Cycle new tank

[rogergolf66]

I have been in the hobby for years. I have always old school cycled the tank with damsels. I know more now and don't want to do it that way. I was planning on using a couple dead shrimp let them decompose in the tank.

That All being said what's the thoughts on these new products like bio digest startup and other products like this? They say they cycle the tank in days or hours instead of weeks. Any negatives to this method and do they even work well?

Roger

 

[bertoni]

It's not clear to me that the various bacterial products actually work, but they won't hurt anything, and they might speed the process up. I'd just use small amounts of fish food or raw shrimp, rather than dump a lot of organic matter into the system. If you use live rock, the tank probably won't need anything added for a while. I think adding food is more useful for artificial live rock that lacks any significant organic debris.

 

[rogergolf66]

Thanks for info. About what I thought u would say. I am using dead rock. BRS reef saver rock and a variety of other types. The added phosphates from the food will tend to lead to algae problems. Should I just run a po4 removing media for that? Also What's your thoughts on using ammonia dosing every day?

 

[bertoni]

Shrimp will contain a lot of phosphate, too. The amount of organics needed for the cycle is very small, though. I suspect you won't need a phosphate media, but GFO probably won't cause any problems.

Dosing ammonia is okay, if you can find a product without any surfactants or other ingredients. I personally would add a flake or so of fish food once a day instead, because it's easier, but either should work.

 

[rogergolf66]

Ok will I don't have lights over the tank yet. I don't need light to cycle the tank correct? Also don't need protein skimmer?

 

[richieii]

correct on both

 

[bertoni]

I agree.

 

[rogergolf66]

Great just getting reassurance for stuff I knew already.

Since we already have a thread going. What's ur thoughts on dead rock used for a cycle. Do u ever need to seed the tank with a small price of live rock, live sand? And would those bacteria products work as a source for that for diversity?

 

[bertoni]

The bacterial products might help speed the process a bit, but over time, the difference will vanish. Bacteria are very good at spreading on their own.

 

[rogergolf66]

Thx

 

[bertoni]

You're welcome. Good luck!

 

[rogergolf66]

So I went with shrimp method. Now the shrimp have this cocoon around them.... Any thoughts? Is this ok.. What is it?