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[Fredfish]

Cool, that will give you minimal die off and a faster cycle time.

Fred

 

[Boosted Rxp]

right on,thats what we like to hear

 

[reefD]

dont miss the point that any live rock is a bioload. remember when you add fish your tank fluxes. too many additions ruines the stability and threatens your tank to re cycle. in other words you have to consider live rock as an addition that may disrupt your bacteria population and your stability. remember people when your tank has cycled you can force it to recycle at any time with a shock(drastic increase) to the bioload. when the tank is older its harder but still possible to have a crash aka forced RECYCLE! . great info!@!!!

 

[reefD]

remember a cycle in saltwater doesnt have a set time. it all depends on the tank ,size, and husbandry. if owner is adding stuff while cycling then they post pone or prolong proccess. testing is only proof. ammonia needs to spike and without water change it must drop. this will increase nitrites then nitrates. this is a cycle so test test test. when nitrates spike and other levels zero out, do a water change ...then in next weeks watch for ammonia spike ...any signs means cycle still happening. if ammonia stays zero and only nitrates rise you should be cycled but the longer you dont add / mess wth tank ......after this occurs the more you stabilize the tank for long term.

 

[reefD]

the idea of not doing water changes and letting ammonia spike for nitrite then nitrate food is why having any stock like fish is bad cause they dont tolerate the ammonia and you doing a water change for them prolongs the proccess. thats why new tanks with a hardy fish should be it until the cycle occurs.

 

[Boosted Rxp]

good advice how come nobody else tells you these things,thats how us newbies learn

 

[reefD]

im happy to help! always!

 

[reefD]

most get tired of repeating newbie facts but most dont realize that most asking these question are different individuals entering the hobby. i guess they get tired and ignore the new ?'s but i feel this site is for questions and if they are typical then they need to be addressed as the hobby is confusing. pm me when ever as to me the only bad question is no question.

 

[pledosophy]

I would not put any fish in a tank that is still cycling. There is easier and better ways to add ammonia. If you don't continue to feed the tank then you are looking at a crash but if you cycle correctly by adding a source of ammonia that will equal the future bioload you should never face a re cycle. JME

Just because a tank test zero for ammonia does not mean it is cycled. It is a common misconception.

 

[Fredfish]

when you add fish your tank fluxes

In fact, every time you add something, your tank goes through another cycle of sorts until it finds a new equilibrium

Just because a tank test zero for ammonia does not mean it is cycled. It is a common misconception.

This is why I added the link to Eric B's explanation of tank cycling. READ IT. The initial amonia-nitrite-nitrate cycle is only the beginning of cycling a tank.

We all get tired of repeating, but hey, I was a newbie once too.

Say, I think this thread is worthy of becoming a sticky. I think a lot of needless illness and death could be avoided if people understood the principles of cycling a tank.

Fred