Cycle time for fish only. No live rock or sand.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by Myka

Ahhhh...ok. So, you plan to leave that rock in the system or you're just using it to cycle? If you're leaving the rock in there and the rock is fully cured then you can add the fish right away. If you're removing the rock then you need something like bioballs in the sump to host the nitrifying bacteria in which case you need about 2 weeks for the rock to seed the bioballs.

Either way, if you're going to have a breeding system you need to get used to using an ammonia detoxifier, and you should have it on hand at all times.

Maybe I'll just leave a couple chunks of rock in each tank.

[naesco]

After adding salt and ensuring you test for proper salinity, add a couple of dead shrimp in the tank.
You will note that in a few days your ammonia test will show results and the levels will go higher. Do not be alarmed this is completely normal
In a few weeks you will note that your nitrite test results start to show . Again this is normal
Around 30days the tank will have cycled and nitrite and ammonia will read zero
Resist the urge to immediately add fish. Wait a few weeks and add one fish at a time

The key to success in this hobby is PATIENCE not Seachem Stability or other similar products

[paddyob]

I'm using cured rock and cycled water. I see 30 days as over kill in this situation.

[asylumdown]

Do you have any sort of mechanical filter on this tank? That's what I thought you were talking about, but Myka's right, if all you've got is a glass box with fish in it, it will never cycle, and even with regular dosing of ammonia binders, and frequent water changes the water quality would fall rapidly and would impair your fish's health long term. If your'e only using a couple small pieces of rock and powerheads for water movement, I would be worried that over time your water quality is still going to suffer.

[paddyob]

It's for my breeding project. No sump. Each compartment will have an Aqua Clear 30. It will keep the tanks isolated from each other.

So mechanical filtration, Yes.

Is it ok to leave rocks in a breeding system?

[Myka]

Originally Posted by paddyob

It's for my breeding project. No sump. Each compartment will have an Aqua Clear 30. It will keep the tanks isolated from each other.

So mechanical filtration, Yes.

Is it ok to leave rocks in a breeding system?

Like I answered in your PM, you need some sort of biological media, be it live rock, live sand, bioballs, sponges...something. Otherwise there is not enough area for nitrifying bacteria to colonize to be able to keep up with the ammonia output from the fish and food waste.

Live rock in a Clownfish breeding system? Some people do, many people don't. Generally cost is a limiting factor. I wouldn't use sand though because that just gets in the way of bottom siphoning detritus and food waste. You will be feeding them much more than you would reef fish, and 20-40 ppm nitrate will become the new "clean".