[B]Can you cycle the tank freshwater then add the salt?[/B]

[InfernoST]

Hi everyone
I was a little curious about cycling a tank for saltwater use, is it possible to do a fishless cycle using fresh water then after the tank has cycled add the salt?
Just a thought.

 

[CaptainAhab]

No, different strains of bacteria

 

[roka64]

I agree, if you cycle with FW as soon as you add the salt, it will kill off the FW bacteria.

 

[melosu58]

I agree with the rest.

 

[InfernoST]

No, different strains of bacteria

I thought the answer would be no, but I've read on some of the forums that people were using gravel and or filter material from a freshwater system to help jump start the process, this is the reason i asked. On another note when performing a fishless cycling of a saltwater tank do you have to change any water during the cycle or only the 50 % at the end of the cycle?

 

[CaptainAhab]

the latter unless the ammonia gets extremely high... greater than 4ppm IME, then I'd PWC to get it back in the 2 ppm range.

 

[melosu58]

I agree with the captain. 2 choice is the one.

 

[InfernoST]

Thanks guys, want to get or build a 180 gallon tank and it will get very expensive quickly if i have to do water changes everyday.

 

[roka64]

About the only thing that using FW filter media to cycle a SW tank would be the die-off, thus an ammonia source.

 

[HN1]

About the only thing that using FW filter media to cycle a SW tank would be the die-off, thus an ammonia source.

Raw shrimp is cheaper.

 

[roka64]

Yeah, I agree, but if you are converting from FW to SW and already have the filter media.....

 

[ORayRay]

raw shrimp is cheaper but people give you funny looks when you just buy 1 shrimp

 

[mgamer20o0]

cant always believe what you read.....

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

 

[melosu58]

MG,Somebody say something wrong???

 

[InfernoST]

MG,Somebody say something wrong???

I didn't understand it either. I thought it was a reasonable question.
Oh well.

InfernoST

 

[thincat]

raw shrimp is cheaper but people give you funny looks when you just buy 1 shrimp

Don't worry about what other people might think........

 

[InfernoST]

Don't worry about what other people might think........

Thanx, i don't let much bother me anyhow, it must be the German side.

 

[HN1]

More to the point... Don't worry about Mg. He ran out of meds.

 

[InfernoST]

More to the point... Don't worry about Mg. He ran out of meds.

LOL, it's a bad thing when that happens.