New to Saltwater

[Jeff2018]

Hello all my name is Jeff and I am new to salt water. I just have a few questions regarding my initial cycle and when to add the clean-up crew?(hermits/shrimps/snails)?

 

[Humblefish]

Hi Jeff - Welcome to R2R!

Opinions vary on when to add CUC, but IMO they are best not added until you see algae growth in your tank. Otherwise they tend to starve unless you supplement feed (nori, algae wafers). You should see diatoms shortly after your tank cycles, and you will need snails to help eliminate that.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hello all my name is Jeff and I am new to salt water. I just have a few questions regarding my initial cycle and when to add the clean-up crew?(hermits/shrimps/snails)?

Welcome to R2R!

Check out this thread. It should hopefully answer your questions

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

Another piece of meat to feed the grinder! Welcome to R2R!

 

[Jeff2018]

Thank you. So then I would stagger a guess and say that cycle completion varies on what parameters?

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

Thank you. So then I would stagger a guess and say that cycle completion varies on what parameters?

You would buy the basic test kit for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and optional but recommended a bottle of Dr. Tim liquid ammonia for fishless cycling.
1. Dose ammonia and test until it read 2~4 ppm do not go over 4 ppm (over 4 ppm will make cycle time longer)
2. Test Ammonia after a week to see if the previous level has drop or reach 0 ppm (this process could take up 4 weeks if you start will dry rock, dry sand).
3. When you see ammonia dropped then dose it back up to 2~4 ppm and start testing for Nitrite, again this process can take up 4~6 weeks.
4. Continue to dose ammonia and keep it at 2~4 ppm until you see Nitrite spike up then going down to 0 ppm within 24~48 hours.
5. Dose ammonia 1 last time to 2 ppm and test it again 24 hours if it 0 ppm and nitrite 0 ppm then your tank is completed a healthy cycled.
6. Do 90% water change or multi 50% water change to get rid of Nitrate and test Nitrate to make sure it below 10 ppm before adding live stock.
*If you follow above dosing when your tank completed cycle, your tank will able to handle a huge bioload without worry about mini cycle like most newbies having...you can search this forum and see countless thread about problem of folk NOT PROPERLY cycle their tank.
**Lastly, take it slow and you will success, rush it and you will fail HARD.

 

[Crabs McJones]

**Lastly, take it slow and you will success, rush it and you will fail HARD.

This is probably the most accurate statement ever made.

 

[Jeff2018]

Given the newbiesque nature of my saltwater experience I started small with a 10G tank two live rock and 10lbs of live sand. Did a day/night light cycle and initial water tests were within normal ranges....as far as my particular cycle goes what is the norm timewise?

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

Welcome to R2R

 

[Palyzoa]

Given the newbiesque nature of my saltwater experience I started small with a 10G tank two live rock and 10lbs of live sand. Did a day/night light cycle and initial water tests were within normal ranges....as far as my particular cycle goes what is the norm timewise?

You need a constant ammonia source to start and cycle the aquarium. I used a raw uncooked shrimp from the super market. Some people use Dr. Tims method. All I did was throw the shrimp in and let nature takes it course. Ammonia will spike and then fall, followed by nitrite rise and fall, lastly Nitrate will rise as it consumes the nitrite and then you are finished. Do a water change and add some CUC.

 

[Palyzoa]

Oh yeah, Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[Jeff2018]

And ammonia nitrite and nitrate testing should be done throughout this process? And considering the smaller size of my tank what would be the water change %?
My apologies for all the questions I just want to start out properly and thank you for your help

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

Given the newbiesque nature of my saltwater experience I started small with a 10G tank two live rock and 10lbs of live sand. Did a day/night light cycle and initial water tests were within normal ranges....as far as my particular cycle goes what is the norm timewise?

Using live rock, live sand to cycle is not bad but it has the down side, you barely have a enough bacteria to handle very small bioload of live stock but you will fine if you only add 1 small fish every 2 weeks, most new folks using live rock, live sand for a quick cycle most likely facing mini cycle and fish started to die few days later.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

And ammonia nitrite and nitrate testing should be done throughout this process?

Ammonia, and Nitrite are the main one to test.
Nitrate is a final product and will be there, it's not toxix but not recommended if its higher than 20 ppm for fish only tank, mixed reef would refer below 5 ppm that's why you will need to test Nitrate at the end of the cycle process and do water change to keep Nitrate at refer/recommended level depend on how you choose to stock your tank.

 

[Jeff2018]

Using live rock, live sand to cycle is not bad but it has the down side, you barely have a enough bacteria to handle very small bioload of live stock but you will fine if you only add 1 small fish every 2 weeks, most new folks using live rock, live sand for a quick cycle most likely facing mini cycle and fish started to die few days later.

Well I definitely do not want quick cycle. I am going to try the above mentioned shrimp method to kickstart the ammonia production and let it do it’s natural thing.