Cycling saltwater tank

Jenn_737700 · #1 01-11-2011, 11:58 PM

So i've heard that some people put a cocktail shrimp into their aquarium, and that starts the cycle...

Should I use this method to cycle my tank? If so, how long do I put it in for?

Magma · #2 01-12-2011, 12:19 AM

Drop a raw shrimp into the tank and test the ammonia untill you see it at about 1 or 2ppm, then take it out (proably take 2 or 3 days at least but all depends on tank size) then take it out and ride out the cycle until ammonia and nitrite are 0 and nitrates show up.

My tank took about 3 weeks to cycle this way, with 2lbs of rock per gal..

Jenn_737700 · #3 01-12-2011, 02:21 AM

ohkay. Will do.

Thanks

pirate · #4 01-12-2011, 02:32 AM

If you are starting out with live rock just let it do its thing.

Skimmerking · #5 01-12-2011, 02:35 AM

Jen u could always buy that hagen cycle and pour the ful bottle in and have it ready t go sooner I sear buy it. Ask around. I told. Lance about here for his225 gal and he couldn't believe it worked

Beanz · #6 01-12-2011, 02:54 AM

yea i used the hagen cycle stuff when i started my 45 and it worked really well.

daniella3d · #7 01-12-2011, 03:19 AM

They never worked for me. I tried all of them, including cycle and it did not work. What work is to put cured liverock and that give you practicaly instant cycle.

When I put up my quarantine tank I use a few pieces of liverock from my frag tank and never have any ammonia. Of course I do not use medication that will kill the bacteria or else that would kill the liverock but for Paraguard or prazipro, it work well to get an instant cycle and no worry about ammonia.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beanz

yea i used the hagen cycle stuff when i started my 45 and it worked really well.