I want to cycle my tank before I order my sea horse's but I'm hoping that I can put some things in there to cycle it that will make tank mates for the horse's later , could I put a cleaning crew in even though there is'nt much to clean yet.... Any advice and I'd be grateful...Thanx Dave E
Help Cycling my tank
- Thread starter dne63
- Start date
pledosophy
Active member
How new is the tank.
What are your levels at?
Putting a cleaning crew in an uncycled tank is a waste of funds.
If it were me I'd toss in a cube of mysis a day and let it rot until your ammonia reads zero, then toss in the cleaners for awhile then the horses. JMO.
If your planning any gobies or such I'd put them in beofre the seahorses also, although others do prefer the other way around. JMO
What are your levels at?
Putting a cleaning crew in an uncycled tank is a waste of funds.
If it were me I'd toss in a cube of mysis a day and let it rot until your ammonia reads zero, then toss in the cleaners for awhile then the horses. JMO.
If your planning any gobies or such I'd put them in beofre the seahorses also, although others do prefer the other way around. JMO
reefD
New member
mysis is a frozen food like brine. in anycase i wouldnt go that far and add a cube a day. its really a waste of money. you can get the same results with live rock. if you dont have any yet get a few pieces and add them to the new set up. next like the above post said wait for the ammonia spike then the reduction of it. be patient...this can take up to 2 months in some cases. dont think the cycle is done until you get no ammonia spikes for a wee. top off as ussual and do a 20% water change at 4 weeks. and keep testing. you could add some snails now as the ussually tolerate a cycle as long as you ellivate the high amonia with small water changes weekly. this will slow the procees but will ensure thier survival and they will eat all the diatom blooms that occur in a new tank. and if they die(some will some wont) they will release excess levels . bad ? well just as bad as thawed roten mysis in your tank. they will help the cycle but most will live.
in anycase just go slow. wait 2-3 months if you want a good cycle and no futuer prob. JMO
in anycase just go slow. wait 2-3 months if you want a good cycle and no futuer prob. JMO
reefD
New member
ideally get some small blue leg hermits.....they will survive cycle and keep tanl clean...and they dont bother seahorses. some may crawl up a tail but sea horses dont feel threatened as its easy for they to flick thier body and toss the sucker off...no worries to them at all! promise
What horses did you decide to go with? I dont know much about cycling, but I was reading an earlier post and you weren't sure what breed to get. Also, where are you ordering from? are they Wild caught or Captive bred? Good luck with the cycle... Its an annoying process, but it gives you plenty of time to research and figure out what you really want, and learn a lot about it.
