Cycling with Live Sand/Rock

[Annahra]

I just set up a 24g Nano Cube on Thursday with 40 lbs. of bagged live sand and 10 lbs. of "live" rock from my LFS. There was enough gunk from the sand that I expected the cycle to start pretty quickly but all of my water values still check out (very slight nitrate). Is it possible that the rock and sand were enough to instantly cycle the tank?

Also is there anything magical about a raw shrimp to test/cycle a tank? Can't I get the same effect just from a little bread crust? I don't want to buy shrimp just for it to rot.

Am hoping the aquarium can be cycled within 10 days as I have the opportunity to pick up some live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater next weekend and I want to preserve as much of the life as possible!

Thanks!

 

[Jason mack]

Yes iT is possible Your tank has instant cycled if youve used live sand and rock .. you may Well experience a mini cycle when you add fish as your tank catches up with the bio load and such .. instead of a dead shrimp you could also add pure ammonia which is available at any supermarket.. that's how I did mine .. just make sure you add it a little at a time and test after a few hours .. and add a little more until you reach 1-2 pmm .. once there test again after 24 hrs, if it's reading 0 your good too go ! You can also add a bottle of bacteria dr tims or something like that ..

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yes a skip cyclle is very possible in your case.
But no thesrs likey no gunk in the live sand. The rock yes. But you won't see that develop Ammonia Until next week if you have any.

I would go ahead and get the Tampa rock. You'll still have dieoff etc and ammonia to deal with but it'll be easier.

 

[Annahra]

Things are progressing! I fed the tank about 12 hours ago and water still checks out today. Maybe slightly more nitrate but I'd expect that. Most of the sediment has settled and the bacterial bloom is clearing up.

 

[Jason mack]

Cool !!! Just try too remember , nothing good happens fast in a reef tank , only bad things tends too happen fast .. patience is every thing .. happy reefing !!

 

[Annahra]

I do have one question mark. My pH is a little low at 7.8-8.0. My first instinct is too not mess with it and just let it buffer over time as the sand dissolves a little. Thoughts?

 

[Jason mack]

7.8 -8.0 is fine .. if you open a window a little in your room it will rise a little .. or run a fresh air line from outside too your skimmer .. but I wouldn't worry too much at the moment..!!!

 

[j weezy]

7.8 -8.0 is fine .. if you open a window a little in your room it will rise a little .. or run a fresh air line from outside too your skimmer .. but I wouldn't worry too much at the moment..!!!

interesting does the fresh air intake attach to the rubber air hose on the skimmer ?

7.8 -8.0 is fine .. if you open a window a little in your room it will rise a little .. or run a fresh air line from outside too your skimmer .. but I wouldn't worry too much at the moment..!!!

how do you connect the skimmer to the fresh air line ?