Cycling water....Help me understand

[AamaCrab]

This is what I have:
38gal Tank
Marinelab 400 filter HOB
Large Rocks I found at the beach (dried it out in the sun for a week)
Sand from the beach (washed out and dried in the sun)

So my understanding is:
-fill up my tank with SW, sand and Rocks
-turn on filter
-add ammonia source (shrimp, food or pure ammonia)
-let it do it's thing until cycled? (test with strips)


Seems so simple? Am I missing something? Can I cycle my water in a bucket/tub? (finishing up my stand so I wanted a head start)

Thanks in advance
<'///<

 

[ChristopherKriens]

That's all there is to it.

You could cycle outside of the system, but it's important to have the eventual bacterial attachment surfaces in the water during cycling. If you put your rock in the tub as well, you'll get a head start but once you add the sand and move the rock to the tank, you'll still have to wait a while- just not nearly as long.

 

[LOVETHISHOBBY]

Definitely, you can cycle your water and rock while you finish up your stand. If you get a few pieces of live rock from your lfs, that will help seed the dry rock and jump start the cycling process.

 

[glb]

For what it's worth, I think you should buy the liquid tests before you stock your tank. I had both for a while and I found that the strips weren't that accurate. Just want you to be successful!

 

[OMG Corals]

Plus one on liquid tests...why test with poor equipment and get inaccurate readings. Best to start with good stuff and get it right the first time.

60 cube with halide and leds...sps and lps mostly.

Negative....I am a meat popsicle.

 

[AamaCrab]

Thanks for the advise. This kit should be ok? Just need to check expiration date.

Amazon.com: API Saltwater Master Test Kit: Pet Supplies

Thanks
<'///<

 

[Mike J.]

That test kit will do fine or get the reef master test kit. You can get it here cheap and the filters for your HOB four times cheaper here: API Saltwater Master Test Kit Aquarium Saltwater Test Kits

 

[kes]

patience is a virtue. just keep doing the steps, but never rush.

 

[glb]

patience is a virtue. just keep doing the steps, but never rush.

Absolutely! This is the best advice you'll get. You will save yourself so much frustration if you wait until the water is just right.

 

[AamaCrab]

Thanks for the advice!

-When will my Base Rock and Sand become "Live"?
-Will this take a while after the tank has been cycled?

Thanks
<'///<

 

[glb]

Thanks for the advice!

-When will my Base Rock and Sand become "Live"?
-Will this take a while after the tank has been cycled?

Thanks
<'///<

That's hard to say exactly. But you'll see the results of it becoming more live as your biological filter matures and your test readings stabilize. Your nitrates should go down until they reach a steady level, more or less. Good luck!

 

[beaslbob]

This is what I have:
38gal Tank
Marinelab 400 filter HOB
Large Rocks I found at the beach (dried it out in the sun for a week)
Sand from the beach (washed out and dried in the sun)

So my understanding is:
-fill up my tank with SW, sand and Rocks
-turn on filter
-add ammonia source (shrimp, food or pure ammonia)
-let it do it's thing until cycled? (test with strips)


Seems so simple? Am I missing something? Can I cycle my water in a bucket/tub? (finishing up my stand so I wanted a head start)

Thanks in advance
<'///<

I would add macro algaes and cycle with a live FW molly instead of the dead shrimp method.

But that's just my .02

 

[Palting]

I would add macro algaes and cycle with a live FW molly instead of the dead shrimp method.

But that's just my .02

LOL! FW mollies. That's a blast from the past. That's how I started my saltwater tank 25 years ago. Anyway, you cannot just put FW mollies into a marine tank. They will die from osmotic shock. You put the FW molies in while the tank contains only FW, then add salt weekly to slowly convert the tank, and the mollies, into a saltwater environment.

However, I disagree that this is better than dead shrimp in a saltwater tank for kick starting a cycle. Same thing with macroalgae. Macroalgae will need nitrates to feed on, and nitrates won't exist in the tank for at least a week if you use live rock/live sand, or several weeks if you use dead rock/dry sand.