Cycling new tank

[Kazzykins]

About to set up a 50g reef tank, will my tank "cycle" with 50lbs dry rock, live sand and 5-10 lbs of live rock from my LFS? Is it necessary to put in a shrimp? If so, how long should it be in there?
:bounce2:

 

[gone fishin]

Drop in the shrimp. I personally like to get the ammonia up to 3-4 ppm then pull it out, others let it stay till it is gone. If you put the shrimp in a piece nylons and tie it off, it is easier to remove it if you choose to. Good luck.

 

[Kazzykins]

Okay, thank you another question, will water changes do any good? I read somewhere to not have water changes since we want the bacteria in there.

And what temperature should i cycle my tank?

 

[Azedenkae]

If you get live rock and sand from your LFS, it can be alright. I personally just prefer to 'overload' the system at first and grow heaps of bacteria.

Like gone fishin, 3-4 ppm is what I'd aim for too. Or even higher. My ammonia was off the charts when I did my cycling. I pureed seafood and spreaded it all over the tank, so it was very well distributed, and lot's of organic matter went all over. High ammonia is an indication of that.

 

[gone fishin]

No water changes until you are done with the cycle. Ammonia, Nitrite are zero. Nitrates will come down to some number then do the WC.

 

[Kazzykins]

Thanks, Azedenkae and gone fishin i actually read 2 of your articles regarding on tank cycling haha. Good read

 

[Azedenkae]

Thanks, Azedenkae and gone fishin i actually read 2 of your articles regarding on tank cycling haha. Good read

Haha, great to hear it was a good read. Hopefully it was of good help as well. If you have any questions about the articles, lemme know, or post directly in the blog.

 

[Kazzykins]

Haha i do have 1 more question confirming the temperature should be 27 degrees celsius and not 33? Thank you for all the help

 

[gone fishin]

Anywhere between 25-27 will be good.

 

[Azedenkae]

Haha i do have 1 more question confirming the temperature should be 27 degrees celsius and not 33? Thank you for all the help

27 degrees is fine, but if you want to promote bacterial growth, above 30 is best. Of course that may make certain critters on the live rock unhappy tho.

 

[wcarterh]

You MAY want more than that of live rock at least for purifying purposes. Though it varies on how much each person puts in the tank. Just make sure to put all the live rock you want in at one time. Otherwise you could have a mini-cycle, and with livestock, that's bad juju.