Is this a good way to cycle?

[wtusa1783]

If I got bio-spera bacteria and dr Tim’s ammonia would this be a good way to cycle? It would be a 32 gallon biocube and my first saltwater tank. I want it to be an easy reef tank. Any experience cycling this way?

 

[Cell]

If you start with Bio-Spira, you don't need Dr. Tim's, you can just get your first fish, assuming all other conditions and equipment are in place.

Alternatively, you can cycle in a traditional manner over the course of 3-4 weeks with Dr. Tim's Ammonia or any other ammonia source, like a dead shrimp, and skip the Bio-Spira.

Pick one or the other. You are wasting your money and combining cycle methods by using both.

 

[Tired]

That can work. But my advice is to get at least a little bit of live rock- it's the best way to get stability, fast. Really nice live rock, that's come out of the ocean, not just rock that's been sat in an aquarium for a bit at the pet shop.

If you get some good ocean live rock, your tank will cycle very fast, already have well-established bacteria, and have lots of detritivores and non-pest algaes.

Do not immediately add fish, whatever method you use. Even with biospira, you should test that the tank is cycled.

 

[wtusa1783]

If you start with Bio-Spira, you don't need Dr. Tim's, you can just get your first fish, assuming all other conditions and equipment are in place.

Alternatively, you can cycle in a traditional manner over the course of 3-4 weeks with Dr. Tim's Ammonia or any other ammonia source, like a dead shrimp, and skip the Bio-Spira.

Pick one or the other. You are wasting your money and combining cycle methods by using both.

Ok. Could I add biospera and some snails first? I want a clown pair, royal gramma, firefish, lawnmower blenny, and a bangaii cardinal eventually with some cleaner shrimp and a starfish. What should I add to the tank if I just add biospera?

 

[wtusa1783]

That can work. But my advice is to get at least a little bit of live rock- it's the best way to get stability, fast. Really nice live rock, that's come out of the ocean, not just rock that's been sat in an aquarium for a bit at the pet shop.

If you get some good ocean live rock, your tank will cycle very fast, already have well-established bacteria, and have lots of detritivores and non-pest algaes.

Do not immediately add fish, whatever method you use. Even with biospira, you should test that the tank is cycled.

Ok. It’s $7.99 a pound at my lfs so maybe I’ll just get like a 2 pound rock or something

 

[Cell]

I'd use Bio-Spira and be fine starting with 2 clowns in that size tank.

 

[wtusa1783]

I'd use Bio-Spira and be fine starting with 2 clowns in that size tank.

Ok cool. What type of clownfish are easy that aren’t too aggressive?

 

[Cell]

Stay away from maroon's. If you aren't interested in a specific color morph, then I'd just go with the basic oscellaris, but do some research and make sure anything you purchase is something you really want.

 

[wtusa1783]

Stay away from maroon's. If you aren't interested in a specific color morph, then I'd just go with the basic oscellaris, but do some research and make sure anything you purchase is something you really want.

The black ice ones have caught my eye at my lfs. I do like the ones that aren’t the normal orange and white

 

[Tired]

You should get as much live rock as you can afford, assuming it's good stuff. Good live rock will have lots of things growing on it- algae, sponges, seaweed, maybe even corals. It'll be a bunch of different colors.

Live rock is some of the best stuff you can get for your tank. Don't skimp on it. Get at least a couple pounds, but preferably more. If you want to use dry rock, a 1/1 ratio of live to dry is decent.

Once you add live rock, no need for biospira. Test for ammonia. You may see it from die-off on the rock. If you can add a bit of food, and you later see no ammonia, no nitrites, and some nitrates, your tank is cycled. It can happen within days, with good rock, or instantly if the rock is already cycled.

Once your tank is cycled, you can add some snails for cleanup crew. I advise adding snails and waiting a week, then getting fish, but you can add fish immediately once the tank is cycled and usually be fine.

Black ice clownfish are a color morph of ocellaris clowns, which are great beginner fish.

 

[wtusa1783]

You should get as much live rock as you can afford, assuming it's good stuff. Good live rock will have lots of things growing on it- algae, sponges, seaweed, maybe even corals. It'll be a bunch of different colors.

Live rock is some of the best stuff you can get for your tank. Don't skimp on it. Get at least a couple pounds, but preferably more. If you want to use dry rock, a 1/1 ratio of live to dry is decent.

Once you add live rock, no need for biospira. Test for ammonia. You may see it from die-off on the rock. If you can add a bit of food, and you later see no ammonia, no nitrites, and some nitrates, your tank is cycled. It can happen within days, with good rock, or instantly if the rock is already cycled.

Once your tank is cycled, you can add some snails for cleanup crew. I advise adding snails and waiting a week, then getting fish, but you can add fish immediately once the tank is cycled and usually be fine.

Black ice clownfish are a color morph of ocellaris clowns, which are great beginner fish.

Ok cool. It is expensive. I was thinking of getting at least 20 pounds of dry rock. Would a 2 lb rock if live be good to get the cycle started?

 

[skiman27]

I agree with the others, live rock with no serious hitchhikers is the best way to cycle the tank, along with some bacteria in a bottle. If you get a hardy fish, you can add it the same day and not have do dose any ammonia at all, the fish will do it for you.

 

[Tired]

2 pounds of live rock will be a good start, yes. The more, the better. It takes years for dry rock to turn into really good live rock with a heavily-established bacterial colony, and the more dry rock you have, the longer and worse your ugly stage will be as the algae runs wild on all that new material.

Do not add a fish to a tank that isn't fully cycled. Even hardy fish will suffer from ammonia.