cycling a new tank

[Sdk8103]

I got a 55 gallon tank from a friend and I am still getting some of the essentials together. My question is, do I need a heater to start cycling a new tank with no fish? The new filter will be arriving tomorrow but the heater won't get here until Friday and I am anxious to get started.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Zbreefer]

You don't NEED the heater to start the cycle, but once it comes in, i'd get the heater in there. Warmer water will help the biology develop faster.

 

[ThisGuy12]

Are you planning on using live rock live sand (both) or all dead?

What are you planning on using to start the cycle?

 

[Azedenkae]

Yeah, you don't need a heater to start off with, but once you do get it, put it in.

What sort of equipment do you already have? What sort of filter are you getting?

 

[Sdk8103]

Thanks for the responses. I am still deciding on which way I should cycle the tank. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I was just reading about adding ammonia to the tank and monitoring it daily.
I bought a Magnum 350 based on the recommendation of the guy I got the tank from.

 

[wcarterh]

1 raw shrimp from the store. It gives off constant ammonia and more "natural".

 

[Sdk8103]

1 raw shrimp from the store. It gives off constant ammonia and more "natural".

So just drop a raw shrimp in the tank and watch and wait for the ammonia level to rise and then eventually fall?

 

[Wryknow]

Yep.

 

[Kyle918]

I personally prefer pure ammonia from ACE hardware. Ensure that is is pure though.

The reason for this is because you can measure the ammonia and add exactly what you want to raise the ammonia to a certain PPM. With a raw shrimp, it takes a good bit for the ammonia level to rise and it is a bit unpredictable where it will rise to or if it will rise enough to start a good cycle. Ammonia is ammonia so the source isn't too much of a concern, be it in a bottle or from a shrimp or even urine, yes some people use their own urine to start their cycle haha.

To ensure the bottled ammonia is pure, shake the bottle vigorously, if the bubbles disapate almost instantly, it's pure. If it foams, it has additives and should not be used.

One benefit to a shrimp though, most places just look at you weird and give you raw shrimp for free haha. My local Publix supermarket did that for me when I started the cycle on a small 10 gallon. I did use pure ammonia for my 75 gallon though.

 

[W1ngz]

I bought a Magnum 350 based on the recommendation of the guy I got the tank from.

Probably not the best choice. Some would say a canister isn't a good choice at all. They get dirty and messy fast, and can mess with water parameters if not cleaned very regularly.

If it's not open or wet at all, you might consider returning it. You'd be better off with a similarly priced HOB skimmer if you aren't planning a sump.

For mechanical filtration, a HOB power filter lightly packed with filter floss would be decent. Something like an aquaclear 110 maybe.

 

[wcarterh]

Yes. Kyle is correct. Ammonia dosing gives you a more controllable means. Though I like the shrimp since it adds the carbon component too. My last set-up, I actually used both, using the ammonia to spike the levels. Though I was testing levels daily. Which can use up quite a bit of reagent and be a bit more costly.

You do not have to test that frequently once you've tuned in the amount. I simply like to keep track of things when I've "tweaked" something.

 

[codyreed29]

toward End of cycle I used a raw shrimp. Ammonia went to 7.5 ppm about 4 days after it went in nov 17 today two weeks later 2.5 0 nitrite or nitrates. Good cycle probably another 2 weeks before its done.

 

[Azedenkae]

I personally prefer pure ammonia from ACE hardware. Ensure that is is pure though.

The reason for this is because you can measure the ammonia and add exactly what you want to raise the ammonia to a certain PPM. With a raw shrimp, it takes a good bit for the ammonia level to rise and it is a bit unpredictable where it will rise to or if it will rise enough to start a good cycle. Ammonia is ammonia so the source isn't too much of a concern, be it in a bottle or from a shrimp or even urine, yes some people use their own urine to start their cycle haha.

To ensure the bottled ammonia is pure, shake the bottle vigorously, if the bubbles disapate almost instantly, it's pure. If it foams, it has additives and should not be used.

One benefit to a shrimp though, most places just look at you weird and give you raw shrimp for free haha. My local Publix supermarket did that for me when I started the cycle on a small 10 gallon. I did use pure ammonia for my 75 gallon though.

I disagree, not in terms of the unpredictability, but in that a shrimp is vastly different from a bottle of ammonia. Ammonia is ammonia, but the shrimp is adding more than just ammonia. It is actually food to help the bacteria grow and reproduce, which is what we want. We don't just want to sustain current numbers, we want to vastly increase it.

This is so that once the 'cycle' completes, there will be tons of bacteria to break down waste products from our live stock.