Quote:
Originally Posted by Myka
IMO, wait until you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite for a full week. You may not actually get much or any cycle using cured rock. Don't ever add a CUC unless there is something for them to eat. Also, do not fall for the 1 snail/hermit per gallon trick...
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Too bad you dont live in Calgary I was going to suggest I come grab a couple off you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PoonTang
You can also introduce ammonia to your system and cause it to cycle to increase your bacteria population. Throw 1 uncooked table shrimp into your tank and let it rot. Now take your readings and it is ready when everything reaches 0 again. You can wait to do this until you add your last pieces of rock that you are cooking. Then sit back and wait for a week or so at least. Some people wait 2-4 months.
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Ahhh, the old fishless cycle trick. Good idea actually. Wouldnt there be some ammonia on my cured rock, even if only a small amount? Maybe I'll try something like this just to see how strong my denitrifying bacteria is.
Thanks for the help guys. I'll keep checking levels and be sure to introduce some extra ammonia just in case my live rock isnt really producing any. Though there are also two crabs in my tank that hitch hiked. One's body is half the size of a dime the other the size of a quarter so they are definitely producing some.
I'll have to research my CUC a bit more. I was thinking snails, hermits (even though some people dont like them), probably 2-3 emerald crabs, some brittle stars and perhaps one tiger tail cucumber.
Only thing is Im not sure what kind of snail. Ive researched in the past and "thought" turbo snails were destructive, often knocking over corals (which seems like a sort of small problem to me) What snails should I stay away from?