Ok I’m going to say this one last time…beneficial bacteria alone will not start the cycle!!!!! You have to add waste for the bacteria to convert the ammonia to nitrites then the nitrites to nitrates. This isn’t rocket science. I’ve been telling u this the whole time. That’s why I had 0,0,0. No waste was present in the tank but there sure was bb. What do you think the whole adding ammonia to your new tank is for?
But your bacteria doesn’t feed on anything if there is no waste!!! Therefore it wasn’t “cycled” but as soon as the betta goes in and creates waste the bacteria will colonize and therefore your tank is “cycled”.
You are correct! You have to have ammonia to start your first cycle. After that, seed a tank and add you fish. They are your waste. Dang!
But this is what hes been saying all along?
And you just proved my point
your tank gets cycled, aka has no ammonia or nitrites and has nitrates, when you add the waste!
Lol. Look back earlier in the thread. My point was this: when I add media that is seeded but no waste, I will have no nitrates. Hence why my tank would have been 0,0,0 the first night I set it up. Thank you for proving my point after all this time!
When did I say anything about my bacteria dying off?? Bacteria may not die with no food but guess what: it won’t grow either!!!
And? I’ve started every tank since my 1st one with seeded media. I’ve just stocked the tank to about 15% capacity so that my bacteria didn’t get over loaded with waste. When doing this it gives your tanks bacteria enough time to colonize!! That’s what I’ve been stating all along…
Your right!
