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01-10-2007, 04:22 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Spanish Shawl Nudibranch
Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Florida
Posts: 85
Karma: 45
 
|  Cycling of a tank
- Will a tank cycle without all the spikes in ammonia, nitrates, & nitrites?
- About how long is a normal cycle period?
_________ 40g display, 15g sump, 10g fuge, coralife super skimmer, 40lbs seaflor special, 5lbs sugar fine LS, 25lbs LR(fiji, and gulf of mexico) 265watt PC with 2 50/50 10k/6.7k daylight, 2 50/50 420nm/460nm actinic, DIY moonlites, DIY auto top off, 32g reserve RO/DI, DIY dosers, research... | 
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01-11-2007, 02:20 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 39
Posts: 6,372
  
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1. No
2. That depends on the setup and how you cycle the tank. It can take anything from a few weeks to a few months. | |
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01-11-2007, 04:29 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 36
Karma: 0
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Kick start the nitrogen process by adding 1 to 1 1/2 cup of urine. Works best when its Florescent Orange. Happy reef keeping  _________ 26 Gallon Reef Glass, 150W Metal Halides- Hamilton Reef Star, 60 lbs Live Rock, 3 inch Sand Bed, Mag 350 Filter, Knop C Reactor, 1 Powerhead, CPR 90 Overflow
8 Gal Sump/Fuge - 4 Gal Fuge w/ Chaetomorpha Sp., 4 Gal. Return Chamber w/ Mag-Drive 350 Pump  | |
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01-11-2007, 04:40 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 39
Posts: 6,372
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Ewwww.  Not what I would recommend to start a cycle but it's a subject that has been discussed | |
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01-11-2007, 05:13 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 44
Posts: 3,975
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No way to avoid a cycle, though their are ways of speeding it up a little bit. Your best bet is to take it one step at a time and go slow! This way you are ensured that your tank is nurtured with the beneficial bacteria to handle the bioload. Then, and only then, will your tank be ready to add livestock, once again S L O W L Y!!! to enable the bacteria level to increase to handle the increased population! _________ 125gal.w/Mag9.5 return(dual megaflow)>Mag7 pump Aqua Cev180skimmer.Wave2k Hamilton Reefstar(2)250watthqi(mh)pend.a Yellow, Naso Tang Red Lip Blenny Percula Clown Demoiselles Niger Trigger F. Wrasses Ceriantharia Orn.Shrimp and Stars Hermits Queen Conch asst. snails> Stars Zoos shrooms Montipora Brains Gorgonians Favia Turbinaria(large+small polyp) Acropora Xenia Tridacna (CroceaMaximaSquamosa) Leathers <35+75gal.reef tank as well> 
"IF THE PHONE DOESN'T RING...IT'S ME"  jb  | |
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01-12-2007, 05:12 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Spanish Shawl Nudibranch
Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Florida
Posts: 85
Karma: 45
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Thanks, have been going real slow.
Last edited by newton27; 01-13-2007 at 04:09 PM.
Reason: 1
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01-12-2007, 05:36 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Spanish Shawl Nudibranch
Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Florida
Posts: 85
Karma: 45
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Added a sand sifting star, think I made a mistake...
Last edited by newton27; 01-13-2007 at 04:09 PM.
Reason: 1
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01-12-2007, 05:47 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Eyelash Blennie
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lakeland, Fl
Posts: 1,294
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Yes, you probably did. Take it back | |
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01-12-2007, 07:30 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Gigas Clam
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Mexico Age: 23
Posts: 895
Karma: 150
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I like the piece or two of shrimp idea. Were you put some shrimp in the tank and let it rott, it will simulate a fish in the water and get the bacteria growing. Then youll be good to add a fish or two every 2 weeks to a month after the ammonia and nitites have come back down to 0. The best thing to do is not add more than one or 2 fish at a time. It will take a few weeks for the bacteria to build back up to handle the fish. You will see it in a test. The nitrates will go up for awhile. Like everyone said, go slow. Easier said than done, lol.
Michael _________ 15 Gallon Nano, Current USA 80 watt PC Light, Pengiun HOB Refug, Pair of clowns one ocellaris and one purcula!
100 Gallon Tek T-5 Fixture 6 Bulb, Algea Forest!!! | |
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01-12-2007, 08:02 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 44
Posts: 3,975
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Yeah, a sand sifting star is not what you want or need at this stage of your tanks maturity. Your Star will die due to insufficient food in your substrate.
What are you using to start the cycling process? Or is the cycling process complete? Is that why you purchased a Sand Sifting Star?
I would go with Yellow tail damsels or the vibrant Green or Blue Chromis' for the cycling process if it isn't started yet. They are beautiful, quite tranquill and will be a welcome addition to your tank and don't have to worry about destroying your tank to remove a boisterous damsel like a Domino or 4-stripe from your tank after using it for your cycling...only to learn that they are way to aggressive.
I like your tank set-up by the way!
Best of luck! | |
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