Holy cow! I think everyone here has hit upon just about every myth and misnomer related to the bacteria we need to complete the nitrogen cycle...which is THREE types. While it was hard to follow entirely, so I apologize if I say anything that was already said, please let me explain a few things, which I truly believe some of this forum's experts would be more than happy to support and uphold....
But the thing is, even when using media, you don't get all the bacteria. You disturb the bacteria on there and may lose some. Unless you have a microscope to check, you can never know. It's better to be safe than sorry.
The beneficial bacteria which are responsible for oxidizing ammonia and nitrites into nitrates literally attach themselves to items quite readily so you can transfer filter media directly from one tank to another without 'un-establishing' the media. If you don't believe me, let me ask you this:
"Why wouldn't the loss of bacteria due to weekly water changes and gravel vacuuming come with some sort of bacteria-loss warning if it wasn't attached to something?" This is a topic covered recently in TFH magazine which might be worth a second look at if you subscribe.
We can all cut and paste pages upon pages of how to do a cycle, but the fact is it is cycled
What is the empirical information that makes us feel so confident that a tank is cycled? It is not really where the bacteria live that are the indicator of an established or cycled tank, but the water tests that show us === having no trace of ammonia and nitrites in a tank which has held fish for at least a few days to a week, and the ever increasing levels of nitrate, which we remove via water changes (and other methods....but for most, water changes).
talking of misinformation, why are you trying to encourage him to eliminate most of the bacteria he has colonized by starving it? We can all cut and paste pages upon pages of how to do a cycle, but the fact is it is cycled. a MINIMAL amount of bacteria colonizes in the gravel
No offense, but this is probably the largest example of misinformation thus far! Try telling this to someone who keeps a saltwater tank without using any mechanical filtration (other than a protein skimmer perhaps) at all....just like I do. In fact, I would say the exact opposite is true...more bacteria can be cultured and found on substrate, decor and even plants (fake or real) than can be found in many filters simply because there is more surface area for it to be located upon...which:
Is also why sand is often touted as a better substrate because, per square inch (or centimeter or any other measurement of area) there is more surface area in sand than in gravel.
Is also what makes, despite the more difficult maintenance involved, under gravel filters one of the best forms of biological filtration available seeing as how it works upon the premise of drawing water - including the ammonia and nitrites, or potential ammonia and nitrites - through the substrate which is teeming with beneficial bacteria.
Is also why, as I eluded to, saltwater hobbyists can do without any sort of HOB or cannister filter like we most of us use on a FW tank because the ability to add copious amounts of water flow without detriment to livestock also means that, like an under gravel filter, the water and its contents are brought to the bacteria.
And is also why it is highly suggested to change bio filter media from time to time without having the fear of completely uncycling our aquariums.....it is much worse to leave deteriorating media or media which is otherwise falling apart in a filter rather than changing it since eventually it will serve no purpose. Additionally, there is bacteria located on other types of media other than the bio filter media...for example, if you don't change your carbon media often enough, or at all like I don't, bacteria will eventually colonize on it as well.
This is why you NEVER want to clean your filter the same time you perform a gravel vac. Why? Because you disturb/remove the bacteria colony.
Yes and no....depending on the definitions being used, you may not want to completely clean filter media per say, but we absolutely, without a doubt, want to rinse the filter media in some of the water we are removing during a water change to remove and detritus that has been accumulating, and hence, is blocking the flow of water through the media. HOWEVER, we want to rinse the bio filter media in a vessel which contains some of the water that we have removed via a water change because we can be sure any bacteria present can live in that specific water chemistry and is not being killed off by the chlorine or sudden water temp change that can occur if we were to use tap water to do so.
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Trust me, I realize that I am new to the forum, but honestly, the information I am passing along here can be found so easily that I am somewhat impressed that these myths and misnomers can still survive in the hobby today. Additionally, once we start taking everything, or at least as much as possible, into account at once, it is soooooo easy to debunk a lot of the ideas that are being thrown around here. As for copying and pasting info from the internet, true, we can all do it and that doesn't always mean it is right, however, I strongly urge anyone and everyone to use the 'rule of three' when we are not sure what info/ideas to believe, which states:
If you can find the exact same information on three TOTALLY unrelated resources, there is a great chance it can be trusted While I am sure there are exceptions, I feel that by using this technique, we would eventually be able to 'weed out' bad info on our own.
That being said, you all can attack my thoughts here to no end, but I assure you, I am more that willing and able to slam you with more supportive information and research. I would also just like to say that before we suggest that one bit of information is a myth while providing a conflicting view, we really have a strong responsibility to ensure that we are not committing the same infraction ourselves. In fact, after speaking with a large number of fellow hobbyists, I have also come to the conclusion that forums like this one which have a high number of members are getting a very bad 'rap' because everyone conflicts everyone else and no ground is really covered....obviously I hope that TFF is the exception though. Point being, I hope we can all strive to spread accuracy versus accusations alone.
