I have just finished filling my 210 and adding salt. The salt level is presently 1.023. Refugium is up and running fine with the mud in place. Skimmer is in tank but not running. I plan to add live rock (need to purchase) and live sand (100lb of live aragontie which I have) I was wondering what the next step should be.
Not sure how to start cycle?
- Thread starter khpddog
- Start date
alextheromanian
New member
dont waste your money on LIVE SAND...it wont help if your tank is EMPTY right now.
first off let me say. i envy you for the 210g
pick your choise of sand ...fine sand is HARD to keep cclean keep that in mind. after you added your sand (you need about 3 inches i think)
buy the live rock...which for a 210 wont come cheap but you could get lucky...some places sell cheaper the more you get.
when you have your live rock ...AQUASCAPE...for many this can be frustrating ...even more so than setting up the tank.
once you added the rock..the CYCLE will begin...fishless and in 1 to 6 weeks your cycle should be done time in which your sand will become LIVE...
many people buy live sand thinking this will help cycle the rock faster but chances are it WONT...it will cycle ANYWAYS.
good luck!
first off let me say. i envy you for the 210g
pick your choise of sand ...fine sand is HARD to keep cclean keep that in mind. after you added your sand (you need about 3 inches i think)
buy the live rock...which for a 210 wont come cheap but you could get lucky...some places sell cheaper the more you get.
when you have your live rock ...AQUASCAPE...for many this can be frustrating ...even more so than setting up the tank.
once you added the rock..the CYCLE will begin...fishless and in 1 to 6 weeks your cycle should be done time in which your sand will become LIVE...
many people buy live sand thinking this will help cycle the rock faster but chances are it WONT...it will cycle ANYWAYS.
good luck!
The cycle pretty well won't start until you have live rock in there. NOTE: lay down lighting grid eggcrate first, then rock, then sand. That way you won't have rocks cracking your bottom glass or rolling on you due to undermining.
One method of encouraging a cycle is to add a tiny (3-5 flakes) of Formula One fish food daily until you see ammonia. Then stop. WHen ammonia goes away on its own, you're cycled, but give it 2-3 more days before adding cleanup crew, just to be sure.
Use your cycling time to: stabilize your temperature at around 80: run all pumps, get lights on timer, run everything.
read up on fish and corals you're thinking of getting.
get an autotopoff set up.
buy your test kits (alk, cal, mg if you're going to have stony coral; alk if fish or softies)
get a refractometer.
Read the * threads at the top of this forum and ask questions.
you can be quite busy.
One method of encouraging a cycle is to add a tiny (3-5 flakes) of Formula One fish food daily until you see ammonia. Then stop. WHen ammonia goes away on its own, you're cycled, but give it 2-3 more days before adding cleanup crew, just to be sure.
Use your cycling time to: stabilize your temperature at around 80: run all pumps, get lights on timer, run everything.
read up on fish and corals you're thinking of getting.
get an autotopoff set up.
buy your test kits (alk, cal, mg if you're going to have stony coral; alk if fish or softies)
get a refractometer.
Read the * threads at the top of this forum and ask questions.
you can be quite busy.
External pumps will mean much less heat, so you don't need that skimmer running. Your byline doesn't say where you are: hope coolth is an asset. 
Once you have cycled, I'd say cut it on. It won't have too much to do at first, but it'll get going. With a fuge, and ample live rock, your cycle may be brief and shallow, but no less valid.
I would not run a filter sock with a fuge: traps the pods, which otherwise can keep going round and round.
SOunds like you're going to have a real nice system.
Once you have cycled, I'd say cut it on. It won't have too much to do at first, but it'll get going. With a fuge, and ample live rock, your cycle may be brief and shallow, but no less valid.I would not run a filter sock with a fuge: traps the pods, which otherwise can keep going round and round.
SOunds like you're going to have a real nice system.
Many good points. I will update my byline. Regarding the filter socks, I have 2 returns coming into the sump area with filter socks present as the water enters the sump. As I understood these will keep the bubbles at a minumum. If you are suggesting these will trap pods, do you have another suggestion for the bubbles or these not needed all together. Also, thank you for the lighting grid egg crate advice.
Playa-1
In Memoriam
Your next step is to bring your salinity up to 1.0264. Then you need to get your liverock. If your buying uncured liverock you need to decide if your going to cure it in the tank or in a separate container. I would set the sand aside. I would add the sand after the liverock is fully cured.
I personally set my liverock right on the bare bottom of the tank and cure the rock. Once the rock is cured and everything is cleaned up then I would aquascape the rock and add the sand.
I personally set my liverock right on the bare bottom of the tank and cure the rock. Once the rock is cured and everything is cleaned up then I would aquascape the rock and add the sand.
