Setting up a saltwater tank - cycling process

[ElitePirate]

Hi guys

So i setup my 1st tank a year ago and I didn't go through a complete cycle. I bought already cycled water and managed to start my tank within 24hrs. That tank is 1 year old now and it's running just fine.

I opened this thread because I wanted to setup a nano tank for my niece. But this time i wanted to do a proper cycling. I'm setting up a small tank because she wanted to have 1 clown and a shrimp thats all.

So I bought a 13L tank, live sand, live rock. I have few questions regarding this cycling process.

This LFS guy gave me 3 biodigest vial - https://www.freshnmarine.com/products/prodibio-bio-digest-30-vials and asked me to add contents of 1 vial every 3 days. Before that he asked me to add a small portion of mashed prawns.

My Questions :

1) Is this method accurate? I already bought the biodigest vial so i dont mind using that. Should i just add a small portion of prawn and leave it like that or should i avoid adding that and add fish food daily? (sorry i read online and there are so many mixed reviews).

2) I know water will evaporate eventually. Should I top up my new tank with RO/DI water during cycling process?

3) When exactly I should do a water change (salt water)?

So basically Ammonia, Nitrite will go up and then Nitrate will go up. After than Ammonia and Nitrite must go down to 0 but Nitrate will remain and then I should do a water change to reduce the Nitrate? Is that correct?

4) When can i add a hermit crab and the shrimp? Fish - of course i will wait until the cycling process is completed

5) I'm using a filter but i feel like the wave pressure is too much. Do you think excess water movement will stress up the fish eventually? Please see attached video.


Please let me know if I'm missing something here. Thanks in advance

 

[ElitePirate]

Forgot to tag #reefsquad

 

[ScottR]

I actually used prodibio to set up my 40g. I forget how many vials I used and how often. You can use a piece of shrimp to help kickstart the process. It seems that Dr Tims ammonia is a popular choice for ammonia. I used loads of live rock for my cycle. I tested for NO2/3 during the cycling. Once no2 hit 0 and no3 was <10, I was ready.

Honestly, your LFS may be correct. I’m sure it’ll work but just rest your parameters and make sure ammonia and nitrites are at zero before adding anything.

 

[ElitePirate]

I actually used prodibio to set up my 40g. I forget how many vials I used and how often. You can use a piece of shrimp to help kickstart the process. It seems that Dr Tims ammonia is a popular choice for ammonia. I used loads of live rock for my cycle. I tested for NO2/3 during the cycling. Once no2 hit 0 and no3 was <10, I was ready.

Honestly, your LFS may be correct. I’m sure it’ll work but just rest your parameters and make sure ammonia and nitrites are at zero before adding anything.

Thanks for the reply. We do have Dr Tims setup products here. If i use that within 24hours i can add livestocks but i do not wish to go that way. I wanted to do it the normal way this time so i can also learn when I upgrade etc.

I do have some other unanswered questions

 

[Lasse]

Please read my article about 15 steps to set up an aquarium - you maybe can get some information from that. The method is very well adapted for small tanks. I have no experiences of probio biodigest but looking at their homepage - it looks like it is a mix product - it means both autotrophic nitrifiers and heterotrophic break down bacteria. Normally – I try to avoid these products in the start but because you already have it – use it. But maybe only 1/3 a day. You said you had another aquarium up and run – it makes things much better. When you start the new aquarium – use water from your old aquarium (if it is working well) – take some “dirt” from your filter or sand, dilute in water and add some every day (store it in the refrigerator)

IMO – the shrimp trick is just to ask for problems – very difficult to manage

But you will have other tips here – read and compare and chose the method that you believe in


Sincerely Lasse

 

[Lasse]

I wanted to do it the normal way this time so i can also learn when I upgrade etc.

The normal way vary with time and location - my article is build on nearly 50 years of starting aquarium - adapted with invention done the last decades

Sincerely Lasse

 

[ScottR]

Please read my article about 15 steps to set up an aquarium - you maybe can get some information from that. The method is very well adapted for small tanks. I have no experiences of probio biodigest but looking at their homepage - it looks like it is a mix product - it means both autotrophic nitrifiers and heterotrophic break down bacteria. Normally – I try to avoid these products in the start but because you already have it – use it. But maybe only 1/3 a day. You said you had another aquarium up and run – it makes things much better. When you start the new aquarium – use water from your old aquarium (if it is working well) – take some “dirt” from your filter or sand, dilute in water and add some every day (store it in the refrigerator)

IMO – the shrimp trick is just to ask for problems – very difficult to manage

But you will have other tips here – read and compare and chose the method that you believe in


Sincerely Lasse

I agree with the seed-from-old-aquarium method as it’s worked for me. As far as shrimp and prodibio go... I’ve had people tell me shrimp has worked for them. And prodibio has worked for me. Honestly, I think we look too far into cycling. Yes it’s a crucial process but it’s not rocket science. Well, almost rocket science.

 

[Lasse]

I not will not argue which way is best - just show the method I have used for many years. Is a simple method and I agree with you that this is not rocket science IMO - you can do things in an easy way and in a complicated way and get the same end result.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[ScottR]

@Lasse I’ve seen your build. I’ve been following your thread before I even joined this forum. I wouldn’t doubt your method one bit. There are more ways than one but you won’t steer anyone the wrong way.

 

[ElitePirate]

I not will not argue which way is best - just show the method I have used for many years. Is a simple method and I agree with you that this is not rocket science IMO - you can do things in an easy way and in a complicated way and get the same end result.

