Cycling

Ryan · #1 03-01-2005, 04:47 AM

Okay so as some of you know i am setting up a ten gallon. I have decided to go fish less but have 1 cleaner shrimp in the tank just for looks. Along with the cleaner shrimp will be assorted snails hermit crab you know you everyday run of the mill clean up crew. All these will be added after my LR and after i have run off a few frags.So here is my question:
Do i still need to go through the whole cycle thing even though i have no fish or other inverts, do i still need to go through a cycle. I know i will have a amonia spike when i add the LR but do i need to add mollies to get the cycle going and what not or will the LR do this for me. All LR will be purchased cured.
Question 2:
" How long do you think it will take for my tank to cure? A rough estimate will be fine.

megatron_55 · #2 03-01-2005, 05:09 AM

Hey. . . I know some people's tank takes anywhere from 1- 3 months for their tanks to completely cycle and I know first hand that it is possible for a tank to be cycled within 7days (personal experience but I do not suggest it no matter how many years i've been in the reef business) but just to be on the safe side I'd say cycle your tank atleast over a month AT THE LEAST. . . the long wait will save you money in the long run and you will have a healthier system. . . even if you don't have fish in your tank . . . inverts including corals are more delicate than fish in most cases so take it slow. . . also make sure that you have the proper lighting in order for your tank to thrive. . . do your research first if you just want to keep softies or sps . .. maybe even both?? First identify which corals and inverts you want to keep and then go from there

Rikko · #3 03-01-2005, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan

Do i still need to go through the whole cycle thing even though i have no fish or other inverts, do i still need to go through a cycle. I know i will have a amonia spike when i add the LR but do i need to add mollies to get the cycle going and what not or will the LR do this for me. All LR will be purchased cured.
Question 2:
" How long do you think it will take for my tank to cure? A rough estimate will be fine.

Do you need to go through a cycle? Yes, 'fraid you don't have much say in the matter.

Bear in mind that 100% of aquarists misuse the term "cycle" in common usage. A tank isn't "cycled" or "uncycled" - that would imply that there is a specific amount of nitrifying bacteria required in the tank and any number above or beneath that count makes the tank "uncycled". When we talk about a tank being cycled we basically mean the tank has reached a level of bacterial stability that we subjectively consider acceptable. You have millions of bacteria living in your tank, be it brand spanking new or 30 years old. The populations are constantly in flux, so really all we're interested in is the stability.

What's the point of my tirade? (I'm beginning to forget..) Your LR, cured or no, constantly has things being born and dying in and on it. Add it to your tank and it *will* "cycle" the tank without the use of a guppy of ammonium chloride or a rotting shrimp. The bacteria will take some time to spread throughout your substrate and pipes, but that rock is already loaded with enough to do the job for you.

Considering what you're trying to do, I would just let the rock sit in the tank for a week max (give it the sniff test before it goes in, too) and do an ammonia test. If the test reads absolutely zero, no problems. If there's something showing up, just wait until it drops to zero and you're good to go. Or, for that matter, just wait until it stops rising, then do a huge water change and you're ready to go (if ammonia has levelled off or is on the decline, clearly the bacteria now have the upper hand on the bio load and it won't go up anymore unless something big dies).

It's a bit of a risky venture doing everything that quickly, so if you can wait a couple weeks or more, do so. Patience is really the only thing needed to succeed in reefkeeping, it's free, and not enough people are willing to get some.

Skimmerking · #4 03-01-2005, 11:04 PM

YES

mike

or you will be sorry time is the essense

BCOrchidGuy · #5 03-02-2005, 02:31 AM

shrimp, crabs and snails are all inverts. They can be sensitive to the spike of ammonia and especially nitrites. I've used the so called bagged live sand before and had excellent results with it but it's not really live sand as we would think. Instead of being full of pods and worms etc it has bacteria that aids in the cycling process. To get nice live sand beg a cup or two of live sand out of an established aquarium. Get some from the LFS, get some from a neighbour the more places you can get a cup or two the more diversity of life you will have in your sand.

Doug

Ryan · #6 03-02-2005, 04:59 AM

Thanks guys. Just wanted to make absoloutly sure. I will wait it out probally pic up a pound or 2 of LR at my LFS to cycle it. Finished the lighting today 70 watt ded halide with 2 25 watt actinics. Should be plenty of light for the corals i want to keep. Once again thanks for all the advice realy helps alot.