220 G tank

E46er

my friend has a 220 G tank and it has been cycling for a month using pure ammonia he as a 33 G sump with filters bio balls and lots of filter floss the tank has no substrate as of now and the ammonia levels are about 6 ppm while the nitrate levels are HIGH 110+ he did a water change prob 125 G or some and the nitrates are still reading 110 so im assuming they were WAY over that anyways to the question

is the glass on the tank sump and the filters and filter floss enough space to grow the bacteria to fully complete the cycle or does he need the substrate before it will finish reason being is he just got back from vacation for a month and funds are low for a few more weeks.................

Jay

What are the Nitrites?

The beneficial bacteria will grow on the surface of everything. Substrate or bare tank bottom makes no difference.

Jay

E46er

ok thanks jay

he doesnt have a nitrite test kit and i havent been to his place recently to use mine..

he is thinking of using a pool filter sand for substrate are they any chemicals that could potentially be in the sand that may harm fish? that he should look out for?

oh and is it ok to throw plants in mid cycle? or does the tank have to be fully cycled and stabilized

Jay

IMO sand is a poor substrate for plants, it is organically neutral and does nothing to promote healthy growth.

Plants can be added anytime during the cycle, they love to uptake ammonia.

Jay

E46er

ok thanks for the advice jay!

Loman

While I agree with the first part

I think the second part is not complete correct


IMO he would need to have substrate to really complete the cycle and fully populate the tank. While the bacteria will grow on any surface the substrate adds an enormous amount of surface area. Thus giving a much larger area for the bacteria to grow.

It is possible he could cycle the tank and stock it lightly based on the existing surface area and then add substrate too but I would want to be cautious on stocking levels if it were my tank.

Jay

IMO yes even if there is no substrate. We need to keep in mind that the beneficial bacteria colonies are relatively small in comparison to heterotrophic colonies. They are even in competition with heterotrophic colonies that will dominate, if allowed, by accumulation of mlum and detritus in the substrate if it is not removed (This is a factor in "Old tank syndrome) A glass bottom eliminates this.

This is the planted tank forum, so we also need to consider that plants will uptake Ammonia as a priority over NO3. But for that we need a substrate

Jay

IMO, yes, even if there is no substrate. We need to keep in mind that the beneficial bacteria colonies are relatively small in comparison to heterotrophic colonies. They are even in competition with heterotrophic colonies that will dominate, if allowed, by accumulation of mlum and detritus in the substrate if it is not removed (This is a factor in "Old tank syndrome) A glass bottom eliminates this.

This is the planted tank forum, so we also need to consider that plants will uptake Ammonia as a priority over NO3. But for that we need a substrate

Jay