tank cycling questions

Hello,

I have been trying to read about how to properly cycle a SW tank. What I read was very spotty, so I thought I would share my idea and see what you guys thought.

My plan was to get some live rock from an already up and running tank and place it in with my rock that is currently dry. Is this all I need to do or should I also try adding amonia and getting some of the bottle stuff that has the bacteria in it to cycle the tank?

 

Me personally, I would skip the ammonia and the products that will help your tank cycle. go get some raw shrimp and add that to the tank w/ the live rock. It will take about 4 weeks (give or take a couple weeks). At that time, check your PH, ammonia, Nitrates and Nitrites level, if they all look good you can slowly add a fish. Hope this helps

 

Most people would put their dry rock in for the bulk of the rock in the tank and seed it with a piece of live rock. From there usually people throw in a raw shrimp and let it rot to creat ammonia. Then 4 or more weeks later your cycle should be over.

 

this is close to how I did mine except I used 50/50 live rock and base rock, I'm sure you already have testing kits but if you don't invest now cause in 3 weeks you will be chomping at the bit to get some fishes and coral lol

 

Well I dont get why using a piece of shrimp is better than just plain adding amonia?

 

I personally don't think it is for cycling.

Although it would also build up bacteria that breaks down waste and food into ammonia.


I personally would tell you to get some dirty live rock, or order it from teh interwebz that will always have die off. the die of would trigger your cycle and you get to search for cool and some uncool hitchhikers.


or depending on the size of your tank(if large) you could just add some seed live rock and a small fish.