New tank questions (algae and live rocks)

[Brandon103095]

Hello, i set up my 40 gal tank 5 days ago, has sand/live rock, stable temp of 78and salinity of around 1.025. My question is when in the cycle stage does algae start to grow? Any life in my tank will make me very happy and i want a time-frame of when! lol. The rock i got from my LFS (not so local, closest one is an hr away) was sitting in a tank with alot of other rock. A friend of mine is also setting up a tank and has bought too much live rock and said he will give me 10 lbs. If i add it in my tank now is that a good/bad/neutral thing? Edit: also forgot to mention on set-up day i added Dr Tims one and only

 

[scott11106]

live rock and live sand great for getting the tank cycled and if you like surprises then liver rock can come with all kinds of critters some good, some bad. As far as sand if that is purchased in a bag for as live sand you should be good there. try and be patient as we always want something to see in our tanks fast but usually, it will be a pain later. Take me, for instance, i added pulsating xenia because i think they are cool, but it started taking over the tank and now i can't get rid of it and i pull it out weekly.

 

[mcdrichj]

You shouldn't really get any algae blooms if you don't have a light on while you cycle. Also you need to drop the temp before adding livestock.

 

[Brandon103095]

You shouldn't really get any algae blooms if you don't have a light on while you cycle. Also you need to drop the temp before adding livestock.

im an idiot, fat-fingered and did proof read LOL temp is actually 78

 

[Salty Lemon]

Dr. Tim's works great, so long as you follow the directions exactly. I killed a tank full of fish a couple years ago, because I listened to the directions from my LFS instead of following the instructions on the bottle. Everything got mixed up and there was lots of death. ;Dead;Dead;Dead;Dead;Dead

 

[Brandon103095]

Dr. Tim's works great, so long as you follow the directions exactly. I killed a tank full of fish a couple years ago, because I listened to the directions from my LFS instead of following the instructions on the bottle. Everything got mixed up and there was lots of death. ;Dead;Dead;Dead;Dead;Dead

oh geez! I followed it but tested water today with about .25 ammonia, and 0 nitrite/nitrate so im wondering if maybe i did mess something up unless thats normal?

 

[Salty Lemon]

oh geez! I followed it but tested water today with about .25 ammonia, and 0 nitrite/nitrate so im wondering if maybe i did mess something up unless thats normal?

I've done it the old fashioned way ever since -- but I know many love it. You really don't want to drop fish in with ammonia in the tank. It burns their gills, etc. I'd wait another couple days. Perhaps someone who uses it regularly can help.

 

[Brandon103095]

I've done it the old fashioned way ever since -- but I know many love it. You really don't want to drop fish in with ammonia in the tank. It burns their gills, etc. I'd wait another couple days. Perhaps someone who uses it regularly can help.

yeah i dont want to harm any fish, people at LFS's have said damsels are hardy and can deal with it, i just dont have the heart to harm an animal like that, i can just wait! I plan on waiting until ammonia is 0

 

[BeejReef]

With a lot of live rock, your cycle may not go exactly to script. Most people are talking about dry rock in threads about a fishless cycle. You could get your ammonia to 2ppm if you dose pure ammonia. You're less likely to be able to get ammonia to 2ppm with dead shrimp or ghost feeding only bc your live rock is already set up to process it.