How do i cycle my tank?

[PegasisR]

I bought some fritz turbo start 900 and its currently on the way so i just wanted to plan ahead and know what to do after i add the bottles of fritz? Do i add 2ppm of ammonia? What do i do with testing? What do i look for and how many times do it? Thank you for the help

 

[Crabs McJones]

Correct, add your turbostart, and dose the tank up to 2ppm ammonia. Test daily. when your ammonia level reaches 0 dose up to 2 ppm again. Keep doing this until your tank is able to process 2ppm ammonia and show 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite after 24 hours.
Check out THIS THREAD by Brew12 on cycling an aquarium

 

[Pbh-reef]

I think you have it basically right- I’d test everyday for ammonia until it’s at 0 just so you know how the cycle is going.

Have you seen this article?
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycling-an-aquarium.306554/

 

[Pbh-reef]

Hahah shoulda known crabs would beat me

 

[joec]

Get a Seachem ammonia alert. Dose ammonia once to 2.0. When Seachem alert appears to be in "safe" area, test for ammonia. If zero with test, dose ammonia again to 2.0 You want to get to the point where ammonia at 2.0 goes to zero in about 24 hours, then test for nitrites, if at zero, you're cycled. Test for Nitrates, do large water change to reduce Nitrates. You can use a cycle booster, its up to you. Don't be in a hurry/

 

[Pbh-reef]

I think the seachem badge is helpful but I also think it takes awhile to go down once it registers ammonia so it will give a false positive for a day or so after the ammonia has been processed. I could be wrong but that’s what I recall from the packaging.

 

[PegasisR]

Thank you for the help peeps! Last question but how many gallons water change would i do when the tank is cycled? I have a 525xl and it holds 139gal of water for reference

 

[PegasisR]

I think you have it basically right- I’d test everyday for ammonia until it’s at 0 just so you know how the cycle is going.

Have you seen this article?
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycling-an-aquarium.306554/

Yes i have was just unsure of what to do still after reading

 

[Crabs McJones]

Thank you for the help peeps! Last question but how many gallons water change would i do when the tank is cycled? I have a 525xl and it holds 139gal of water for reference

You'll want to do a series of small water changes to bring your nitrates back down to an acceptable level, generally 5PPM or less

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

I think the seachem badge is helpful but I also think it takes awhile to go down once it registers ammonia so it will give a false positive for a day or so after the ammonia has been processed. I could be wrong but that’s what I recall from the packaging.

it can take a couple days to register properly once you first get it wet. it then takes 15 mins to register increases in ammonia, and a few hours to register decreases. this is just fine as it will be within the target time of 8-12 hours to get back to 0. i know others say 24 but i like 8-12 better for new tanks.

 

[PegasisR]

You'll want to do a series of small water changes to bring your nitrates back down to an acceptable level, generally 5PPM or less

Okay so like 10% or so? until its 5ppm or lower

 

[Crabs McJones]

Okay so like 10% or so? until its 5ppm or lower

Around there yes

 

[PegasisR]

can i add my bacteria without feeding and dosing it to 2ppm immediately after?

 

[Cruz Mc5]

I believe you need to add ammonia relatively soon after adding the bacteria in order to "feed" the bacteria.

 

[PegasisR]

Thank you all for the help

 

[brandon429]

Pegasis
Are you using live rock or totally bare dry rock to start your tank, do you have pics of the rock

 

[PegasisR]

Pegasis
Are you using live rock or totally bare dry rock to start your tank, do you have pics of the rock

Im using carib sea dry rock