I know it's out of fashion, but in olden times we'd put saltwater in a tank and maybe let it age a day or so, then add live rock. Even if you're starting with dry, I'd run it in the system (no lights, just by itself) for a few weeks and let the rock age.
Either way, as long as there were no signs of ammonia or nitrites in the water at that point, I'd start slowing introducing livestock.
- Start small and work slowly and there's no danger to anything.
- That usually means some snails first.
- If you hate your snails, then maybe some crabs too.
- I'd add a coral or two if all looked well in a week or two.
- I'd probably add another coral a week or two later, or maybe another invert like a shrimp so that I could start feeding the tank with a reasonable assumption that something would actually eat it.
- A few weeks later, another coral or two.
- And so forth, working your way up to your first fish.
- By the time the first fish goes in, there's a healthy ecosystem for them, including some corals to clean up after everyone!!
- I'd try not to add any more than one critter at a time and I'd try to keep the additions all well-spaced like this.
- It makes sense to space fish additions out even farther.
That's how I'd do a "fish-less cycle".
If this was your first tank, or first reef, I might suggest longer waiting times in between steps as it's all new and you won't know what you're even looking for in terms of good or bad at first.
(Take your time so you can
look at everything.
)
