week.

[chrislzh]

so i off the chiller... bacteria will built up faster..?

[madmac]

no they won't... bacterial will build up unitl one of these 2 things limit them:

• space (sandbed or LRs,etc) or

• food (carbon source)

... which ever comes first, in our tanks its mostly space, in nature its food