Cycling Sand?

Bentonb · Jun 30, 2012

Hey I was wondering, could I go to my lfs and buy a bag of "live sand" and then put it in a five gallon bucket of salt water and have it "pre-cycled" before I add it to my nanocube that still hasn't been delivered? would it be worth it? would I need to add a powerhead to the bucket? thoughts?

Loki · Jun 30, 2012

Get the non live sand and save some money. if you are setting up a new tank just put it in after the rock and before the water and let it all cycle together

1. rock in first. I would get dry rock because its cheaper and there wont be any pests on it.
2. sand to hold it in place
2. water and then salt. you can mix it in the tank for this time only.

its a wonderful thing

Bentonb · Jun 30, 2012

would I need to use a light over the top of the bucket?

Bentonb · Jun 30, 2012

wait... if I'm using dry rock and "dry" sand how am I supposed to get the bacteria? Don't I need to seed it with something? Can you seed dry rock with live sand? I already have 30 lbs of dry rock on the way lol

Loki · Jun 30, 2012

I wouldnt use the bucket at all. or live sand. But if you do go that route then no you dont need powerheads or lights.

Loki · Jun 30, 2012

I have heard of "Ghost feeding" its where you feed the tank just like there was fish in there. the food will break down into ammonia and start your cycle. Yes you can use live sand with dry rock. They also sell the pure ammonia that you can add to the tank to... add ammonia to the tank

Bentonb · Jun 30, 2012

Loki2902 said:
I have heard of "Ghost feeding" its where you feed the tank just like there was fish in there. the food will break down into ammonia and start your cycle. Yes you can use live sand with dry rock. They also sell the pure ammonia that you can add to the tank to... add ammonia to the tank

awesome, thanks =)

Loki · Jun 30, 2012

You're very welcome. What size nanocube are you getting? I am guessing a 28 (whatever is about that size)

Bentonb · Jun 30, 2012

yea, I went to my lfs on tuesday and they said they had ordered them on monday, so I was optimistic about getting it on friday but that didn't happen.. so I'll have to wait till tuesday... :/ I just wanna get a jump on things considering I've entered the nano in 90, but I haven't even got my tank yet

out:

Loki · Jun 30, 2012

Umm if you need it cycled quickly then. Look into Dr. Tim's one and only. My buddy cycled his 180 gallon tank in 6 days with it. It basically has all te bacteria you need. So you have to put a fish or four in when you add it so that the bacteria will have something to eat

Bentonb · Jun 30, 2012

sweet, I'll check if my lfs has it, if not, I might have to turn to amazon lol. I did cycle my 10 gallon really quick, but thats cause I used all live rock and all live sand, which I'm not doing this time... come to think of it I'm not sure when it cycled because I didn't have a test kit lol... but nothing died

and I didn't have any coral at the time.

Loki · Jun 30, 2012

yeah that would speed up the process a lot if you used live sand and rock.

It looks like it will cost $25 shipped for enough to do 30 gallons. you have saved way more than that by getting dry rock already. and if you go dry sand it will be even better IMO.
https://store.drtimsaquatics.com/One-Only-Live-Nitrifying-Bacteria-for-Saltwater-Aquaria_p_48.html

Bentonb · Jun 30, 2012

just came back from my lfs with a 40lb bag of dry sand :bigsmile:

Bentonb · Jun 30, 2012

also, I just bought Dr. Tims

Loki · Jun 30, 2012

Awesome! Let me know how it works for you. It would be cool start a new thread with the results from it. Testing each day.

BarbH · Jun 30, 2012

Here is a link on Dr Tim's one and only that you might find of interest with Dr Tim and using this product

[video=youtube_share;kPxExG-FbvI]http://youtu.be/kPxExG-FbvI[/video]

Bentonb · Jun 30, 2012

@loki I just might do that

I will be using it in my JBJ nano cube so we'll see how that goes

@barb Thanks for the awesome vid, it was super informative, I don't know if I'll be able to get any ammonia so I might have to use a fish to cycle it, but like Mr. Saltwater Tank said its an infinitesimally small spike so I think the fish will be fine. What do you think?