Cycle Questions

I am just about to start cycling my tank. I have a 30 g with a sump-no skimmer yet but I don't think that is a problem right now. Should I even bother to run the return pump to the phosban reactor or can I just circulate using the powerheads in the tank?

I have base rock now-should I buy some live rock and start the cycle with a dead shrimp? Is there a reason that people typically use a shrimp?

Thanks for your help.

 

using live rock is up to u. it is not required but will shorten the cycle a bit. using a shrimp is just easy and convenient. just buy some raw shrimp from the grocery store, have yourself a nice shrimp dinner, and throw one in the tank. the tank needs some "waste" to start the cycle. using a shrimp is probably easier than cycling with a damsel that you have to fight to get out of the tank later.

 

Ya the shrimp is already dead, so it will save you from killing a fish in the cycle procces.

 

i started my cycle with all the live rock i needed and my cycle only lasted 2 weeks. 45g with 50lbs of live rock. the only rock i have added since is from the corals i have bought over the years

 

dont run your phos ban reactor during the cycle

 

I like this!!! Yep. Solid recommendations from all. Just get the bacteria growing. No skimmer, no reactor and just actinics until all is cycled.

 

Thanks for all of the help!

 

throw the entire shrimp or just the skin

 

Yep they mean the full shrimp - not just the skin

 

Put it in a meshbag so you can pull it out later