Basic question about start of cycle.

[MGDMIRAGE]

Say you are starting up a brand new tank. I see people often recommend using water from an established system. Does that help the cycle along? I've heard two different things, one that it does and one that it doesn't since all the bacteria is on the rocks and sand not in the water column?

 

[Myteemouse]

It's not the bacteria they speak about in the water..
It's the dirty water to help kick start all kinds of good bacteria.

 

[braddo]

I can't say for sure but I've heard that the ammount of nitrifying bacteria in the water column is negligible and that adding water from an established tank really doesn't help kick start your cycle.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Don't use dirty water, but do use established rock and perhaps sand if not a lot of rock

 

[tat2z_21]

Yes the water column does not carry a significant amount of bacteria. All of your nitrifying bacteria is going to come from your live rock and substrate. Using old substrate will also have a lot of the critters that will help clean up. So from what I hear when you swap tanks or start a new one it is always best to start off with new water. Again I am new at this as well so I am still learning.

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

Thanks guys basically what I've been doing for 20+ years, I've never used water from an established tank. Someone on another site was asking how to cycle their new tank that they were only using dry rock and fresh sand. They mentioned how they wanted to use a little live rock and a little live sand and basically old water from an established system to jump start their cycle.

The advice i told them was that use the little bit of rock and sand but forget the water as the bacteria lie on the rock and sand not in the water column. Then a person promptly replied with "Incorrect, the bacteria lies on the sand, rock, glass and water". Just want to make sure i wasn't missing out on something these past 20 years

The one thing i couldn't understand about using dirty water is the fact that it should be devoid of things that would initiate a cycle such as ammonia or nitrite since itself has already been through the cycle... /shrug.

 

[Holygral]

Agreed, the water holds no benefits to reuse. A scoop or 2 of your old sand and you will be good to go with minimum re cycling, with enough LR, that is

 

[tat2z_21]

I also heard to jump start your cycle you could possibly add a couple of raw table shrimp into the system and let it bacteria get a boost. I am not sure how well this works but I am almost positive that a good amount of liverock and a couple scoops of old sand are still a necessity for this to be successful

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

I also heard to jump start your cycle you could possibly add a couple of raw table shrimp into the system and let it bacteria get a boost. I am not sure how well this works but I am almost positive that a good amount of liverock and a couple scoops of old sand are still a necessity for this to be successful

Aye thanks, basically anything that will decay will jump start the cycle I've used various things throughout the years(mostly fish food of some sort). I just never used water from old tanks it just didn't seem like it wouldn't accomplish much, but i see it recommended often.

 

[Myteemouse]

I actually put the old "water change" water from my other tank in my new tank cause I just mixed 160 gallons of fresh saltwater and didn't see a reason why I should mix up more for the older tank. (of course my rock was fully cured properly and didn't have to "cycle" the new tank) that is all.

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

I actually put the old "water change" water from my other tank in my new tank cause I just mixed 160 gallons of fresh saltwater and didn't see a reason why I should mix up more for the older tank. (of course my rock was fully cured properly and didn't have to "cycle" the new tank) that is all.

That also makes sense Adam from a less wasteful standpoint.

I'm just mostly annoyed cause it seems like no matter what i say this guy argues with me Just making sure i have my facts straight before i give advice, thanks gang! As I see it the most beneficial for starting the cycle would be the rock and sand additions but the water would be near worthless but nonetheless harmless. I just wanted to make sure the new person didn't get the wrong impression that if he used the water from established system alone it wouldn't seed his tank.