My options on How to start a cycle

[merlberg]

My tank is set up with some live n dry rock, sand, n today is the 1st day everything has been running. What are my options on starting a cycle please? Idk if this guy i knw frm my lfs was joking but he told me to put my tomato clown in but i dnt want too. I've read about some liquid to put in but i forgot the name. Also how long will a cycle take before i can add inverts and then the first fish?

 

[Brian Kim]

It's called Bio Spira or Dr. Tim's one and only.
I personally prefer Bio Spira

 

[Brian Kim]

Well, I have set up many tanks in the past and introduced fish right away without ever experiencing ammonia spike.

Set up 1: live sand/live rock/nutriwater/bio spira
Set up 2: live sand/dry rock/bio spira (some nitrite after a day or two)
Set up 3: bio spira/seeded filter media for QT tank (some nitrite after a day or two)
(Using Dr. Tim's one and only works differently where you are recommended to use it with some source of ammonia and wait until the levels drop and it would not be safe to add any livestock right away.)

However, there are problems associated with adding fish right away and please try to avoid it at all cause, untreated fish will most likely introduce deadly disease to your system, I could name a few....ich, marine velvet, brook, fluke etc.
It will take your new tank 76 days of fallow (fishless) to get rid of them...
So in conclusion, it would be best if you just let the tank take its course and cycle while you treat the fishes you are planning on introducing to your system after QT/treatment.(2-4 weeks)

 

[Zoaeasy]

Had great success with Dr Tim's one and only on three tanks so far I agree don't cycle with live fish You have to use Amonia but it cycles quickly and I will be using this with all future tanks

 

[PatW]

I use ammonium chloride from Dr. Tins to cycle the tank. It allows you to know exactly how much ammonia you are adding to your tank. Also you are not adding anything else. The bacterial supplements are helpful and will reduce the time needed for your tank to cycle.

 

[merlberg]

Well, I have set up many tanks in the past and introduced fish right away without ever experiencing ammonia spike.

Set up 1: live sand/live rock/nutriwater/bio spira
Set up 2: live sand/dry rock/bio spira (some nitrite after a day or two)
Set up 3: bio spira/seeded filter media for QT tank (some nitrite after a day or two)
(Using Dr. Tim's one and only works differently where you are recommended to use it with some source of ammonia and wait until the levels drop and it would not be safe to add any livestock right away.)

However, there are problems associated with adding fish right away and please try to avoid it at all cause, untreated fish will most likely introduce deadly disease to your system, I could name a few....ich, marine velvet, brook, fluke etc.
It will take your new tank 76 days of fallow (fishless) to get rid of them...
So in conclusion, it would be best if you just let the tank take its course and cycle while you treat the fishes you are planning on introducing to your system after QT/treatment.(2-4 weeks)

1. Ok so my sand is no longer live, is that ok? It was live before but i didnt knw the tank had to be running right away or it would die n i had put it in my tank with just water and just a power head but tht was after a week.

2. What is bio spira?

Im ok with not adding fish right away as well. All my fish were qt for ich n the 30 days are done as well as leaving the tank fallow for 76 days . So far im pretty on track with tht.

 

[merlberg]

Had great success with Dr Tim's one and only on three tanks so far I agree don't cycle with live fish You have to use Amonia but it cycles quickly and I will be using this with all future tanks

Ok thank you, ive heard alot about dr. Tims

 

[merlberg]

I use ammonium chloride from Dr. Tins to cycle the tank. It allows you to know exactly how much ammonia you are adding to your tank. Also you are not adding anything else. The bacterial supplements are helpful and will reduce the time needed for your tank to cycle.

Thank you

 

[Zoaeasy]

Me

Thank you

Sorry meant Amonium cl from Dr Tims .Just one word of advice.The Amonium Cl comes in a small dropper bottle .
While cycling my 37 gallon, on around the one week mark, squeezed the bottle over the tank for the right amount of drops and the dropper came out of the neck and dumped the entire bottle in the tank which meant complete water change,wash substrate and rocks etc etc and start over.I now use a syringe and draw the amount up that I need and then use it to drop into tank.

 

[Brian Kim]

1. Ok so my sand is no longer live, is that ok? It was live before but i didnt knw the tank had to be running right away or it would die n i had put it in my tank with just water and just a power head but tht was after a week.

2. What is bio spira?

Im ok with not adding fish right away as well. All my fish were qt for ich n the 30 days are done as well as leaving the tank fallow for 76 days . So far im pretty on track with tht.

