Ok, quick history. 1982 till 86 FOWLR . Fresh years before this. 1989 till 1996 FOWLR with a few tries at reefin. Mostly just raising apstisa and thought I was rockin it. About 1999 set up a 20 long with LR and power compacts. Went to a 29 same stand, skimmer, lights ect. Moved everything to a 75 drilled with VHO T12 wet dry with skimmer built in. I had algie problems and I was trying to figure it out when I had to sell because of health reasons. Anyway hate to bore you but I've still got the 20 and stand and bought T5 lights. Went to knoxville lookin for rock. Just help me get started with the cycle. I've read so much and I just want to buy rock and get started but as we all know things change. So lookin for the least problems. Just trying to do it right. THANK YOU
cee ,TriMax and anyone who will listen
- Thread starter askmedave
- Start date
cee
New member
Getting ready to order some rock soon, LMK if you want to go in on an order. It's dry LR but I prefer that over "live" LR. They claim about 1/2 a pound per gallon @ $3 a pound. Dump the wet-dry and make sure you've got a decent skimmer. I have bacteria for seeding and can give you a piece of established LR to help things along. PM me and I'll give you my # if you want to talk more.
Dave
Dave
If you want a jump start on the tank and don't want to have to go through hassles with cycling...
I have a 125 gallon tank and I usually do a 20 gallon water change every other week. My nitrates, nitrate, ammonia, and everything is good...even before the change. I could do a waterchange and give you the water I take out. No cycling would be needed.
I have a 125 gallon tank and I usually do a 20 gallon water change every other week. My nitrates, nitrate, ammonia, and everything is good...even before the change. I could do a waterchange and give you the water I take out. No cycling would be needed.
DevinWolfe
New member
If you want a jump start on the tank and don't want to have to go through hassles with cycling...
I have a 125 gallon tank and I usually do a 20 gallon water change every other week. My nitrates, nitrate, ammonia, and everything is good...even before the change. I could do a waterchange and give you the water I take out. No cycling would be needed.
Count me in on this offer as well. I will be changing my water this afternoon in both tanks and should be able to get you 15 gallons of water to go with his 20 if you want.
Let me know and I can hold onto it for you if you want. Spencer and I live about 10-15 minutes apart on the same road (Western / Oak Ridge Hwy).
Edit: On second thought maybe Spencer and I need to get together and sell our authentic "Live Water" at $3/gallon. This seems to be gaining popularity from what I hear, lol.
DevinWolfe
New member
I know that their isn't enough in the water to do it alone, but I was thinking he was about to start acquiring live and base rock. The water combined with the live rock should help keep his cycle minimal as his sand and base rock are seeded. This was the way I started my tanks anyway.
I'm still such a newb that I may be completely incorrect on the water helping at all.
Either way, you're welcome to some free Reef Crystal saltwater that would cost $1/gallon at a LFS.
I was just kidding about the "Live Water" thing, I'm not THAT much of a newb.
I'm still such a newb that I may be completely incorrect on the water helping at all.
Either way, you're welcome to some free Reef Crystal saltwater that would cost $1/gallon at a LFS.
I was just kidding about the "Live Water" thing, I'm not THAT much of a newb.
If he has base rock, yes, it will take time for the bacteria to set up camp in it...but having water that's full of the bacteria will help speed up the process tremendously.
If he is putting live rock into a tank full of water that's already cycled, why would there be any cycling that would take place.
I do understand that this is not considering bacteria in substrate, or the copepods that will eventually populate the tank. These things will probably just take some time and will transfer a cycled tank to an "established" tank...correct?
I know when I moved my tank to my house, I used about 80% of the water and all the live rock and substrate that the previous owner had in it. I never read any ammonia, but it did still take a little time to get nitrites and nitrates down. In other words, it was good enough I was able to go ahead and start stocking with livestock immediately...and at a quicker rate than if I had started with all new water.
GPhiAce
New member
I agree completely.
Getting dry rock is the best way to begin IMO. You can use others' "old water" to help, but I am not sure as to how much it will ultimately help in the end. You should look into microbacter7 to help speed up the initial cycle. But keep in mind, the key to being successful in this hobby is patience, consistency, and stability. Getting a few pieces of LR from a fellow hobbyist will definitely help with the initial cycle and eventual choraline (I know I can't spell) growth. There are several sources for dry rock. I have had great luck with one of RC sponsors- Marcorocks.
Make sure to get good equipment in the beginning. that will save you some money down the road if you stay in the hobby long enough. I don't know how many $k I wasted on equipment and livestock (crashes and just not knowing).
The people in the ETRC won't steer you wrong. Good people. Good luck
cee
New member
You said no cycling would be necessary in your first post on this thread. Even with "cycled" LR, unless it is transported underwater and purchased locally it will undergo some sort of a cycle. It is not unusual to read zero ammonia; I did so in my tank as well. I just think, in a hobby that requires a tremendous amount of patience, implying that there are ways to circumvent long-established tried and true principles is the wrong message to send. I am sorry my advice contradicts your experience but I've been doing for way too long to offer advice otherwise. And yes, I do have Microbacter7 which I was offering as a way to help initially establish a diverse bacteria population (thanks Paul, I should have stated that in the first thread). My apologizes if I came across as critical; that really wasn't my intent. I just find that when people do things right they tend to be much happier with the hobby and more successful.
Dave
