Tank cycle

Thanks for the info.. Thats really what I did though.. my rock is 99% base dry rock and I only added like 1lb of "live" rock. And only added a cup of sand from my other tanks. I was just thinking whatever type of ammonia or waste this shrimp is putting off the skimmer is pulling it out..

 

I'm not explaining myself properly. If one is going to add 4 or 5 large fish at once in a situation where there's a almost all base rock, that's going to be an issue. You would have a need to "pre-poplulate" the base rock and sand by using raw shrimp.

However, if you're following the typical rule of one small fish a week or one medium fish every two weeks, you would have been fine from day one. The bacteria basically has plenty of surface area to populate. If there's enough Ammonia and phosphorus to expand, it will. .

 

I see, so one can do one or the other. Well since I have already dropped the shrimp in, I'll let it rot away then start to add a CUC... sound ok?

 

Yes, that sounds fine.

TO AVOID ANY CONFUSION: My advice is because he's transferring fully established rock from one tank to another. YOU CANNOT BUY LIVE ROCK OFF THE INTERNET AND FOLLOW THE ADVICE I WAS GIVING HIM. IN THAT CASE, THERE WOULD BE TONS ON DIE-OFF ON THE LR AND IF YOU PUT A CUC OR FISH IN ON DAY ONE, IT WOULD SURELY DIE.

 

Thanks for clearing it up for the community.

 

I agree.... I put a shrimp in mine to speed up the cycle, then added a chromi after 2 months and waited another 3-4 months before adding more lifestock. Make sure you build up the necessary bacteria which should come with the LR and shrimp and then when the water parameters are perfect, add the lifestock. But PLEASE take your time. The biggest mistake you can make in this hobby is to go too fast. You would loose fish and I assume that you don't want that. So good luck to you , buddy and keep reading the advice on 3reef

 

Thank you.. But I have been reefing for over 8 years now.. Just never started with all dead components. like dry rock and sand.. That is why I asked.. So it took you 6 months to get your tank where you wanted it? Thats quite a bit of time. I'm shooting for 4-5 weeks.. We'll see what happens. oh. and I'm on this site all day at work all I do is read. lol.. freakin love it!

 

So I tested for ammonia last night, 24 hours after adding the raw shrimp.. and... we have ammonia!! let the cycle begin!