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[Delphinus]

All new water, obviously, will make things take longer as bacteria needs to establish itself. However, if you're prepared to wait four months, I doubt you're really going to notice a huge difference at that point either way.

Generally speaking, I find the "amount of time" guidelines to be just that (guidelines). The parameters are the ultimate indicator.

You need to question your parameters though, if you see things happen that seem to be outside those guidelines. A zero nitrate reading, for example, does not indicate a tank has a complete NO3 to N2 cycle going. It could be that the nitrates are being consumed by something (caulerpa, for example -- that is why sporalation or "going sexual" is not always good for a tank -- it can take your tank from 0ppm NO3 to 60ppm NO3 in a matter of hours ... shocking the heck out of tank inhabitants.. been there, done that...)

And as I've discovered, a tank can be as old as two years and not have a proper NO3 to N2 cycle going. :mad: (Case in point, my carpet anemone tank. Which is currently sitting at 40ppm.. :eek: )

[ 08 July 2002, 16:28: Message edited by: delphinus ]