Just got setup and have some questions

[ijw]

It's been a few weeks but I decided to go with an all in one unit for my tank. I have 20 lbs of live sand and 12 lbs of live rock (Could use more). I set it up yesterday with cured rock that was in the tanks, with fish, at a local fish store. My question is do I need to do something to send the tank into a hard cycle, such as the cocktail shrimp or would putting a small amount of fish flake in there be enough ammonia to start a small cycle since the bacteria is already present.

Thanks for your help

 

[LtPiper]

I've started my tanks by putting in a hearty species of fish like a damsel. However having used live rock and sand the food, or a shrimp should work too. All a product called Cycle will work as well. For that matter you could use all three together.

 

[rnhrtfan]

When I started mine (about 8 months ago) I used a piece of shrimp and poured in a bottle of cycle. took about 4 weeks for my 38G. Good luck and be PATIENT.

 

[Altpers0na-old]

why not a drop of regular ammonia?

 

[ijw]

It is a small tank so you think just a drop of ammonia will set things into motion? Thanks for the help guys.

 

[essop3]

It may not even cycle. I set up mine like you did and it never cycled. I added a shrimp and measured an ammonia spike. When it went away 1 day later I knew I was ok. It may take longer. Just make sure you get ammonia then it goes away.

 

[LtPiper]

I wouldn't do regular ammonia as it's chemical structure may not be the same.

 

[reefbuzz]

A small piece of shrimp is preferred to ammonia IMO, but I've heard it all works. Keep your alk and ca in check before you add livestock.

 

[coralreefer]

I've cycled all my tanks with only live rock.
Essop's right with fully cured rock you may not even see a cycle. Wouldn't hurt to throw a piece of shrimp in if you'd like. Just remember to start out stocking slowly.

 

[ijw]

I just did a round of tests ammonia is showing trace amounts everything else is good at the moment. So I guess I will wait and see if the ammonia goes to zero and everything else goes as planned.

 

[rnhrtfan]

ijw, when I cycled mine I had a brief spike in Ammo, then nitrite and lastly a spike in nitrate but that was started with base rock and a piece of shrimp. Ron should weigh in here again as he is the one that helped with mine and give his two cents worth. With yours being cured rock that may be the difference but keep an eye on it every day for the next few days to see what happens.

 

[mcox33]

When I set up my 90 I used the water and rock from a 55 gallon. 5 weeks later it finally went into a mini cycle, Barry had me add double cycle everyday as there were fish and corals in the tank already. one of which transfered from the 55 gallon with the rock and water.

 

[coralreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9733502#post9733502 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rnhrtfan
ijw, when I cycled mine I had a brief spike in Ammo, then nitrite and lastly a spike in nitrate but that was started with base rock and a piece of shrimp. Ron should weigh in here again as he is the one that helped with mine and give his two cents worth. With yours being cured rock that may be the difference but keep an eye on it every day for the next few days to see what happens.

There's a big difference in starting a tank with base rock versus live rock especially cured.
ijw it will either keep spiking for a few days or bottom out soon. The longest cycle I've ever had using live rock only was 5 days the shortest was none.

 

[firefish2020]

Cycling with LR is the fastest way to cycle a tank IMO but it is the least practiced for some reason?

 

[Reef4Fun]

I agree, live rock is the best way, I used a piece of raw shrimp when I did mine, but I'm not sure it was needed. As for cycling with damsels...well, IMO, it is cruel and not needed. It will work, but why put them throught that, most people don't like damsels, but they are animals as well and they will suffer while the tank is cycling. I, in no way, mean to put another persons ways down, this is completley my opionion.

 

[ijw]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9734832#post9734832 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by firefish2020
Cycling with LR is the fastest way to cycle a tank IMO but it is the least practiced for some reason?

So I don't need to add anything? Just sit back and let it happen.

 

[firefish2020]

If it's LR yep, just sit back and wait about a week. Now don't get this wrong, even after your tank cycles it still needs to find it's "balance". That can take up to 6 months, this is when the tanks chemistry stabilizes to a pattern that is natural to your system.

 

[rnhrtfan]

That's what I was meaning to say. Just because it APPEARS to be cycled watch it for the next few days just to make sure that it doesn't go through any abnormal changes.

 

[coralreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9734832#post9734832 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by firefish2020
Cycling with LR is the fastest way to cycle a tank IMO but it is the least practiced for some reason?

Probably because it's the most expensive :lol:
Both of the tanks we set up from "scratch" years ago started with less than the recommended amount of rock, because of the cost, then we filled them up a few pieces at a time.
Reef bones etc. weren't available then either.

I haven't paid a lot of attention but cycling with live rock seems common down here.

So I don't need to add anything?

The most important additive for a reef tank is patience
I've set up 4 tanks this way with no problems. Two had a mix of live and dead sand two with only dead sand.
The show tank at Bert's was cycled with only live rock too. Like Ron said stock slowly so the bacteria can keep up with your bioload.

How big is your tank anyway?

 

[ijw]

It is a 12 Gallon aquapod. I got the rocks from Berts and selected the nicer purple ones from the tanks with the fish. Ammonia was only slightly measurable yesterday and looked lower today. Nitrates were up a little from yesterday. With the small tank and kind of rock I am using will I still see the big diatom cover I have heard about?