There are actually quite a few tricks that you can do to speed up a fishless cycle. I was able to do mine in a month, and could have probably done it even faster if I used some of the tricks sooner. Here's a list:I do cycles with fish all the time because I hate waiting 6-8 weeks for a fishless cycle.
Yea I hate fishless cycling unless I need to do it. Ill definitly keep this point in mind, "Aeration via airstone" never knew about that one, the others I already know about. Thanks.There are actually quite a few tricks that you can do to speed up a fishless cycle. I was able to do mine in a month, and could have probably done it even faster if I used some of the tricks sooner. Here's a list:
- Increase aeration via airstone and lowering the water level (for HOB filters). This way, oxygen gets diffused rapidly into the water. Bacteria needs lots of oxygen to grow.
- Increase the temperature. Nitrifying bacteria have optimal growth rates at around 80 - 85 degrees (if I remember correctly).
- Use a starting culture of some sort. I had an established BIO-Wheel available that I dumped in the tank. Gravel from a fully established tank can also be put in.
- Dmaaaaax mentioned in my tank build thread that putting in live plants will also introduce nitrifying bacteria. I skipped on this because I did not want to clean up the resulting algae.
- Always keep ammonia levels at around 5.0ppm. This is the optimal level for bacteria feeding.
- Have maximum surface area for nitrifying bacteria to attach to. This includes the use of certain biological filter media (like the sponge in my filter).
That's all I can think of right now. Hope it's helpful.
You still have Molly's right? 7.8 is not high for them. If anything it is actually low because Mollies perfer alkaline water about ranges 7-8.5 anyway.Sorry I didnt clarify that I had fish in my tank. Nurse, I have a 56g tank, also I had it up and running for a week or so with plants and a piece of driftwood from an established tank before I added any fish. I was going to do the fishless cycle but went with fish after talking to LFS workers. Ive been using Nitromaxx every other day with great results. Ive been testing opposite nitromaxx days and other than a somewhat high PH (7.8) everything is good. Any ideas on bringing the PH down? Thanks