Cycle question

BigT75 · Feb 24, 2019

I am asking for opinions on what fellow reefers have successfully done to help the cycle of a new tank along. As in adding ammonia, or shrimp, or ghost feed . And at what point would this be done?

I ask cause my 135 was set up from a already established system not from ground zero as I am going thru now. I want it done right . I have it fully stocked with “once” live rock (150lbs) 100lbs live sand , crystal 36 sump , (2) PP-15s jabeo wavemakers running now I
Have a curve 7 skimmer (not running) atm

Thanks again !

Jason mack · Feb 24, 2019

When I started mine with dry rocks I just added ammonia I bought from the supermarket...I dosed till 2ppm then added a bottle of bactostart and sat back and let the tank do its thing for 10 weeks ..once no2 was at zero and my nitrates spiked I did a water change ...

BigT75 · Feb 24, 2019

Jason mack said:
When I started mine with dry rocks I just added ammonia I bought from the supermarket...I dosed till 2ppm then added a bottle of bactostart and sat back and let the tank do its thing for 10 weeks ..once no2 was at zero and my nitrates spiked I did a water change ...

Any ammonia? Like the cleaning kind ?

Firemanreefkeeper · Feb 24, 2019

I've done 4 tanks from dead rock. All started with bacteria in a bottle. 3 with the stuff they sent with the bottle that is basically ammonia and the last I did the a dead shrimp. All cycled in 3 weeks. Directions are on the bottle as to how to dose them.

Idoc · Feb 24, 2019

BigT75 said:
Any ammonia? Like the cleaning kind ?

Look for janitorial grade ammonia...ACE hardware settings it. Shake it first...if it bubbles up, then it has surfactants and you don't want thi use that one.