new tank

[Clownfishboy]

I just set up my new mantis tank and I'm not going to cycle it with fish but I was wondering how long should I wait to put a couple of hermit crabs in it and a snail or two. Can I add them right away?

 

[mickey85]

you should wait until the cycle is over, like with a standard SW tank. Your live rock should create enough ammonia and dead stuff to allow the tank to cycle.

 

[dragonforce]

You can also use a cocktail shimp to cycle a tank. It works great from what I hear. I usually buy my rock already cured so I did not have a cycle on my 37g LPS reef or either of my mantis tanks.