tank cycling
- Thread starter bizzleb01
- Start date
All you need to do is leave it alone for about 6 weeks except for monitoring for nitrites and nitrates and you only need to do that so you have something do and know when the cycle is going. When the nitrites are gone and nitrates begin climbing, the cycle is underway. At that point, do a 100% water change, and you are ready for a few small fish.
ps. I heavily recommend dr tim's one and only for getting the bacteria in. It worked very well in my system. You don't absolutely need it, but it saves a some time on the frontend.
ps. I heavily recommend dr tim's one and only for getting the bacteria in. It worked very well in my system. You don't absolutely need it, but it saves a some time on the frontend.
Ted_C
Active member
I think a water change shouldn't be done until after the cycle is completed. You want the nutrients to be floating around for the bacteria to consume so they can build a healthy population. A water change removes some nutrients.
I also think a 100% water change as recommended by the other person is a bad idea. Logically - you'd replace all the water with nutrient free water and the bacteria will begin to die off until you establish nutrients in the water.
Dr Tims is also not needed. You should get all the bacteria you need to start your cycle from the dead shrimp.
Testing can be done as often as you want.
I also think a 100% water change as recommended by the other person is a bad idea. Logically - you'd replace all the water with nutrient free water and the bacteria will begin to die off until you establish nutrients in the water.
Dr Tims is also not needed. You should get all the bacteria you need to start your cycle from the dead shrimp.
Testing can be done as often as you want.
MrHarvard
"ship it"
I have to agree with Ted on pretty much everything he said. Since you are doing a fishless cycle there really is no need to do any water changes until the cycle is over. I personally wouldn't do a 100% water change after cycle but rather the normal 20% just to replenish the oxygen in the water. Once you see the nitrates drop to zero or close you should be good to go. Make sure once you begin adding livestock you test your water a few days after adding to ensure your tanks bacteria can handle the added bioload. In regards to testing you can do it as you like. If you do it daily you can estimate what stage your cycle is in by testing ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. When your ammonia numbers level out and then start dropping your nitrite and nitrate numbers are climbing you know your on your way.
hobbzz
How do I change this?
Ted and MrHarvard are correct. It also shouldn't take six weeks. If you wanted to speed it up you could use MicroBacter 7 or BacterGenM. They actually work and have been tested. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2014/8/review
MrHarvard
"ship it"
Let it be my friend, let it be.....keep watching that nitrate number it should slowely start dropping. Consider this your countdown to livestock.
Henchman24
Member
The cycle time can vary from a few weeks to a few months. I am somewhat new to saltwater tanks but the cycle process is breaking down fish waste to Ammonia that becomes Nitrites which break down to Nitrates. The cycle is started by adding an Ammonia source (shrimp in this case) & waiting for bacteria to grow that complete each breakdown step.
Adding live rock at the beginning will speed up the process as the bacteria is already on the rock. Add dry rock if not using live rock so the bacteria has surface to grow on. Bacteria in a bottle like dr tim's should also speed up the process but people question if they actually work. testing & waiting suck but you want to see 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, & below 10ppm nitrate before adding fish. Ammonia & nitrite will kill fish or high nitrate levels. I think a decent sized water change at the end like 20% or so would be beneficial. water changes will lower the nitrate levels as a part of your maintenance routine.
remove large chunks of the shrimp after a week or so if it starts to rot away. Too much of an Ammonia source is going to slow down the process as there isn't enough bacteria yet to break down the ammonia. Keep this in mind when adding your first fish take things slow & test for a few weeks before adding others. I see that you have over 200 posts which shows you are researching before adding fish to the tank. Great job on your part. too often people are killing fish & invertebrates before they understand what equipment is needed or using tap water. diatoms & and some algae should be expected for a few weeks.
Adding live rock at the beginning will speed up the process as the bacteria is already on the rock. Add dry rock if not using live rock so the bacteria has surface to grow on. Bacteria in a bottle like dr tim's should also speed up the process but people question if they actually work. testing & waiting suck but you want to see 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, & below 10ppm nitrate before adding fish. Ammonia & nitrite will kill fish or high nitrate levels. I think a decent sized water change at the end like 20% or so would be beneficial. water changes will lower the nitrate levels as a part of your maintenance routine.
remove large chunks of the shrimp after a week or so if it starts to rot away. Too much of an Ammonia source is going to slow down the process as there isn't enough bacteria yet to break down the ammonia. Keep this in mind when adding your first fish take things slow & test for a few weeks before adding others. I see that you have over 200 posts which shows you are researching before adding fish to the tank. Great job on your part. too often people are killing fish & invertebrates before they understand what equipment is needed or using tap water. diatoms & and some algae should be expected for a few weeks.
