So now that I've got the cycle started, here's how I plan to proceed in the upcoming weeks...
1.
No Filtration: I don't plan on using filtration equipment until at least a full week (probably more like two weeks- depending on how the cycle progresses) of the cycle. The reason being that I want the tank to go through a natural cycle where the levels fluctuate accordingly and settle back down based on the bacteria levels and not assisted with any equipment I'm using. I
think this should help guard against any additional major cycles when livestock is introduced, or at least minimize them. If anyone feels otherwise, definitely share... I'm open to other opinions on why this might not be beneficial.
2.
No Lights: One of the reasons why I think I can afford to let the tank run its natural cycle is because I also won't be running any lighting until AFTER the nutrients have leveled out. My intention is to wait for the normal cycle to complete, then start the filtration (this will include my Alpha Cone 200 skimmer, and 2 BRS Deluxe Media reactors- one for carbon and the other for GFO) for about a week. After the week, I'll probably do a water change and test for levels (Ammonia, Nitrates and Phosphates) and if nothing is out of the acceptable range (especially phosphates), I'll start running the lights. My thought process with this is that with most tanks we usually see an algae bloom during our cycle, and I would like to minimize the amount of algae that takes hold; and without a key part of their energy source (light), I hope to have a tank that doesn't look like my lawn most days (which needs to be mowed by the way). Although, having said that, I don't expect to have an absolutely CLEAN tank, just one that has enough algae to require a decent CUC to maintain it (and not me manually cleaning it). I actually fell upon this approach by accident :idea:, when I was setting up my 60 gallon, I was waiting for my lights to be shipped and they ended up not coming until after my cycle was complete. The results were a tank with very little algae, so I hope to duplicate the process here. Worst case, if it doesn't work, at least I'll be saving on energy for a couple of weeks! :beachbum:
3.
Clean-Up Crew: Once the lights are on, I plan on starting with a
small CUC consisting of (and these numbers can change depending on their task at hand)-
>
Algae Eaters- 2XTurbo Snails (may not include these since they knock frags over more often than not), 10-20XTrochus Snails, 1XPurple Short-Spined Urchin, 1XBlue Tuxedo Urchin
>
Sand-Sifters- 5XCerith Snails, 5XNassarius Snails, 1XFighting Conch, and 1XSea Cucumber
>
Miscellaneous- thinking of adding two pairs of Cleaner Shrimps since they always seem to be a crowd favorite and are good scavengers.
Thoughts on this mix would be much appreciated, so feel free to post any "add-ons" or "deletes" you'd make to this list!
. Also, any suggestions on
where to get a good CUC are welcome!!!
4.
Add Livestock: Once the clean-up crew is in, I'll be ready to start adding my fish (which should've been in the QT for more than enough time by this time). After the addition of fish, I'll be checking the parameters and making sure everything is good (including Ca, Alk, Mg) and once all of these are stable, I'll plumb my frag/holding tank into the DT sump so that the water can slowly mix and acclimate the corals/clams to the DT water. Once this is all done, then the corals/clams can be placed in their
slightly more luxurious home.
Now I know that things don't always go the way we plan, but we'll see how it goes!
Thanks,
Chad
