Bacteria,cycle,getting started

[michelle j w]

I am very new to the salt water world.got a nano 60 in January. Didn’t take long to realise it’s just way to small so I bought a second hand 400 litre tank with sump that Was basically two glass tanks with a stand. I’ve just restored it ‘plumbing and sections for refugium ‘ ect. And filled with salt water yesterday WOOOHOOOO.
Need advice on what to do and what bacteria to use to successfully cycle it . Thank you in advance

 

[fishywishy]

I use dr Tim’s beneficial bacteria and ammonia, it usually takes a week or two to cycle. You can get them both on amazon. Turbo start and instant ocean Bacteria are also good options if you cant get the dr Tim one. Just read the instructions on the bottles and add them to the tank. keep testing your water until your ammonia reaches zero, once that happens you can add fish.

 

[anemonalex]

Blank

 

[michelle j w]

I use dr Tim’s beneficial bacteria and ammonia, it usually takes a week or two to cycle. You can get them both on amazon. Turbo start and instant ocean Bacteria are also good options if you cant get the dr Tim one. Just read the instructions on the bottles and add them to the tank. keep testing your water until your ammonia reaches zero, once that happens you can add fish.

Thank you, will have a look now

 

[Dan_P]

I am very new to the salt water world.got a nano 60 in January. Didn’t take long to realise it’s just way to small so I bought a second hand 400 litre tank with sump that Was basically two glass tanks with a stand. I’ve just restored it ‘plumbing and sections for refugium ‘ ect. And filled with salt water yesterday WOOOHOOOO.
Need advice on what to do and what bacteria to use to successfully cycle it . Thank you in advance

What did you use for the nano 60?

 

[michelle j w]

I don’t remember

Thank you, will have a look now

Thank you, will have a look now

Hi I’ve done the Dr Tim’s one and only with the ammonia like you suggested and it’s worked a treat. My ammonia levels are now below 0.2 so I did my first 25% water change yesterday. Tested everything today and my nitrites and nitrates are still of the charts ‘high’ should I do another change today ? Michelle

 

[SaltyWalty]

If you want to really properly seed a tank with healthy bacteria you should get some live rock, or see if you can get some rock rubble from someone with a thriving well established tank. You don’t need a ton, just something to introduce the healthy bacterial strains.
Reach out to other aquarists in your community or see if your local fish store has some. But you have to choose some from someone with a good healthy well established tank, that is actually growing corals.

 

[michelle j w]

If you want to really properly seed a tank with healthy bacteria you should get some live rock, or see if you can get some rock rubble from someone with a thriving well established tank. You don’t need a ton, just something to introduce the healthy bacterial strains.
Reach out to other aquarists in your community or see if your local fish store has some. But you have to choose some from someone with a good healthy well established tank, that is actually growing corals.

Ok thank , il try and sorce some. Il have to ask the place where I get my water from

 

[michelle j w]

Thank you, will have a look now

I’ve done the Dr Tim’s one and only with the ammonia like you suggested and it’s worked a treat. My ammonia levels are now below 0.2 so I did my first 25% water change yesterday. Tested everything today and my nitrites and nitrates are still of the charts ‘high’ should I do another change today ? Michelle

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Live rock from the ocean is the absolute best since jt introduces innumerable bacterial strains that are impossible to get in any bottle. As your tank matures, many new strains of bacteria will slowly be added but real live rock from the ocean (including maricultured in the ocean of course) will really help you get the best start possible.

 

[fishywishy]

I’ve done the Dr Tim’s one and only with the ammonia like you suggested and it’s worked a treat. My ammonia levels are now below 0.2 so I did my first 25% water change yesterday. Tested everything today and my nitrites and nitrates are still of the charts ‘high’ should I do another change today ? Michelle

I would just wait a little longer for everything to go down by itself. Once everything is zero except nitrates you can do a water change then add fish.

 

[michelle j w]

Should I keep feeding the nitrifying bacteria whilst waiting for levels to drop? Also sourced some rubble from the aquatic shop out of there established tank.

 

[michelle j w]

Live rock from the ocean is the absolute best since jt introduces innumerable bacterial strains that are impossible to get in any bottle. As your tank matures, many new strains of bacteria will slowly be added but real live rock from the ocean (including maricultured in the ocean of course) will really help you get the best start possible.

Thanks for the advice, I got some rock/rubble from the aquatic shop , out of there sump

 

[SaltyWalty]

Should I keep feeding the nitrifying bacteria whilst waiting for levels to drop? Also sourced some rubble from the aquatic shop out of there established tank.

Wow that’s a nice looking rock! Lot of sponges!
That’s a great sign! it wouldn’t be a bad idea to add a little food, not a lot just a pinch to feed some of the bacteria! Keep an eye on your tank parameters to track where your nitrogen cycle is at, but I’d give it a little bit and you should be good to add fish soon. Just make sure your nitrite and ammonia levels are 0ppm and you are reading some nitrate.
I Would keep the lights off for a while even after you add fish just to help prevent uglies but you seem to be doing a great job so far!

 

[michelle j w]

Thank you ,my ammonia is virtually zero but nitrite and nitrates are sky high. Not put any lights on and I’ve got a blanket covering tank and sump. Should I add a little of the ammonium chloride that came with the Dr Tim’s ‘one and only’ ? Will attach pics of water tests. Thank for advice it’s helped me a lot.

 

[SaltyWalty]

Thank you ,my ammonia is virtually zero but nitrite and nitrates are sky high. Not put any lights on and I’ve got a blanket covering tank and sump. Should I add a little of the ammonium chloride that came with the Dr Tim’s ‘one and only’ ? Will attach pics of water tests. Thank for advice it’s helped me a lot.

I would wait to add anything or any feeding. until your nitrites are at zero and nitrates are even higher. Then before you add fish maybe do a few big water changes to get your nitrates down a bit but wait on changing or adding anything else till the nitrite is 0.

 

[michelle j w]

I would wait to add anything or any feeding. until your nitrites are at zero and nitrates are even higher. Then before you add fish maybe do a few big water changes to get your nitrates down a bit but wait on changing or adding anything else till the nitrite is 0.

Thanks you’ve been a great help

 

[michelle j w]

Thanks you’ve been a great help

Coming down a treat now