Low water level to cycle tank

[Ralph]

In the midst of re-cycling tank due to change of substrate, currently looking at water level and wondering if it is ok to leave water level at half or 1/3 of tank level during cycling stage.

I am thinking with less water, Ammonia concentration will be higher or total ammonia in system remains same anyway, cycling might be faster or even be same compare to cycling at full tank water level.

what you guys think?

[Urban Aquaria]

I guess you could maintain less water in the tank while cycling, the soil would still release the same amount of ammonia (it'll probably just show up as a higher concentration due to the lower ratio of water volume).

The only issue is with water at just half or 1/3 of tank level, would your filter still work? Most hang-on filters and canister filters require a minimum water level to work properly. The tank water still needs to flow through the filter and its bio-media so that beneficial bacteria living in it can consume and process the ammonia to grow and establish the cycle.

[Ralph]

UA, spot-on. Especially with hang-on filter, you most probably have to top up the tank for it to do its work.

Seems like there is no short-cut about it.