Fish Only Tank Cycle?

[KindOfSalty]

Does a FISH ONLY tank need to cycle? I only have a decoration in a 120G 6Ft tank. I have oolite live sand and saltwater in it now and the tank is up and running. Just wondering if so how long until i could start introducing livestock? i have a 60G reef at my house but this is for the Office. i have never done a fish only tank before.:fish1:

 

[namxas]

Cycling is cycling...you have to culture bacteria in the system. If you use LR from a mature setup, you might "short cycle" or "no cycle", but it's not a guaranteed thing.

 

[KindOfSalty]

Well that's the thing, I'm not going to have live rock in the tank. I have sump rock from a friend in my sump that's it. Just didn't know if I should see a cycle or anything. I will be testing the water twice a week to see what my parameters are.

 

[Pallobi]

as above, cycling is cycling... i suggest a peice of raw shrimp to kick the cycling off

 

[dzfish17]

A pinch of flake food everyday will also cycle a tank.

 

[Thatgrimguy]

Well that's the thing, I'm not going to have live rock in the tank. I have sump rock from a friend in my sump that's it. Just didn't know if I should see a cycle or anything. I will be testing the water twice a week to see what my parameters are.

The bacteria still has to colonize. Since you don't have any live rock (I would add some, makes your life easier with upkeep) the primary bacteria growth will in the sand and in your mechanical filtration. It does take less time with no dead rock/live rock because there is less surface area for die/off and recolonization.

 

[namxas]

You need to stress the tank and see where you're at. Feed the tank a "normal" feeding for your initial stocking level and see how long it takes the tank to process the spike. That will tell you where your cycle is.

 

[ashtree68]

Well that's the thing, I'm not going to have live rock in the tank. I have sump rock from a friend in my sump that's it. Just didn't know if I should see a cycle or anything. I will be testing the water twice a week to see what my parameters are.

If he has sump rock won't that help? Just because its not in the display should make a difference should it?

And if he's getting it from an established tank that should help speed it up too.

 

[namxas]

Sump LR is as good as in-tank LR as long as there's enuff of it. We have setups that appear a bit "shy" of LR, but we make up for it in the sump.