Noah Hemingway
Active Member
On average how long do you all cycle tanks for before adding the first members of the clean up crew? 4 weeks? 8 weeks? Curious to see how you guys do things (live rock and sand)
Tank Cycling
- Thread starter Noah Hemingway
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DC Reefer
Well-Known Member
I started a tank w/ Live rock (no sand). I dosed a couple of different bacterias and added a food source (raw shrimp). I added fish and a few CUC 2 weeks later with more bacteria without a problem. Six weeks after that added 5 tangs.
Soren
Valuable Member
True live rock or dry base rock to become live rock? True live sand or bagged wet "live" sand? Adding bottled bacteria or not? If you search the forum, you should find a lot of information about cycling that should help you estimate your cycle time.
I sure do not know why there is not a specific forum or easy-to-find sticky thread with basic cycling information here on R2R.
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Noah Hemingway
Active Member
Sorry yes, Dry base rock & sand to become live. I plan on dosing the tank with a few different things to help kick start things. I can also add some fish waste from another tank to start the cycle.
attiland
2500 Club Member
I would give only a few days. The bacteria you are dosing need food. Works just fine. Go slow add only 2 on start and build the stock by adding 1 every 2 weeks. Once you have 5-6 you can add 2 every 2-3 weeks.
Worked fine for me. Avoid sensitive fish and thing depending on established tank conditions.
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Noah Hemingway
Active Member
Only a few days after the water? And the first dose?
southerntnreefer
Valuable Member
i filled the tank, next day was bacteria and a shrimp piece. Waited a month of dosing different bacteria types. added clowns, and waited about another month before adding lights. Just starting to see diatoms on the glass. Ive been running my cheato reactor and carbon reactor for a while to help with excess organics. Havent seen enough of anything to employ a CUC yet. Soon id think.
attiland
2500 Club Member
No need to rot a shrimp, same effect from feeding the fish but more fun
If you run carbon and cheato keep an eye on your nitrate and phosphate and make sure you don’t hit 0 as that is a party invitation for Dinos
southerntnreefer
Valuable Member
i didnt have fish from day one, and ive always done the shrimp method on all my other tanks. Im likely "overfeeding" a little bit to keep nitrates and phos in check, as no one wants dinos... ill be adding more bioload after christmas to also keep that at bay...No need to rot a shrimp, same effect from feeding the fish but more fun
If you run carbon and cheato keep an eye on your nitrate and phosphate and make sure you don’t hit 0 as that is a party invitation for Dinos
attiland
2500 Club Member
Shrimp method works for many and will most certainly work for you too. I prefer the fish to feed the bacteria that’s all.
The nitrogen cycle is kick started by the bacteria in the battle so if you go slow theoretically no ammonia spikes after week at least this was my experience.
Waiting till Christmas is over is a good idea for an another reason. Santa may give you a surprise if you have been a good boy/girl.
southerntnreefer
Valuable Member
That and my wife told me to LOL! took me a year to build out the tank, and i had a plan to have clowns by Christmas. I've had them a month now. what's a few more weeks in the scheme of it all? Im hoping for a lfs card or something for some tester coral frags for sure!Shrimp method works for many and will most certainly work for you too. I prefer the fish to feed the bacteria that’s all.
The nitrogen cycle is kick started by the bacteria in the battle so if you go slow theoretically no ammonia spikes after week at least this was my experience.
Waiting till Christmas is over is a good idea for an another reason. Santa may give you a surprise if you have been a good boy/girl.
attiland
2500 Club Member
I wrote to Santa too for corals. My wife is given the task to deliver the letter.
My wife said if we move we will have great trouble to move the tank but I said don’t worry I already have a plan
southerntnreefer
Valuable Member
The tank and stand itself was a gift from my wife last year for christmas. ( i had a tank there, tore it down when i bought my basement 220 to consolidate etc) She missed a reef upstairs so here we are! I wrote santa for a LDK, and money for corals to get started, so we will see!
Soren
Valuable Member
Since I am also researching cycle for the reef setup I am working on in my build thread (hopefully starting rock pre-cycling soon or starting full-setup cycle late January/early February), I have been reading threads about cycles. The general recommendations I have seen for dry base rock and "live" sand starts are for cycles without fish in the system while including the addition of bacteria (either bottled or starts from active systems).
You might consider watching this talk by Dr. Tim Hovanac who started the company that produces "Dr. Tim's One and Only" bottled bacteria for tank cycling. He does this for a living, so there is some research behind his suggestions. This will not provide the diversity or speed of true live rock, but many have started reefs this way (regardless of the many issues that are usually faced and should be expected likely, such as battling algae, dinoflagellates, or other "uglies").
From what I have read, the bacteria will grow naturally but the cycle time is reduced by the use of some live rock and/or bottled bacteria. I think you should still expect about 4 weeks minimum for cycle time, but I have no personal experience to back this up.
Make sure you add more than just fish waste from another tank, since fish waste is the food source, not the bacterial population starters. Adding rock or other filtration media from an existing system is the surest way to introduce bacteria cultures. I have also been reading recently that there may be some benefits to adding water from another tank as a boost/starter/diversification for the cycle. Just do your research, and you should be on a good path toward likely success.
