what cycling timeline do you use?

Well Tang, that sounds like a plan. I did that on the first try with the 75, but I didn't wait nearly as long before adding other stuff. If it's something I can get away with then I'm game for trying it. 3 months you say? I think the nursery will hold together until then. I'm going to the LFS to get water today, unfortunately I have to buy it because of the condo regulations.

I also want to know if I can place the scape and a cup of substrate while cycling and then add the rest of the substrate later. Will that restart the cycle?

 

I am a believer in adding one or two fish at the beginning of the cycle. Just don't make it a powder blue tang and a manderin goby. Damsels are good. Humbugs die pretty easily, so don't get one of those. As Tangster said, YT damsels are appropriate. Who can argue with him. I have never had one die on me. The yellow damsels are also pretty tough.

And it is also nice to see something in your tank after all the effort of setting one up. I know, it's not a good reason in and of itself....but just a nice consequence to action.

 

Only one damsel not two three just one and the reason I use the one Y/T is that they by nature in have noticed is they stay relatively small and are the more docile of the damsel fish are added later you will seldom see them . This is nothing you will read Its just something I have learned over the yrs from lots of experiences with different fish. I know experience is nothing like a good book read but thats all I have, By adding 2 or more you just created a issue for the stability of the system that is not even ready for a single fish Then theres the added chance you will get a pair mated up and when two Damsels mate they rule a tank or a good portion of a large tank.. Just ONE FISH .

Then when you do get to the point in time to add nicer fish then just one every few weeks inbetween new additions to allow the bacteria time to grow and increase in their numbers to handle the extra bio load ..

 

so.....what's the word on base rock curing? is it even needed? Recommended? I need 411 please LOL!

 

I never did anything with my base rock I have loaded it up in the truck and or boat trailer tool boxes and brought it back from all over Fla by the ton. We where in Sarasota racing in 99 and they where doing a footer and had a pile to get rid of the backhoe operator had his guys to load it for me I simply put it in the tank and filled with water nothing is needed to be done with it. The bacteria in and one the rock is what make it to be called L/R then someone added all the bio diversity and though they had something else ? All that cool stuff dies off as does the bacteria . I start with nothing and build and grow the needed bacteria as needed and in proper levels . I'd guess 90% plus of the people buying L/R and sand do not realize who the bacteria work and think they have it all perfect.. Only to find it to start yo Yoing with in the water parameters .. get a spike and loose the tanks

 

Sounds good to me......I have 110/lbs coming my way and didn't have any idea on how or if I even had to cycle it. Thanks for the info!

 

LOL not a problem I would tell you to remove any balls of pure dirt or old leaves or trash and such on it. But I assume anyone would figure that out

 

LOL! Ofcourse!

 

Thanks for the great info. I was wondering if I should use more that 1 fish for 400gal of water but I think you've cleared that one up. K+1

 

a 20 gallon tank with 40 lbs of rock or a 20,000 gal tank with 40 tons of rock if you only have 1 fish in there they both will have the same amount of bacteria needed to handle the bio demand of that one fish add a second fish they both will produce the same amount of needed bacteria. The mass an volume of the 20,000 will allow for more bio load in the end but it takes and same amount of time between additions to get there .. Tanks and rocks can not just store extra bacteria.. the bacteria will die and grow depending on the demand on any given day or hr. Removing all life from a healthy running system at once can be as bad as tossing in a full bio load in a few hrs ..When I set my old 750 gal system back in 99 I cyled it just like I do a 90 gal tank.