Cycling a frag tank

[Masomaniac]

This might be a dumb question but how do you cycle a frag tank? I ask because I am turning my old biocube into one and just wondered how you cycle It since there won't be any sand or live rock.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

This might be a dumb question but how do you cycle a frag tank? I ask because I am turning my old bovine into one and just wondered how you cycle It since there won't be any sand or live rock.

You need live rock.

 

[cameronh]

Just stick a bunch of crushed live rock in the back.
I just ran out of chips, I'm hungry.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is not connected to your main tank?

 

[Coastie Reefer]

I cycled a couple of softball sized rocks in a 5 gallon bucket for a couple months. I have a bare bottom 20L with those rocks an eggcrate frag rack and a single damsel. Doesn't take much but you need a little of rock in my opinion.

 

[Coastie Reefer]

Early snapshot for reference

 

[ahiggins]

Im tagging along as mine is new too
I have a 40b-with maybe 10 lbs of crushed/small pieces live rock.

 

[Masomaniac]

It is not connected to your main tank?

No it's not no room near my tank

 

[SandJ]

I have been wondering this also, so glad you asked :0)

If you need to add live rock, would the ceramic bio blocks work instead? If so, maybe they would be easier to fit into the tank?

 

[Coastie Reefer]

I have been wondering this also, so glad you asked :0)

If you need to add live rock, would the ceramic bio blocks work instead? If so, maybe they would be easier to fit into the tank?

I don't have personal experience with this, but I almost went this route. I would "assume" (that's dangerous sometimes) it would work.

 

[drernesto Verified Sponsor]

What's the volume of ur main tank, and what's the volume of ur frag? If it's connected to ur main & less than a 20% of ur main, IMHO u don't need to do anything... it is considered as a water change.

 

[Masomaniac]

I have been wondering this also, so glad you asked :0)

If you need to add live rock, would the ceramic bio blocks work instead? If so, maybe they would be easier to fit into the tank?

I've actually thought about that this morning. Placing one or two on the bottom of the tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What's the volume of ur main tank, and what's the volume of ur frag? If it's connected to ur main & less than a 20% of ur main, IMHO u don't need to do anything... it is considered as a water change.

Bringing in water alone won't rapidly cycle the tank. Bringing in rocks, sponges, or biomedia from the main tank would, however.

 

[Masomaniac]

Okay so I've thought about it and since my rack will 5in off the bottom I can throw live rock under that. I have a ceramic block in my sump for my main display so the live rock in the sump isn't needed so I will put that in the frag tank to help cycle along with a couple of pieces of dry rock I have laying around.

Another quick question what a good led that's not going to break the bank and either has a tank mount or legs to sit on the edges

 

[ahiggins]

I like the AI primes a lot. Theyre $225ish on amazon. If I had the extra funds I would put two on my frag tank.

I have an AI prime for the LPS side of my frags, I have a lifegard aquatics 18" on the zoa/paly side. I dont reccomend them though. Their power cords constantly give out/short out ($13 to replace them).

 

[Coastie Reefer]

I'm a big fan of the AI Prime too, I have an older one on my 10g. Depending on how you're wanting to mount it and how much you're wanting to spend, MarsAqua could be a good option for around 95 bucks.

Note: AI has already announced they WILL NOT be having any black Friday sales. Everything will be full price throughout the holidays.

 

[James Hammett]

Is this enough live rock to cycle a 10 gallon frag tank?

It seems to have started ammonia and Nitrites are spiking today just don’t know if it will complete the cycle or crash with only this it’s about a pound

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Is this enough live rock to cycle a 10 gallon frag tank?

It seems to have started ammonia and Nitrites are spiking today just don’t know if it will complete the cycle or crash with only this it’s about a pound

That'll work yet.
I’m sure some will point out that is not enough to support a higher book load , like fish.

 

[James Hammett]

I plan to add a wrasse after it gets back to 0 ammonia and Nitrite.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I’d consider an ammoina alert badge and a standby bottle of bacteria , as honestly I don’t know if the bio filter would be strong enough. It might be.