So i was told when cycling to just cycle in the main display, no skimmer, no circulating through the sump and no lights. Can i circulate through the sump, theres approx. 30 lbs of live rock in the sump. If i do just the display, will the system go into another cycle once the sump is online? I plan on useing a couple of raw shrimp. Leave it in the tank for 3 days then start testing for Amm. Any suggestions would be helpful thanks C
Cycling Questions
- Thread starter Seasquirt
- Start date
Dr. Zoos
Member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2014
- Location
- Woodstock, Ontario
Cycle with the sump. Bacteria grows
On surfaces. The more surface area it has the better off you willl be. You want all surfaces to be colonized and balanced through out the course of cycle
On surfaces. The more surface area it has the better off you willl be. You want all surfaces to be colonized and balanced through out the course of cycle
Depends how you want to do it , I just finished my 120 g cycle
All dry rock and sand
Set everything up / rock etc
Filled it
And fed it pellets in am & Flakes in pm
About 5-6weeks and it was good for fish
Big wc
It was easier for me to just run the whole system but either works really
All dry rock and sand
Set everything up / rock etc
Filled it
And fed it pellets in am & Flakes in pm
About 5-6weeks and it was good for fish
Big wc
It was easier for me to just run the whole system but either works really
Run the cycle as if the tank is running. Not sure why people say no lights etc etc. You definitely want the right temp and circulation through the entire system to avoid any stagnant water.
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About the lights, i was told that theres nothing in the tank for the light and no bioload so no skimmer. I can see the skimmer. My lights are going to be 1x250 MH SE Pendant with a 20k ushio bulb and 1x Led XHO blue for blu effect. I'll run the LED.
Strange to see MH i guess for all you LED fanatics but i like the shimmer and i don't pay 100% of the hydro. I'm getting excited, i hope to be starting the cycle by next weekend. Thanks for your help C
Strange to see MH i guess for all you LED fanatics but i like the shimmer and i don't pay 100% of the hydro. I'm getting excited, i hope to be starting the cycle by next weekend. Thanks for your help C
i personally prefer to cycle with bottled ammonia. There is a brand home hardware sells that is clean to use and you dont put all the other crap from a decaying shrimp in the tank.
https://www.homehardware.ca/en/900ml-ammonia-all-purpose-cleaner/p/4521716?page=search-results page
https://www.homehardware.ca/en/900ml-ammonia-all-purpose-cleaner/p/4521716?page=search-results page
Jason Bell
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2019
- Location
- l2r4t1
For my 120 with 100g sump I used 3 bottles of bio Spira, no skimmer running, did run my bio pellet reactor and lights on my schedule. 3 days later I started adding my fish and corals. That's just me, I'll be doing the same again this time around.
Really? Ok, how much did you use and was it just the one treatment. I think id rather use that.
Dr. Zoos
Member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2014
- Location
- Woodstock, Ontario
I also used old Dutch brand ammonia to cycle and found it the best and most reliable way. Dosing and testing shows in the numbers how well the bacteria that is needed to cycle is growing. I’ll share the link when I find the one I used
Dr. Zoos
Member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2014
- Location
- Woodstock, Ontario
Dr. Zoos
Member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2014
- Location
- Woodstock, Ontario
It was a pretty strange feeling dumping what in my head should be toxic into the tank one day and seeing that my aquarium processed all of the ammonia out by the time I tested again the next day.
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2012
- Location
- Rocky Mountains BC
I dumped some live sand from an existing tank into the sand in the new tank, ran it as usual for 2 weeks (skimmer running, helps with oxygenation), and in 2 weeks added coral, then about 2 weeks later dumped the fish in. I don't believe I had any losses. I've never heard the lights out theory, it's likely to try and limit the algae growth during the setup, but meh, there's nothing for the algae to live on (as long as you don't have phosphate filled liverock from someone's old tank). If it is old liverock, best test PO4 levels non stop for the first 4 weeks.
The tank will be a new set up with no sand available and the rock did come out of an old system but the sand is new. Can live rock hold phosphate even after drying out completely for months?
I will put 2 frozen shrimp in the tank for 3 days then remove and test for amm ib a few days, once it starts it should be about 3 weeks unless i put in some Dr Tims which i just might then the fish will be ready to go in.
Not sure what im going ti stock, i like Hawk Fish, Yellow Tang just one tang though. White Cheek stay small or a Yellow eyed Cole Tang for their Algae eating. Not sure really. Thanks for your help
I will put 2 frozen shrimp in the tank for 3 days then remove and test for amm ib a few days, once it starts it should be about 3 weeks unless i put in some Dr Tims which i just might then the fish will be ready to go in.
Not sure what im going ti stock, i like Hawk Fish, Yellow Tang just one tang though. White Cheek stay small or a Yellow eyed Cole Tang for their Algae eating. Not sure really. Thanks for your help