how to start cycle

Hi, i want to start a cycle in a new tank can i add fresh mussels from the fish market? what other options are there?

 

ya thats a fine idea you can also use a small piece of shrimp. you can also add a damsel but i dont reommend that they become a pain because there so aggressive so you have to remove it later. you can also add a piece of already live rock along with the pice of shrimp or mussel

 

The fastest way that I found was to add your sand, live rock, powerhead without lights for a couple of weeks test every few days until everything is within range. Then very slowly start adding fish.

Every tank is different but mine went through the start-up cycle in a week and a half without any fish or food. A lot of people use fish or raw uncooked shrimp in there tank but I never found a need for it.

Hope this helps.

 

Don't try this it home, but ive heard you can pee in the tank as well

 

I've used ammonia that can be purchased at the dollar store or your local ace hardware. Make no sure the bottle doesn't foam up when you shake it. If it foams, then there is perfumes and additives that are dangerous to the tank, KEEP away from them. It should say "clear ammonia" with no perfumes in the ingredients.

 

Not to sound rude,but that is some of the craziest advice i've ever seen.Do not add store bought ammonia,do not cycle with a live fish(the ammonia and nitrites are deadly and tortures the fish).Do not pee in your tank.And if you start with just live rock and water and think the tank cycled,well thats incorrect too.Your test may show ok as there was no spikes in ammonia to start the cycle because there was no or very little die off.Just simply add a piece of raw shrimp or mussel,so that as it decomposes and creates ammonia,that will begin feeding and multiplying the bacteria.You will see ammonia spike first,followed by nitrites as bacteria continues to feed and spread,and eventually converting to nitrates.Only after you read zero ammonia and nitrites and your nitrates fall to close to zero,then and only then is the tank cycled.The tank will still go through many stages of curing and becoming an established tank,but the initial cycle will take approx 3 to 6 weeks to complete,then and only then is the safe time to start slowing adding livestock.