Cycling
- Thread starter angelfishgirl
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SamsReef
Valuable Member
like life, there can be many factors, which will determine how fast the cycling will finish. first of all, a little intro of your setup will help. is this a fish only or reef tank, are you using established live rock or dry rock, how big is the setup, how are you cycling your tank. are you using any of the cycling agents (live bacteria source thru live sand or in bottles..). what are you using for nutrient export.
in general, fish only tank will be ready in 3 months for more fishes....reef tank in 6 months, unless you get stuck in one of the cyano or dino cycle forever...
apologies if this was not helpful. please provide more details.
Sam.
in general, fish only tank will be ready in 3 months for more fishes....reef tank in 6 months, unless you get stuck in one of the cyano or dino cycle forever...
apologies if this was not helpful. please provide more details.
Sam.
vic67
Well-Known Member
There should be a spike in the ammonia level then it'll drop to 0. The nitrite level will go up and then also drop to 0 followed by the nitrate level rising. At that point I do a WC/ usually 50% but some reefers do less. Add livestock slowly.
Diesel
ME=1, CANCER=0.
The real Answer to your Question is......................NEVER!
That said we call it cycled but really it need to be "Fish save or livestock save"
Your tank is a ongoing process of constant cycling.
You ad a fish it will adjust to the bio-load and cycle more, even with corals.
That's why you stock your setup slowly and check your #.
In checking your # I mean ammonia, nitrate and phosphate on a regular basis.
As Sam mention we need to know some factors here!
So lets hear it.
That said we call it cycled but really it need to be "Fish save or livestock save"
Your tank is a ongoing process of constant cycling.
You ad a fish it will adjust to the bio-load and cycle more, even with corals.
That's why you stock your setup slowly and check your #.
In checking your # I mean ammonia, nitrate and phosphate on a regular basis.
As Sam mention we need to know some factors here!
So lets hear it.
angelfishgirl
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It's a 40 gallon, 12x30 in. I'm doing a bare bottom reef, i plan to put live rock in as soon as I get the salt water mixxed, I've never had a salt water tank, so what I didn't answer kinda sounds like Greek to me
Diesel
ME=1, CANCER=0.
There are many ways to get your tank livestock ready, one way Is set tank up with LR and at a small piece of cured rock from a some what healthy pest free tank.
I always use Dry Rock it will take a bit longer but you don't have to be afraid for hitchhikers.
When I cycle a tank and that's the #2 with a formula, I use Dr Tim one and only but there others as well that do a good you.
Dr T will cycle your tank when follow directions in 5 days, after that you can ad one or two small fish, wait with corals as you will go through the second cycle process and that is Diatom algae.
After that clears up, and that varies by setup you can ad some easy corals.
So you got your tank, what equipment you going to run with it as Sump (maybe), lights, skimmer, water flow?
This can also help with your cycling process.
I always use Dry Rock it will take a bit longer but you don't have to be afraid for hitchhikers.
When I cycle a tank and that's the #2 with a formula, I use Dr Tim one and only but there others as well that do a good you.
Dr T will cycle your tank when follow directions in 5 days, after that you can ad one or two small fish, wait with corals as you will go through the second cycle process and that is Diatom algae.
After that clears up, and that varies by setup you can ad some easy corals.
So you got your tank, what equipment you going to run with it as Sump (maybe), lights, skimmer, water flow?
This can also help with your cycling process.
angelfishgirl
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I've got lights, I think they're generic, same type of thing I have for my freshwater. I have a coralline super skimmer hang on back, I have one power head right now, and I plan to get another in the future and set them on timers
the live rock you're going to add is live? meaning that's it's not been out of water long and contains life? After you mix your saltwater and heat it up to temperature, you add in your live rock...keep your temperature constant, run your powerhead - wait a day and then run basic tests of the water - ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate and see where you are at. I would then post those numbers here and get some advice on the next step. The basic cycle info. is in Vic's post.
