Cycling timeframe??

Ive had my tank running for a week.
Its a 29 gallon, im cycling with 20lbs of live sand, 4lbs of live rock, a powerhead, and 2 Damsels.

I was wondering about how long before I can add a clean up crew safely??

 

I would wait 3 to 4 weeks

 

That's a pretty good time frame. To be sure when your cycles is finished, test the water, When you no longer detect any ammonia or nitrites, you should be good to go.

 

excuse my dumb question...but will the damsels not die during the cycle?

 

sometimes they do but most of the time they will just keep on trucken

 

they're tough fish...

and a word of advice...more rock!!!

 

I would wait until nitite = 0. If u don't have any ammonia or nitrite yet u could probably get away with an emerald crab, but I wouldn't add it mid cycle because it wouldn't be able to adjust. During my cycle I had a damsel but my ammonia. And nitrite never got halfway up the card.

 

Agree with the 3-4 weeks and the Nitrite = 0. Then do a water change (20%) and add the clean up crew. Also, agree you probably need atleast 25 -30 lbs more live rock in there. If you ever plan to add it, do it now...as if you wait to add it, you will likely throw your tank back into a mini-cycle.

 

Im all about putting more live rock in.. but im giving the damsels to a neighbor and I know it'll be waaaay hard to get them out with 30lbs of rock to hide behind.