Question about cycling a new tank.

[JGon]

I have a 20g long aquarium that I just set up and has been running since Saturday. I know it's been asked before and I'm new to the hobby, but I really wanna make sure I'm doing this right in order to have a successful and thriving reef. What is the preferred method for cycling a small tank like mine?? I was told by one of my LFS that having live rock and live sand in the tank and letting it run for at least two weeks was good enough. To just top it off with RO water as it evaporated through the process and test the water after the two weeks. That's the plan I have. What do you guys recommend?? Thank you in advance everyone.

 

[mike007]

It really depends on the quality of the rock. Lots of people will add a dead shrimp to the tank to add ammonia to start the cycle. There are some excellent bacterial additives that can be used to start the cycle. You will need to add a source of one of these to produce a ammonia spike which will in turn show nitrites and then nitrates. Once you have no ammonia and no nitrites you will know your cycle have been completed. You will then have to test for nitrates before adding any livestock. Go slow and let the tank cycle and test your water often . Two weeks is not long enough to cycle your tank. Once your tank shows good test results add livestock slowly and test,test.

 

[Cal]

I don't recommend adding shrimp, just old aquarium water will do. the longer the wait the better.

 

[JGon]

Any bacterial additives you recommend mike007??