Subject: recycling a tank
From: Fuzzy -DONTEMAIL
Date: 12/8/2004 7:42 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Seems to be a missconception. The nitrify bacteria, are not free
swimming, they are all over your tank. UGF are poor homes for the
bacteria colonies. They thrive in a an envroment where there is a mix of
water and oxygen. This tends to be surface areas such as on the outputs
of ugf's or hobs, or tank glass. The deeper from the surface, the less
bacteria thrive. The substraights should be cleaned once a week. Food
that is not eaten should be removed from the tank immediatly. There is
always ammonia in the tank, every time the fish breath, ammonia is
created, from fecal matter, leftover food breaking down. This all adds
up to ammonina. However, a well established bacteria colony will beable
to turn all this ammonia into no2 first, then into no3. The no3, must be
removed via water changes, or through aquatic plants. I doubt you have
restarted a cycle, but you might experence a spike in ammo, untill your
bacteria cultur can catch up. Do a couple extra water changes, and you
should be fine.

::wipes a tear::
Tanks Fuzzy.
Somebody else who realizes that the nitrifying bacteria are sticky and not free
floating.