Cycling Question on New Setup

[spike78]

Here I am on day 2 of my new setup. I'm running a 200 Gal Bowfront with 180lbs of dead rock, 20 lbs of live rock, 280lbs of aragonite base sand and 40lbs of live sand. I have 3 questions:

1. Do I need to feed the tank during the cycling process? If so, what and how much?

2. Will adding a dead shrimp to the display insure a more thorough cycle, especially considering the amount of current dead rock in the system?

3. How often should I be testing nitrate/nitrite/ammonia? My LFS said once per week, but this seems a little light.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[FOSELONE]

ive heard adding a dead shrimp helps...or you could always add some green chromis...

 

[bmcq]

If I were to add anything, it would a piece or 2 of shrimp .... I wouldn't put any fish in. You can test daily for just ammonia, nitrates, and nitrates. That will be the easiest way to follow the cycle.

 

[loves saltwater]

1 & 2 Get a few fresh ready to cook shrimp for your local store cut one into several peice throw a few chunks in your tank maybe one on each end and one in the middle. This will start the cycling process.


I would check water every few days.

 

[loves saltwater]

1 & 2 Get a few fresh ready to cook shrimp for your local store cut one into several peice throw a few chunks in your tank maybe one on each end and one in the middle. This will start the cycling process.


3. I would check water every few days.

 

[SquidHC]

I dont use shrimp or anything. Just toss in some organic ammonia compoud. You have to wait for the shrimp to rot and create ammonia. Using straight ammonia creates an instant ammonia spike.

You tank is going to go through a basicaly pre determined cycle. After 1.5-2 weeks your going to see a thick brown diatome (algea) outbreak. it will clear itself up in 4-7 days (much longer if you used tap water). Once this clears up you will have about a week of clear water, then you will have a green algea break out on the glass (again, could be a light, or very heavy outbreak if you used tap water). This green algea outbreak is a good sign your tank is about done cycling. My suggestion is that you don't waste any time testing water before the brown algea outbreak is gone. Your water parameters are going to be all over the place, and even if something did test high, your not going to do anything about it. just let the tank do its thing.

Oh, and keep in mind theres nothing that needs to be fed during this cycle. The bacteria will "eat" the dead stuff that rots off your dead rock.

 

[loves saltwater]

Just remember this phrase::

Only bad things happen quickly !

Take your time and let the tank do it's thing.Don't add anything artificial

 

[spike78]

Yeah, It's tough not to touch it. I just want to mess with it all the time. That and worrying about every little nick in the acrylic is killing me. It's like having a new car, you know it's going to get scratched eventually, but you want to keep it perfect for as long as possible.

 

[uscharalph]

You really only need to test for ammonia in the beginning. You'll see it go way up and then start to fall. As it falls your Nitrites will go up. You'll know when your cycle is done when your Ammonia and Nitrites are 0. Be very patient. I know I wasn't.

 

[spike78]

Here's a pic

Here's a pic

Here's a small FTS for those who are interested.

 

[bertoni]

I'd just skip the dead shrimp and feed a bit of fish food each day, and perhaps some phytoplankton. I guess it's a large enough tank that perhaps the shrimp won't smell too badly, though.

 

[wintercool97]

I really like the platforms very nice