Sincerely Lasse

Thank you Lasse. I just read your article, I will go through it once again. I'm not planning on adding a fish to cycle this tank - coz dunno why im not overly fond of that idea. Cycling part is clear now awaiting answers for these -

2) I know water will evaporate eventually. Should I top up my new tank with RO/DI water during cycling process?

5) I'm using a filter but i feel like the wave pressure is too much. Do you think excess water movement will stress up the fish eventually? I can go and buy another filter with less power but if high waves and water movement not gonna affect my fish means i dont mind using this current filter.

 

[ScottR]

Thank you Lasse. I just read your article, I will go through it once again. I'm not planning on adding a fish to cycle this tank - coz dunno why im not overly fond of that idea. Cycling part is clear now awaiting answers for these -

2) I know water will evaporate eventually. Should I top up my new tank with RO/DI water during cycling process?

5) I'm using a filter but i feel like the wave pressure is too much. Do you think excess water movement will stress up the fish eventually? I can go and buy another filter with less power but if high waves and water movement not gonna affect my fish means i dont mind using this current filter.

For water evaporation, you should look into an ATO. Automatic top off. It will automatically add RODI in your tank as your water evaporates.

For the filter question, what equipment do you plan on using exactly?

 

[Ron Reefman]

Thank you Lasse. I just read your article, I will go through it once again. I'm not planning on adding a fish to cycle this tank - coz dunno why im not overly fond of that idea. Cycling part is clear now awaiting answers for these -

2) I know water will evaporate eventually. Should I top up my new tank with RO/DI water during cycling process?

5) I'm using a filter but i feel like the wave pressure is too much. Do you think excess water movement will stress up the fish eventually? I can go and buy another filter with less power but if high waves and water movement not gonna affect my fish means i dont mind using this current filter.

Yes, water will start to evaporate as soon as it is set up. So add RO/DI freshwater to the tank an keep the water level stable right from the start. It's a good habit to get started. As for what Scott said about an auto-topoff... on an inexpensive 4g tank with no corals, I wouldn't waste the time to set it up. I'm sure he wasn't taking the size of the tank or the fact that it's just a clown and a shrimp going in the tank.

I think the filter system you have now will be fine. After you get any livestock in the tank, if you still think the flow is too strong, you can always set some small rubble liverock infront of the bar and interrupt some of the flow.

Good luck and it's cool that you are doing this for/with your niece.

 

[ElitePirate]

For water evaporation, you should look into an ATO. Automatic top off. It will automatically add RODI in your tank as your water evaporates.

For the filter question, what equipment do you plan on using exactly?

I'm just using a normal $12 filter.not planning to o use any skimmer coz will do water change weekly.

Yes, water will start to evaporate as soon as it is set up. So add RO/DI freshwater to the tank an keep the water level stable right from the start. It's a good habit to get started. As for what Scott said about an auto-topoff... on an inexpensive 4g tank with no corals, I wouldn't waste the time to set it up. I'm sure he wasn't taking the size of the tank or the fact that it's just a clown and a shrimp going in the tank.

I think the filter system you have now will be fine. After you get any livestock in the tank, if you still think the flow is too strong, you can always set some small rubble liverock infront of the bar and interrupt some of the flow.

Good luck and it's cool that you are doing this for/with your niece.

Thank you Ron. Yes I'm going to do manual topup

 

[ScottR]

Yes, water will start to evaporate as soon as it is set up. So add RO/DI freshwater to the tank an keep the water level stable right from the start. It's a good habit to get started. As for what Scott said about an auto-topoff... on an inexpensive 4g tank with no corals, I wouldn't waste the time to set it up. I'm sure he wasn't taking the size of the tank or the fact that it's just a clown and a shrimp going in the tank.

I think the filter system you have now will be fine. After you get any livestock in the tank, if you still think the flow is too strong, you can always set some small rubble liverock infront of the bar and interrupt some of the flow.

Good luck and it's cool that you are doing this for/with your niece.

I just went back to see the tank size. 13L. An ATO would be something else on that size. But I would watch salinity. Depending on the environment, you could have massive evaporation and shock the tank. So close monitoring is necessary.

 

[ScottR]

I'm just using a normal $12 filter.not planning to o use any skimmer coz will do water change weekly.



Thank you Ron. Yes I'm going to do manual topup

By normal filter, hang on back I assume? I’d like to see pics in fact. It would help.

 

[ElitePirate]

By normal filter, hang on back I assume? I’d like to see pics in fact. It would help.

I attached a pic n my last post. I will attach again. it's not a hang on filter. submerged one.

 

[Lasse]

Use a small hang one instead

Sincerely Lasse

 

[ScottR]

I attached a pic n my last post. I will attach again. it's not a hang on filter. submerged one.

Just curious, where are you reefing from? I see Chinese on the Hailea box. I’m out in Hong Kong.

 

[ElitePirate]

Use a small hang one instead

Sincerely Lasse

Hi @Lasse yes, im planning on doing that because this tank is small. I have another fresh water shrimp tank and using a hang on filter (see attached) if i buy a filter like that do you think that'll be good enough?

Just curious, where are you reefing from? I see Chinese on the Hailea box. I’m out in Hong Kong.

I'm from Singapore

 

[ScottR]

Hi @Lasse yes, im planning on doing that because this tank is small. I have another fresh water shrimp tank and using a hang on filter (see attached) if i buy a filter like that do you think that'll be good enough?



I'm from Singapore

Ok cool. Distant neighbors.