Slight emergency, need advice!

Hey everyone, kind of a rough week this week. I was attempting to remove the black rim from the top of my biocube and was left with a broken biocube and water all over my floor. Luckily i haven't lost any livestock yet because a lfs agreed to hang on to my stuff for a little while. I'm trying to start a new tank asap, already bought a nuvo 16 its being shipped as we speak. Any tips or tricks to get the tank cycled quick so I can safely start putting my livestock in. I've read somethings about types of sand and thickness of sand. If it helps to know my rock is also at the lfs so its still alive ill be transplanting that as well. I appreciate all the help!

 

Get new sand and use your exsiting rock and you shouldnt have much of a cycle.

 

Thanks! Any recommendations for live sand, I'm looking at Caribsea Ocean Direct Live Sand Oolite. Know anything about that stuff?

 

Also, add a bacteria like microbacter7 or use prodibio start up. There are many different other bacteria supplements on the market. They should give you no cycle.

 

Interesting! I've never used bacteria supplements but it's definitely something to think about.

 

Don't buy live sand, it will actually add to the ammonia due to the die off while in the bag. I would buy dry sand and use your existing rock. I, when I started my tank, used bio-spira which is made by instant ocean and saw absolutely no cycle at all. I had a bit of a nitrate spike but no ammonia or nitrite. Good luck.

 

I've used Carribsea AragAlive a couple of times with good results. No ammonia or any indication of die-off, just plankton blooms and lots of critters crawling all over once it settled. It's probably safe to assume their ODLS Oolite would be of equal quality.

 

The bacteria won't completely eliminate the cycle, but will jump start it and cut down on cycle time by quite a bit. Its a good helper, but I would still give the tank a little bit of time to establish itself

 

Live sand, live rock and a reputable bacteria supplement is all you need. I've cycled both tanks this way with no ammonia ot nitrite spike at all. I had fish in the next day. Had a small diatom bloom and that's it. A quality nitrifying bacteria will really help you out.

 

Sorry there is no such thing as an insta-tank.

Yes it worked out well for you, but many new hobbyist and their first fish fail at this method.

If you are going to add live stock after set up, you need to test parameters daily, have fresh SW made up and do the appropriate water changes, other wise called a soft cycle.

I keep sps in a skimmerless tank with no filtration other than live rock, but you bet I am not going to suggest others do that.

Like the man says: "Go slow and let it grow".