1) your sand should be well colonized with beneficial bacteria if you have used live rock and been running for over 76 days.
2) http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/instant-ocean-bio-spira.html
3) Looks like you are ready to start adding fish

 

[merlberg]

Me

Sorry meant Amonium cl from Dr Tims .Just one word of advice.The Amonium Cl comes in a small dropper bottle .
While cycling my 37 gallon, on around the one week mark, squeezed the bottle over the tank for the right amount of drops and the dropper came out of the neck and dumped the entire bottle in the tank which meant complete water change,wash substrate and rocks etc etc and start over.I now use a syringe and draw the amount up that I need and then use it to drop into tank.

Yikes... Good to knw n thanks for the heads up.

 

[omykiss001]

What kind of dry rock? If it's pukani or other from the ocean rock you'll want to cure it for some time as the organic matter i.e dead things on and in the rock needs to break down first which will also populate that rock with loads of nitrifying bacteria. If it's reef saver, or other clean rock or you have already cured the rock you're good to go. Your post just said dry rock n' live rock so assume it's a mix, but don't know what kind of dry rock you have.

+1 on the bio spira works great just make sure the date on the bottom of the bottle indicates it's fresh, at least a year out IMO.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You also may not need the ammonia as its dry live as stated above. In Brian's post.

 

[merlberg]

What kind of dry rock? If it's pukani or other from the ocean rock you'll want to cure it for some time as the organic matter i.e dead things on and in the rock needs to break down first which will also populate that rock with loads of nitrifying bacteria. If it's reef saver, or other clean rock or you have already cured the rock you're good to go. Your post just said dry rock n' live rock so assume it's a mix, but don't know what kind of dry rock you have.

+1 on the bio spira works great just make sure the date on the bottom of the bottle indicates it's fresh, at least a year out IMO.

Wow idk what kind and i washed it and put it in my tank already smh. I didnt knw there were different kinds of dry rocks. I just ordered 2 bottles of tge bio spira and it should be coming monday.

 

[omykiss001]

Wow idk what kind and i washed it and put it in my tank already smh. I didnt knw there were different kinds of dry rocks. I just ordered 2 bottles of tge bio spira and it should be coming monday.

You'll know in a couple of days if it's full of dead ocean critters as it will begin to smell, well like a bunch of rotting ocean critters [emoji14]. In that case Google curing dry rock, also think it's covered in the forums here too. You'll need to change lots of water and let it go for 4-6 weeks until the rock is not producing ammonia anymore.

Did you get if from your LFS or online. If you can post where you got might be able to determine what you are in for. I would hold off on the ammonia addition and the bio-spira until you know. You can get ammonia up really high from the rotting organic so and I'd wait to add any ammonia or bacterial in a bottle until it has settled, in which case you will get the bacteria naturally if it has to cure.

 

[merlberg]

You'll know in a couple of days if it's full of dead ocean critters as it will begin to smell, well like a bunch of rotting ocean critters [emoji14]. In that case Google curing dry rock, also think it's covered in the forums here too. You'll need to change lots of water and let it go for 4-6 weeks until the rock is not producing ammonia anymore.

Did you get if from your LFS or online. If you can post where you got might be able to determine what you are in for. I would hold off on the ammonia addition and the bio-spira until you know. You can get ammonia up really high from the rotting organic so and I'd wait to add any ammonia or bacterial in a bottle until it has settled, in which case you will get the bacteria naturally if it has to cure.

Yuck really lol. Omg 6 weeks [emoji58][emoji58] sheesh. Even if i washed it well? Lol

I got it frm my lfs. Would you be able to tell if i took a picture of it? Below are a few of them i purchased.

 

[Justiful]

The two most important parts to cycling a tank are.
1. Time
2. Patience

Everything else is up for debate.

 

[omykiss001]

That rock look clean. Is it ocean/saltwater limestone rock? Can't really tell from the picture. It may be very clean in which case you'll know in a few days for sure, if it starts to smell bad you'll need to cure. Justiful said it take your time nothing good happens fast in this hobby.

 

[merlberg]

That rock look clean. Is it ocean/saltwater limestone rock? Can't really tell from the picture. It may be very clean in which case you'll know in a few days for sure, if it starts to smell bad you'll need to cure. Justiful said it take your time nothing good happens fast in this hobby.

I didnt even knw tht there were dofferent typed of dry rock so you knw i have no clue on if its ocean or saltwater lol haha but thanks for your help and advice. I guess ill see in a few days [emoji85]

 

[merlberg]

The two most important parts to cycling a tank are.
1. Time
2. Patience

Everything else is up for debate.

Agreed!!!!