Controlled Experiment - is it possible to set up a pico tank (just one fish) without cycling?

[Harry H]

For the record, no fish is harmed. More importantly this is a controlled experiment -DO NOT EVER set up a marine tank without proper cycling. Thirdly, I use some experimental enzyme that consumes ammonia and nitrate.

 

The purpose of this experiment is, at least to me, learn about nitrogen cycle and how far we can use the latest "bacteria in a bottle": method to cycle the tank. But this is not a "pure" test as I have transferred some porous medium full of bacteria from my lab tank. Call me a wimp I just cant let the fish suffer ammonia poisoning.

 

Here goes:

Lots of chaetos I bought from a reefer bro

Whole bottle of API Quick Start

Small packet of Chemipure Marine

2 small pieces of floss with bacteria from main tank

10 small round pieces of porous bio filter

My experimental enzyme 0.1 ml

One Chromis codenamed Laika. In honor of the Russian space dog, perhaps the first space traveling creature (space nerds will get it)

Results:

I managed to get zero ammonia the next day and Laika is very much alive.

 

Observation:

So ALL the senior reefers who tell us newbies TO HAVE PATIENCE and not bio-overload the tank is true. Think about it. With all the bacteria tech and just one fish, we can "theoretically" skip the cycling and keep one fish alive. In other words, if we dont add the fishes in haste, some "carry over" bacteria can effectively or perhaps temporarily nullify ammonia poisoning (with lots of caveats.)

 

Again I did not do a "pure" test. Future testing parameters: A) use the API Quick Start alone without bringing over the bacteria from the main tank. Just use the old bacteria without enzyme and without QuickStart. C) just use the enzyme. So further tests can be done. And a single small Chromis bio load is very little and Chromis is hardy by nature, so the experiment is a mild "success". In a marine tank, you still need to cycle the live rocks, sand and other medium like Marine Pure blocks. No running away from proper cycling.

 

For reefers who laugh that this is a futile experiment and of course, it will work, yeah, but that is the joy of reefing, we test for possibilities.

 

Laika is well and is back in the main tank.

 

 

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