seeding a tank filter with nitrite first ? ? ?

[DonMD]

I was just reading a very excellent article written by Leo Morin and published by Seachem about filtration. One statement caught my attention. Leo says:


I have had good experience establishing the biological
filter in a reverse mode by the addition of sodium nitrite
to establish the Nitrobacter population first and then the
addition of ammonia to establish the Nitrosomonas. The
bacteria are not fussy about their source of ammonia or
nitrite, so that it is really not necessary to jeopardize a
fish to establish the cycle. The main advantage of this
reverse cycling (not to be confused with reverse flow) is
the avoidance of the Nitrobacter inhibition by excess
ammonia that ordinarily takes place in establishing a
cycle. This ammonia inhibition of Nitrobacter is the main
cause of cycle delays and failures.

Has anyone here ever attempted to shorten a fishless cycle using this method? -Don

[buddha1200]

I have done fish less cycle with household ammonia and with a sump it was very fast.
Fully cycled in about 2 and half weeks.
Did it with canisters in a little over 3 weeks

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[nvladik]

I have done fish less cycle with household ammonia and with a sump it was very fast.
Fully cycled in about 2 and half weeks.
Did it with canisters in a little over 3 weeks

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

I am not sure that answers Don's question. :)

[sdrexler078]

Do you have a link to this article. Sounds interesting to try on my next tank

[DonMD]

Do you have a link to this article. Sounds interesting to try on my next tank

http://www.seachem.com/Library/Articles/A_Primer_Aquarium_Filtration.pdf