Water Flow and Cycling

[lostcause]

I'm curious,does the flow in the tank affect cycling? If so how?

 

[brandon429]

nope it w still cycle

to stall a cycle or slow it to the point it cannot pass ammonia oxidation testing on a changed water sample at day 30 it would take true desiccation of the sample, or heating or cooling beyond norms. there are still micro currents in a stilled system that wont stop cycling/bacterial vectoring/feed acquisition they've been doing for millennia.

 

[lostcause]

nope it w still cycle

Thank you

 

[brandon429]

I keep lots of permanently stilled systems. sealed ones, vented ones, sw and fw. its neat how bacteria work on the inverse scale as well: if bacteria could not self seed and cycle without currents, then by that same token the cycled items I keep inside still systems would have to uncycle, and the shrimp/fish in them would die as an ammonia event. but one of them is 20 yrs old its not ever going to uncycle lol (planted stilled bowl)

Because filters stay alive in stilled systems, they can self cycle too. so neat about how bac are dynamic like that. *maintaining oxygen can become a challenge in some stilled setups but its rare. as long as oxygen can permeate things w run ok

if you set a poll to the public: is it possible to run a reef tank without water movement? the answer w be 99.706% NO

yet my friend Paul ---> :)
https://www.pjreefs.com/

what bacteria really truly do allows us to break most rules set for reef tank design.

 

[lostcause]

I keep lots of permanently stilled systems. sealed ones, vented ones, sw and fw. its neat how bacteria work on the inverse scale as well: if bacteria could not self seed and cycle without currents, then by that same token the cycled items I keep inside still systems would have to uncycle, and the shrimp/fish in them would die as an ammonia event. but one of them is 20 yrs old its not ever going to uncycle lol (planted stilled bowl)

Because filters stay alive in stilled systems, they can self cycle too. so neat about how bac are dynamic like that. *maintaining oxygen can become a challenge in some stilled setups but its rare. as long as oxygen can permeate things w run ok

Awesome I appreciate the information and you taking the time to awnser and explain.

 

[MnFish1]

nope it w still cycle

to stall a cycle or slow it to the point it cannot pass ammonia oxidation testing on a changed water sample at day 30 it would take true desiccation of the sample, or heating or cooling beyond norms. there are still micro currents in a stilled system that wont stop cycling/bacterial vectoring/feed acquisition they've been doing for millennia.

The OP asked - does it affect the cycle? IMHO - yes - it does. Zero flow won't kill it - but higher flow may improve it. And it makes sense that it would

 

[brandon429]

for example, run a test between two containers one with circ, one without. they both are cycled and retain the cycle by day 30 / my fav arbitrary cycling date/ that's why I have to state it as neutral impact. any conveyed disadvantage would be commuted into my currently running stilled tanks as some sort of deficit of bac but its not the case, that availability of sustenance is why the cycle continues as well.



those containers pj sells are tiny and his live rock is really quality. not everyone feeds the required tiny amnts, those systems were tested well beyond the feed requirements and they keep an amazing ability to nitrify, if merely kept wet.

dealing with items in solution like ammonia or bottle bac in suspension is simple, whole feed pellets are really hard to deal with due to the localized buildup of bac in the stilled system, that kind of test can result in clouding much easier.

in my opinion clouding is how to manage a stilled cycle, don't input so much ammonia that what does work is overcome. use lesser amounts to cycle.

 

[MnFish1]

for example, run a test between two containers one with circ, one without. they both are cycled and retain the cycle by day 30 / my fav arbitrary cycling date/ that's why I have to state it as neutral impact. any conveyed disadvantage would be commuted into my currently running stilled tanks as some sort of deficit of bac but its not the case, that availability of sustenance is why the cycle continues as well.



those containers pj sells are tiny and his live rock is really quality. not everyone feeds the required tiny amnts, those systems were tested well beyond the feed requirements and they keep an amazing ability to nitrify, if merely kept wet.

dealing with items in solution like ammonia or bottle bac in suspension is simple, whole feed pellets are really hard to deal with due to the localized buildup of bac in the stilled system, that kind of test can result in clouding much easier.

in my opinion clouding is how to manage a stilled cycle, don't input so much ammonia that what does work is overcome. use lesser amounts to cycle.

You are defining an endpoint - 30 days. The OP asked - does flow influence a cycle. IMO - it does. More flow might mean 20 days rather than 30. IDK - I'm making up a number. Do you think a 'still' tank cycles at the same speed as a 'flowing' heavily - tank? Or do you not know?