Saltwater Cycle

[Derpeder]

Okay I have heard a lot of different ways to cycle a salt water tank. Like when to add a clean up crew and when to add fish.

Right now I have in it 130 pounds of LR in the tank on day 3.

What do you guys think is the best. Should I let the LR cycle for a couple of weeks then add a clean up crew for a few weeks then some starter fish for a few weeks then the Stock?

I'd like to get some of your advice on this. Thanks

 

[sprayin70]

Generally it takes 3 weeks to a month for a salt water tank to cycle correctly. Just be patient and things will happen. After the month Test your ammonia, Nitrates and nitrites. If there ok then your good to go on adding livestock. Btw just add it slowly.

 

[Brenden]

Derpeder - First off, do you have a test kit? To test your water parameters? I would assume you do, if not make sure you get yourself one as soon as possible.

As for the different ways to cycle a tank, there are a few, I personally like to allow the tank to take its natural course and cycle its self however some people like to try and speed the process up by adding a shrimp or two (dead) into the water to produce Ammonia to begin the whole cycle. This is a possibility, all personal preference really. Without any aid you will probable begin to see spikes in the parameters around week 3, after that, do a 50% water change, add some invertabrates in, if they live then slowly add your fish.

 

[sprayin70]

I use salifert test kits for my reef tank. they seem to be the most accurate. www.marinedepot.com sells them they cost a bit more but are worth it!

 

[Derpeder]

Thanks guys. I do have a test kit and will be checking often.


By add livestock slowly you mean just add only one or 2 fish at a time correct?


So the tank will completely cycle with only the LR in there?

I just want to make sure I do it correctly.

Thanks

 

[Brenden]

Derpeder - Yes, your tank will cycle soley based on your Live Rock. You do not need to add anything else into the tank to start the cycle. As for adding livestock slowly, you can add your Clean Up Crew all at the same time if you would like. As for Fish, I add about 1-2 fish a weekend, until the tank is stocked to my liking. However depending on the fish I may wait for the tank to further mature. I would add 1-2 fish max the first weekend, monitor the parameters closely, then if all is well keep going at the same rate until your tank is stocked.

 

[Derpeder]

Derpeder - Yes, your tank will cycle soley based on your Live Rock. You do not need to add anything else into the tank to start the cycle. As for adding livestock slowly, you can add your Clean Up Crew all at the same time if you would like. As for Fish, I add about 1-2 fish a weekend, until the tank is stocked to my liking. However depending on the fish I may wait for the tank to further mature. I would add 1-2 fish max the first weekend, monitor the parameters closely, then if all is well keep going at the same rate until your tank is stocked.

Cool.......that sounds great. I'm going to follow a plan like that. Being patient is difficult when you have a tank that is sitting there empty.


So another question. I don't really want to start another thread. I heard that sometimes you can see little things on your LR. What would I look for and what is on them.

I see little yellow things that seem to be alive.....what else?

 

[Brenden]

Derpeder - Sometimes with Liverock you will get many different "Hitchhikers" that seem to have made the excursion from the LFS to your tank with the rock. Some of the more common hitchhikers are Crabs, Worms, Corals (sometimes), Feathdusters, and other random creatures. I know people who have had octopuses come with their live rock, and one person who recieved a small Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish with one of his batchs of rock! As for growth on your live rock, eventually in time depending on a few things you will start to get some Coralline Algae which normally is a nice deep purple. You can get other colours of algae on your rock such as green, red, yellow, and brown depending on your water ect. It all really depends on the type of rock purchase, as each is different in many ways. If you didn't clean your rocks before placing them in the tank, what you may also see is lose debris which may be loose algea, dead algea, dirt, anything which may have accumulated during the period of being at the LFS, or Ocean, and being shipped / transported to your house. Hope this helped, anything else?

 

[Derpeder]

thats helpful. Thanks.

I saw a little tiny star fish too.