Can You Speed Up The Cycling Process In Aquariums?

The quest to have a successfully cycled aquarium often results in hobbyists looking for shortcuts and quick solutions. While it is understandable why you are keen to start your reefing journey, cycling an aquarium is one of the most necessary steps to a thriving ecosystem.

We will look at why cycling a saltwater aquarium is important to long-term success, and also some methods commonly suggested and why we don’t recommend them. 

Why is it important to cycle an aquarium?

At the foundation of every healthy reef ecosystem sits the nitrogen cycle. For any newbie reef hobbyists joining us (or those that skipped Biology class!) - it is the crucial process inside your aquarium where beneficial bacteria establish in a new aquatic environment. The bacterial colonies create a natural biological filtration system that converts toxic ammonia into less dangerous nitrates. 

Properly cycling your aquarium is much more than reaching the recommended numbers on your water test kit, it is about creating a stable and robust ecosystem that will support your corals, fish, and other aquatic organisms. 

Cycling times - what are they and why are they important?

The Reefco Aquarium team often gets asked “How long does it take to cycle an aquarium?” This question is a bit like - “How long is a piece of string?” as it varies depending on several factors. These include, the overall stability of your aquarium system, nutrient availability, environmental conditions, the surface available for bacteria to colonize, and the starting bacterial population in the water. Therefore, the time it takes to cycle an aquarium can range from anywhere between 3 to 6 weeks, with larger or more complex aquarium setups taking even longer. 

Ways to “speed up” the cycling process (& why they can be risky)

As mentioned, we don’t recommend speeding up the cycling process, however, some hobbyists suggest raising the tank temperature to 85°F. Although bacterial growth will accelerate if you crank up the temperature, this approach can cause issues such as stress on any corals or other tank inhabitants. It can also reduce the oxygen level (warmer water holds less oxygen than cooler water) and lead to potential die-off if the temperature level is left uncontrolled. 

Other hobbyists have tried introducing bacterial supplements such as TurboStart, Tetra SafeStart, BioSpira, and FritzZyme, and we can’t argue with why they bought them as they are marketed as cycling accelerators for aquariums. Although these products are fantastic at introducing beneficial bacteria inside aquariums, they are not a magic solution to your tanks’ cycling needs. 

The effectiveness of bacterial supplements vary on how fresh they are and how well they have been stored. Remember that even if you use an accelerator, bacteria take time to properly establish and successfully colonize and the use of accelerators can result in inconsistent bacteria levels. 

Another method we hear about a lot is using media from another (established) reef tank. While we agree that adding filter media, sand, or gravel from a well-established and cycled tank does work and introduce beneficial bacteria, it can also increase the risk of introducing unwanted aquarium pests and pathogens/diseases. There is also no guarantee that the bacteria will survive the aquarium transfer. 

Why rushing the aquarium cycling process can be ineffective

The whole point of setting up an aquarium is to create long-term stability. A properly cycled aquarium develops robust and diverse beneficial bacteria over time that can handle bioload fluctuations. 

If you rush cycling your aquarium you could face the following:

• Unstable water parameters

• Increased aquarium maintenance

• Bacterial populations that drop with stress

• Higher risk of aquarium system crashes

Waiting to cycle your aquarium may sound more costly compared to a quick cycle-fix, yet rushing the cycling process typically results in greater expenses due to:

• Additional/more frequent water tests

• Potentially needing emergency treatments

• Loss of livestock from unstable water conditions

• Need for system restarts

How to properly cycle a reef aquarium?

The key to successfully cycling an aquarium requires patience and attention to detail. For those who have never cycled an aquarium before, do not worry as with years of experience (plus some trial and errors), the Reefco Aquarium Team have you covered!

Initial cycling setup

Before you dive in, you need to focus on the water quality. This includes:

• High-quality RO/DI water

• Use a good-quality salt mix that is specific for saltwater aquariums

• Mix the aquarium salt at least 24 hours before adding to the water - this allows the salt to be completely dissolved

• Measuring the salinity level (you want it to be between 1.024 and 1.025)

• Checking the alkalinity level (you want it to be between 7 and 9 dKH)

Next is your filtration system! First step is to install a reliable protein skimmer and run it lightly. You also want to focus on the water flow - during aquarium cycling the water flow should be around 15 - 20 times the tank volume per hour. You also need to position the powerheads so there is enough water circulation. We also recommend using mechanical filtration to prevent removing beneficial bacteria/nutrients. 

Finally, take a look at your placement and live rock. You should use 1.5 - 2 pounds of topnotch live rock per gallon of aquarium water. We suggest using a combination of both dry and mature live rock. Remember that all live rock must be cured properly. 

Environmental parameters

• Maintain stable temperature levels

• Use high-quality heaters with external temperature controls

• Run minimal lighting levels during the cycling process - around 6 to 8 hours per day is enough

• We recommend using blue LED lighting or reduced intensity for cycling 

• Always gradually increase lighting after the cycling process

Cycling management

• Test salinity, temperature, ammonia, and nitrite DAILY

• Test pH, alkalinity, nitrate, magnesium, and calcium WEEKLY

Monitoring your aquarium

• Keep a log of all your water tests

• Track the cycling process with graphs/charts 

• Take photos/videos of any visual changes in your aquarium 

• Water changes should be minimal during the cycling process

• Clean the protein skimmer when needed

• Check aquarium equipment DAILY to ensure everything is running as expected

What does a successfully cycled tank look like?

Before adding any corals or fish, check that your aquarium has the following:

• Stable pH and nitrate levels 

• Consistent ZERO readings of ammonia and nitrites - these should be stable for 7 consecutive days 

• Clear water clarity

• Low algae growth

• Proper magnesium levels (1250 to 1350 ppm)

Summary

Installing a new aquarium is a very exciting time, so we understand you may want to speed up the cycling process. However, patience is key and it is crucial to remember that reef keeping is not a rushed hobby, it is a long-term commitment. 

In reality, the cycling process only takes up a fraction of the time on your hobbyist journey, and this small amount of time will create the foundation that your aquarium needs. 

Remember that the most stunning and stable reef aquariums are not built on shortcuts. Instead, they are built on solid foundations and following proper cycling methods. If you are unsure how to cycle your aquarium or have any questions about installing new aquarium systems, do not hesitate to contact the Reefco Team. Happy reefing!