Help cycling new tank

[mOnsterzOas26]

So I just set up a fluval edge 6 gallon tank , this is what I did ,
I bought a 10lb of Caribbean Sea black live sand,
I added clean water from stablished tank,
I added about 6lb of Marco dry rock and a piece of live stablished rock to seed,
I also added a lil bit of bio spira ,
So my question is what should I do next ? Thanks in advance , really appreciate anybody's experiences

 

[robbrouse]

Ammonia source, Is needed.

 

[mOnsterzOas26]

Ammonia source, Is needed.

Can u explain more ? How do I get ammonia ?

 

[tyler1503]

Can u explain more ? How do I get ammonia ?

Pick up a raw prawn/table shrimp when your at the shops next and put it in a net, and float it in the tank. Or just throw in a cube of frozen food. They will produce ammonia as they rot and in turn, progress that part of the cycle

 

[mOnsterzOas26]

Pick up a raw prawn/table shrimp when your at the shops next and put it in a net, and float it in the tank. Or just throw in a cube of frozen food. They will produce ammonia as they rot and in turn, progress that part of the cycle

Thanks , ok and how long to live it in net ? , also do I need to keep lights and filter on ?

 

[tyler1503]

Thanks , ok and how long to live it in net ? , also do I need to keep lights and filter on ?

Leave it in until you start to see nitrites on the rise, when your nitrites eventually fall to 0 and you have nitrates, start weekly 10-20% water changes.
The light is optional, but keep the filtration and heater on. You need stable temperature, good surface agitation and water movement even during the cycle

 

[gtbarsi]

I recommend DrTim's Aquatics Ammonium chloride instead of the shrimp method. It is cleaner and only adds the Ammonia you need. You can get this at a couple of different places, here is one as a reference...

Amazon.com: DrTim's Aquatics Ammonium chloride for Aquarium: Pet Supplies

 

[mOnsterzOas26]

Thanks Tyler1503

 

[mOnsterzOas26]

I recommend DrTim's Aquatics Ammonium chloride instead of the shrimp method. It is cleaner and only adds the Ammonia you need. You can get this at a couple of different places, here is one as a reference...

Amazon.com: DrTim's Aquatics Ammonium chloride for Aquarium: Pet Supplies

why do u recommend this method better than shrimp ? And thanks

 

[mOnsterzOas26]

Also do I have to check parameters daily ?

 

[NC2WA]

monsterz,

is your black sand, caribsea live sand?

if not, what brand is it..most black sands contain silicate which will increase your nitrates considerably...something watch.

 

[tyler1503]

No worries
During the cycle I check 3 or 4 times a week. Everyone has a different opinion on how to cycle a tank, so you might get different answers on that, but do what sounds right to you.

 

[mOnsterzOas26]

monsterz,

is your black sand, caribsea live sand?

if not, what brand is it..most black sands contain silicate which will increase your nitrates considerably...something watch.

Yea it's caribsea live sand my bad

 

[mOnsterzOas26]

No worries
During the cycle I check 3 or 4 times a week. Everyone has a different opinion on how to cycle a tank, so you might get different answers on that, but do what sounds right to you.

Thanks man appreciate it, so a cube of frozen mysis should work right ?

 

[tyler1503]

Thanks man appreciate it, so a cube of frozen mysis should work right ?

No worries.
That's what I've used before and it worked well. I've never had an issue doing this except a bit of ugly food at the bottom of the tank. But that's easy enough to siphon out when you start water changes.

 

[mOnsterzOas26]

No worries.
That's what I've used before and it worked well. I've never had an issue doing this except a bit of ugly food at the bottom of the tank. But that's easy enough to siphon out when you start water changes.

Cool , thanks again

 

[mOnsterzOas26]

How it looks so far

 

[bigfoot86]

Yea, if you just drop a raw piece of shrimp in there or seed it with a piece of live rock, that should do the trick.

 

[mOnsterzOas26]

Yea, if you just drop a raw piece of shrimp in there or seed it with a piece of live rock, that should do the trick.

Thanks

 

[mOnsterzOas26]

So if do the mysis cube do I just trow it in there or I have to put it in the net ?