Cycling a new tank

[Laz A]

Does anyone have any links of good reading I can do to know when and how much water to change during cycling and when toxins are high to the pt that I should do an extra water change during cycling...

Thanks!

 

[illal]

no need to do a water change till the cycle is done....

 

[Laz A]

When can I consider my cycle done? When the tank has 0 ammonia and trates?

 

[racermike27]

I changfed mine during the cycle.

I would just get good test kits and ensure all values are in check.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Leave the fish tank alone till ammonia reads zero, no need to do water changes, actually water changes will reduce your cycle. Let the stuff decompose and nature take its course Things you can do during the cycle, test and learn how to use the test kits, study chemistry, calcium, alkalinity, etc. and start adding fish SLOWLY !!!! the more time the better. How are you exporting nitrates? do you have a skimmer ? what type? how many gallons is your fish tank? do you have a sump? all people in this forum are here to help you. We helped Roger Castelis also with his nano fish tank

 

[Laz A]

The tank I'm getting today is Mels 24 gal NC with upgraded hqi 150w hood and modded with fuge light for cheato. Besides the cheato and the sponge pre filter I won't be using anything else for filtration for now. Since my fish list is at 6 and I do plan on eventually making the tank mostly sps dominant and those 6 fish I know that's too much of a bioload to skip out on the skimmer. When I start getting a couple fish I plan on figuring out how to mod the hood to be able to use a HOB remora. (I remember a thread here about that someone modding a nano hood to place a skimmer and would apprecieate a link to it if someone knows where it is).But for now my only filtration will be the sponge pre filter, cheato, and LR.

Also, should I throw cheato in as soon as I start my cycling or wait till its over?

Thanks guys
Laz

 

[Laz A]

One more thing... I bought some "cycle" to jump start the cycling. Should I dose the tank with this regularly to speed up the cycling or just once at the begining?

 

[d9sccr]

If it's returnable, I'd just use a few dead shrimp..what do the directions say??

 

[illal]

the LR alone will cycle your tank...