Should I add Cycle?

Question

I'm leaving for vacation in 2 days, and today I'm going to clean the tank. I'm doing probably a 50% water change and changing the filter for the month. I have this stuff called Cycle that is supposed to put helpful bacteria into a tank. Should I use that also? The only other time I've used it is when I first set up my tank.

Answer 1

Assuming the tank is cycled, you need not add Cycle. Personally, I never add cycle to a take.... ever.

MM

Answer 2

You can add it or not - the stuff isn't worth the bottle it comes in and really doesn't do anything. In the future don't waste your money on these products, they really don't help on an already cycled tank (and barely work on an uncycled tank). Some people think they helped, but in the end things would have been the same for them without it. Regardless of what the fish store tries to sell you, all you need is a water conditioner to keep fish healthy, the rest is all about manual care.

For two days there's nothing that's going to go wrong with the tank. You don't do water changes every two days do you? And the bacteria certainly doesn't need your presence to live. And water changes (with de-chlorinated water) do not kill bacteria, regardless what crazy myths you may have heard. Just don't worry about it. And don't worry about leaving the fish without food either, it's safer and healthier then trusting somebody who might mess up, or those water polluting 'food blocks' that don't actually have much nutrition in them at all.

Answer 3

Since you are leaving in 2 days and did not say how long you will be gone, Cycle will be OK to add. You cannot overdose with cycle as it says on the bottle. If you will only be gone a week, do not put a "feeder block" in the tank. They have very little food in them and do change the water parameters as they dissolve (the white ones are plaster of paris). Well fed fish will be fine for up to two weeks with no food at all.

Personally, I would not do a 50% water change, that is a little too much if you aren't going to be around to see what effect it has on your fish. I would do a "standard 30%" change, add the cycle and not change the filter until you get back. If the tank is running fine, why make big changes and leave?

I have used Cycle on a few occasions and it has helped me. I overdosed by at least double the amount reccommended and it had no adverse effects and did shorten the cycling time considerably at that dose.

I don't use it when I start up a new tank anymore, I just use water from my other tanks to fill it and a "mature" filter from one of the other tanks to add bacteria.

Answer 4

No Sarah,

In so far as your vacation goes, it doesn't really help you any way to add this stuff. If people want to use this stuff, that's for when you first start a tank out. I have used it in a couple tanks, and I can't say that I've seen any beneficial actions on thier part to be honest. Meaning in terms of cycle out time. It still goes about 6-8 weeks using cycle or not. It's for new tanks Sarah, not for maintenence. For two days, you really don't have to worry about much, except things that are beyond your control, like failure of the heater or electricty ect.. Just do your regular maintenence, and as long as your gone just a couple days, you should be fine.

JV

Answer 5

Cycle doesn't help. Most of the products like this actually slow down the cycling process. Don't do it. Your tank is established and everything will be fine.

Answer 6

Yes. You are supposed to add it every time you vacuum the gravel or change/wash the filter media. By vacuuming the gravel, you are removing waste, and beneficial bacteria. Cycle will help replenish the bacteria count.

Nosoop4u

Answer 7

you use cycle when:

1. seting up a new aquarium
2. adding new fish
3. after medication
4. water change

so the answer is yes. i usually put 1 teaspoon of cycle per 5 gallon of water. it releases beneficial bacterial and can reduce fish stress.

Answer 8

just so you know theres really no reason to put new filter pads in your filter you can just wash off the old one and put it back in. just wash it with clean water put it back it will save you money and works well. there only a few reasons you would need to put new filter pads in.