Live Rock and Lights
Yes bacteria builds on a logarithmic base by pretty much splitting in two. That means that every reproduction cycle your population doubles (or 2 to the nth power). So technically the more live rock you start with (assuming live rock has a stable bacterial population) the larger your base population to work with. But you have to remember that your rock may be out of water for awhile, may experience change in salinity when you put it in your tank (this is a baddie for bacteria, pops the little buggers) and generally a change in water environment when you put it into its new home (or temporary home, especially if it is completely new). And if the home is too new, there may be a lag time before the bacteria start to reproduce if they have been damaged or if the population has been reduced. Environment plays a huge part of whether your tank is going to cycle. As well, as Victor says, not all live rock comes with a bustling bacterial population ready to do business. Also the optimum growth rate of the two bacteria responsible for the breakdown of ammonia and nitrite is found at a much higher temperature (86-95F) than most reef tanks are found at.
Basically what I’m saying is that more live rock in a tank is good but sometimes that isn’t just it. Some people can cycle their tanks in a short time and others take awhile. I don’t think there is really any trick to it other than actually inoculating your tank with those nutrients that the bacteria are there to reduce (ammonia, nitrite and nitrate). This is why the nitrogen cycle works in stages (ammonia spike, nitrite spike and nitrate spike). The levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate increase because there are no bacteria there to reduce them. The reason for the dropoff in the levels is because the bacteria have finally increased their population enough to handle that level of nutrients. This then causes the next stage of the cycle to continue. Of course the nutrient levels aren’t maintained at the spiking levels so the bacterial population dies off a bit to the point where it is stable with the levels of nutrients produced which is why you may see another cycle when you add more live rock or too much livestock at once.
Whew! I hope I didn't overdo it [img]images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]
Christy
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