Will a tank cycle with a filter with really low flow?

[finnfinnfriend]

For example, will a tank with 5 gallons of water in it, with a betta (no live plants) cycle with the water going through the filter at, say, 10 gph?

[shellieca]

Yes. As far as I know the strength of the flow has nothing to do with the cycling process.

[ChoclateBetta]

You can cycle without aa filter. If you really want extra cycling add semi aquatic plants to filter.

[finnfinnfriend]

Originally Posted by shellieca

Yes. As far as I know the strength of the flow has nothing to do with the cycling process.

Okay cool. Why do some people reccommend that the water in the tank go through the filter a certain amount of times an hour though?

[ChoclateBetta]

The main limiting factor is food they get.

[shellieca]

The gph, gallons per hour, is the amount of water processed through the filter each hour. This is important because the filter is where 90% of your BB is & is what processes your ammonia/nitrites. If the filter doesn't have enough GPH then you'll have water quality issues. Hope that makes sense.

[ChoclateBetta]

Still live plants really do help. Adding pothos/peace lilie/lucky bamboo are not limited but CO2 and can work faster.

[finnfinnfriend]

Originally Posted by shellieca

The gph, gallons per hour, is the amount of water processed through the filter each hour. This is important because the filter is where 90% of your BB is & is what processes your ammonia/nitrites. If the filter doesn't have enough GPH then you'll have water quality issues. Hope that makes sense.

It does make sense, but you said the flow has nothing to do with cycling /:

[finnfinnfriend]

Originally Posted by ChoclateBetta

Still live plants really do help. Adding pothos/peace lilie/lucky bamboo are not limited but CO2 and can work faster.

Thank you, but in this situation I want to know about a tank without live plants :)

[shellieca]

The flow & cycling are two different things or at least to me they are.