Joined
·
1,418 Posts
All tanks cycle to a degree....or not. Aerobic beneficial bacteria colony(ies) are relative to the available food supply and oxygen. Nitrosomonas converts ammonia into nitrite and nitrospira converts nitrites into nitrates. HOWEVER, in a small planted tank, or even a larger heavily planted tank, the development of the BB may be inhibited. Why? Plants will use ammonia as their nitrogen source so with little bio-load, the plants may use the ammonia instead of BB. This is a good thing, as it results in lower nitrates.
I have an experienced hobbyist/friend that never cycles a tank per se....because he has fast growing plants that handle much/most of the ammonia and he initially stocks the tank low. Oh BB eventually develops, but to a much lesser degree than might otherwise be the case.
In any case, tank size is irrelevant relative to the nitrogen cycle.
I have an experienced hobbyist/friend that never cycles a tank per se....because he has fast growing plants that handle much/most of the ammonia and he initially stocks the tank low. Oh BB eventually develops, but to a much lesser degree than might otherwise be the case.
In any case, tank size is irrelevant relative to the nitrogen cycle.
