Cycling Question

So, I went into my LFS and they sell cycled water fresh. The lady behind the counter told me that if I get cycled water I wouldn't need to cycle it myself. Also that I could just purchase livestock and put it in the tank immediately. Is this true? because that would make my life so much easier.

 

Welcome to 3reef,

No not true, I would find a different local fish store.

The water column does not hold enough beneficial bacteria to cycle the tank in a timely manner.

Your best route is to get some cured live rock, add some raw uncooked shrimp and let nature take it's course.

Try not to cycle with live fish if that is their next suggestion.

 

its not just the water that needs to be cycled, its your filtration, rock, and sand that is where most of you benifitial bacteria grows

 

cycling is building the biological filtration in the rock and sand. Now they do sell products that will cycle and aquarium faster. But the cycled water is a first for me lol.

 

Yeah, It sounded a little "fishy" when she said it because i've done my fair share of research on cycling. Oh well, a months wait isn't to bad.

 

Wise choice.

 

What does raw uncooked shrimp do to the cycle? I haven't heard of that trick before.

 

LOL!

Yeah, I've fallen for a few of their sales tricks, but I've never heard that one before. LFSes are evil! Thankfully we have 3Reef.

 

The beneficial bacteria need a food source, the decaying shrimp will produce ammonia as it breaks down. The beneficial bacteria will use that and different types will convert the ammonia to nitrite and then nitrates. Nitrates are not toxic to marine fish and inverts when maintained at the proper levels.

The ammonia produced later when you begin to add fish and inverts ( produced as a bi-product of metabolism and the decay of uneaten food) will maintain the beneficial bacteria which is known as your biological filter.

 

It starts to decay which creates ammonia. That, in turn, spawns the bacteria you need.

EDIT: Should've known Cheryl would beat me to it. lol