Fowlr - The cycle

[saskbowser]

Hi Everyone,

I signed up a while ago, usually post on local forums, but I need help form the big dogs now. Give you a quick background of what I've done so far. (Day 1) I've put in my rocks, salt water and cup of live sand (live sand was added on day 7) from a friends tank and a few cap fulls of Microbacter7, sump has been going. Had to add some filter floss to let the murky water settle from the substrate for a few days. Stopped using MB7 because I found very little information on how to use it properly.

Now fast forward to a week later, I started to test my water on day 7, 10, 12 but all the readings have been low 0. Had a bacterial bloom day 11. I did eventually come across more MB7 information, so the last 3 days I've been dosing it by following the instructions on the bottle.

I know 12 days is really low, but there's no way the cycle is over right... if so, the cycle hasn't started yet? :embarassed:

Thanks for your time

 

[Rikerbear]

The cycle may have been off set by the MB7, but as I am not familiar with that product I can't really say.
I myself always start testing on day 3 of a new tank build, so I can get an idea of when the cycle started and than I test every day (sometimes twice) to know when it finishes.
Were the rocks you used live rock or dead base rock?
How large of a tank?
Only 1 cup of live sand over how many lbs of new sand?
Are you using die off from the rock as your ammonia source or did you use something else?....again not familiar with the MB7 so maybe with that you don't need an ammonia source....but would still think you'd need something to actually feed the bactiria

PS. Welcome to R2R!

 

[saskbowser]

Thanks I've been lurking around! Just got in to starting a tank.

Its a 75 Gallon Tank
30 pounds of, cured live rock....aka dead rock? still a nooooob
80 pounds of "live" dry sand. haha and 1 cup of real live sand from a friend's tank.

This is the part I'm confused about also, LFS told me to use MB7, with a very brief explanation, sounded like I did NOT need another source of ammonia.

I'm not trying to speed up the cycle, I just want it started! Thanks

 

[Rikerbear]

Hmmmm.....well dry/dead rock is not the same as cured....cured means rock that has gone through a cycle and is now fully populated with bacteria and ready to do its job.
'Live' sand is also a bit sketchy....the 'live sand' in the bags may or may not have any useful bacteria on it, but it most certainly is not the same as 'true live sand' from an established tank or the ocean. There are vendors who sell 'true live sand', but most sell the iffy kind....from what I have seen in my research.
It almost sounds like you may indeed have skipped over a real cycle, but I would be very caucious when you start to add critters. I would suggest going VERY slow. Add you clean up crew first and than wait a couple two, three weeks and monitor the tests....and test at least every other day.
If you CUC makes it and no spikes are observed than I would say move on to a fish.
My rule is one fish per month. I like to give the tank plenty of time to adjust to the new load I am adding.

 

[saskbowser]

Did you just give me the green light!! I'm very confused about it too but I might pick up some CUC and see if they can survive it then. Thanks Rikerbear.

 

[Rikerbear]

I did give you a green light for the CUC yes :smile:

 

[ACEofNONE]

Wow! I wish i had got this kind of advice when i started my tank with the same questions.


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[Rmckoy]

Hi
I have started my 70 gal setup 2 days ago and after filling with water, mixing salt and adding 40 lbs of live sand my tank went very cloudy .
It's slowly starting to clear after adding filter floss .
When should I start adding live rock ?
When should a CUC be introduced ?
How do I know when the cycle gas started and when it's is fish or coral ready ?
I am kinda new ,
It's been a few years


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[Rikerbear]

Start here: Reef 2 Reef - How to Setup a Saltwater Aquarium
Cloudy is normal when you add sand and rock
Add the rock when you are certain of your salinity and your temperature
Begin testing daily....you will begin to see the ammonia climbing after a few days
Once the ammonia drops to zero or near zero you will see your nitrites climb to dangerous levels.....once they have dropped to zero or near zero you are ready for your CUC.

 

[Rmckoy]

The saline is at 1.024
Temp is at 76
It's reasonably clear but in order to start cycle I need either fish or live rock ?
What would you recommend ?



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[ACEofNONE]

A piece of raw shrimp


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[Rikerbear]

The saline is at 1.024
Temp is at 76
It's reasonably clear but in order to start cycle I need either fish or live rock ?
What would you recommend ?P

In your first post you stated you had 40 lbs of live rock. Did you mean base rock?

 

[Rmckoy]

Sorry I don't have live or base rock .
40 lbs of live sand