Cycle Confusion

khpddog · 08-03-2008, 11:41 AM

Thanks all for your help so far. I am presently excited, but thoroughly confused. Here is my present situation:
210g up and running with 100lbs of LS in the tank, salt level 1.026, heaters off, lights off, skimmer off, pumps running. I was hoping to find answers to the following:

1) Will the cycling process begin on its own? I keep reading things like add fish food flakes, cocktail shrimp etc. to initiate the process.

2) Do I need more sand.

3) I am not sure what kind of LR I am going to use, can I wait to put it in or would it make sense to just pick a little of something and put it in now. If so what would be the minimum I should put in now?

4) When should the skimmer, lights, and heaters be turned on.

Thank You,
Kevin

scenario1313 · 08-03-2008, 11:53 AM

Personally I would get the live rock now. Wait on turning the lights on for a while. No benefit from using them now. I had my heater running when I started mine and not sure if this helped or not but that's what I did. Also you have no bio load so I don't see why running the skimmer is necessary. But I am a newbie as well and I am sure I will be corrected on something. Good luck my friend.

leslie hempel · 08-03-2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khpddog

Thanks all for your help so far. I am presently excited, but thoroughly confused. Here is my present situation:
210g up and running with 100lbs of LS in the tank, salt level 1.026, heaters off, lights off, skimmer off, pumps running. I was hoping to find answers to the following:

1) Will the cycling process begin on its own? I keep reading things like add fish food flakes, cocktail shrimp etc. to initiate the process. Yes but some LR will get you going sooner as it introduces a culture of bacteria that is needed

2) Do I need more sand. need more info on the system and maybe pictures but this will depend on what you are wanting to achieve

3) I am not sure what kind of LR I am going to use, can I wait to put it in or would it make sense to just pick a little of something and put it in now. If so what would be the minimum I should put in now? even a kg will help start the cycle but its better to put your required amount in as soon as possible to not risk a mini cycle when adding new LR when the system is up and running with livestock.

4) When should the skimmer, lights, and heaters be turned on. skimmer and heaters from day one especially when adding in new LR.. lights after roughly a month or when phos ,silicate levels subside as the light will turn free phosphate and silicate into nuisance algaes.

Thank You,
Kevin

my opinion lets see what the other members have to say.. its good to get various opinions and weigh up your options..

rmelvin23 · 08-03-2008, 12:28 PM

I would put in your liverock and add some starter sand from a well established, healthy tank. This will add loads of benificial bacteria, copepods, etc. Will cut down on cycling time.

Tangster · 08-03-2008, 12:35 PM

How do you want to cycle this tank ? You are overloading yourself with to much information . Pick a methoed that you are comfortable with and start it it up or your 100 Lbs of sand will be dead if not already unless you have it in the tank and water circulating on it.. I suggested to you last night on another string how I cycle a tank. Its never failed me or the many people who have used the methoed over the last several decades..

khpddog · 08-03-2008, 12:44 PM

I appreciate your response and info. I did respond to you last night, but I guess the thread died. The LS is in the tank and I am looking for the next steps. I am trying to procdeed slowly and cautiously. I plan on using at least some LR and given the the info I received sand from an established system. Even though I have made some decisions so far as to which method to use, the questions listed above are still open in my mind. Again, thank your for help and patience with my inexperience.

Tangster · 08-03-2008, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khpddog

I appreciate your response and info. I did respond to you last night, but I guess the thread died. The LS is in the tank and I am looking for the next steps. I am trying to procdeed slowly and cautiously. I plan on using at least some LR and given the the info I received sand from an established system. Even though I have made some decisions so far as to which method to use, the questions listed above are still open in my mind. Again, thank your for help and patience with my inexperience.

If you have the Live sand in there now then you don't need any more to inoculate the sand its done . You do not need any Live rock unless you just wan to buy it , I have never used a piece myself . I did once and I'm paying for it now .. But thats another story . O.K you have the sand in the tank and water circulating great lets go by the numbers now
what is the salinity , DKH, Calcium and magnesium level of the water ? have you gotten any rock yet live or base ?

coral reefer · 08-03-2008, 01:02 PM

If you refrain from adding the live rock during the cycling stage, you run the risk of bringing on another cycling issue with the introduction of the live rock at another point in time based on the amount of live rock you plan on adding.

khpddog · 08-03-2008, 01:04 PM

Salinity 1.023. No other readings at present. I have not purchased any LR or base.

ssgheislerswife · 08-03-2008, 01:32 PM

just get base rock, it's cheaper and will save you headaches. The first time I purchased rock, it was covered in some corals, but also aiptasia that took me weeks to wipe out.

08-03-2008, 11:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
khpddog Astrea Snail Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 42 Skin: Mint Karma: 1	Cycle Confusion Thanks all for your help so far. I am presently excited, but thoroughly confused. Here is my present situation: 210g up and running with 100lbs of LS in the tank, salt level 1.026, heaters off, lights off, skimmer off, pumps running. I was hoping to find answers to the following: 1) Will the cycling process begin on its own? I keep reading things like add fish food flakes, cocktail shrimp etc. to initiate the process. 2) Do I need more sand. 3) I am not sure what kind of LR I am going to use, can I wait to put it in or would it make sense to just pick a little of something and put it in now. If so what would be the minimum I should put in now? 4) When should the skimmer, lights, and heaters be turned on. Thank You, Kevin

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08-03-2008, 11:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
scenario1313 Tassled File Fish Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 1,963 Skin: Mint Karma: 26529	Personally I would get the live rock now. Wait on turning the lights on for a while. No benefit from using them now. I had my heater running when I started mine and not sure if this helped or not but that's what I did. Also you have no bio load so I don't see why running the skimmer is necessary. But I am a newbie as well and I am sure I will be corrected on something. Good luck my friend.

08-03-2008, 12:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
rmelvin23 Skunk Shrimp Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: orlando Posts: 271 Skin: Mint Karma: 163	I would put in your liverock and add some starter sand from a well established, healthy tank. This will add loads of benificial bacteria, copepods, etc. Will cut down on cycling time.

08-03-2008, 12:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tangster 3reef Sponsor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Va/Ct Posts: 5,640 Skin: Mint Karma: 39440	How do you want to cycle this tank ? You are overloading yourself with to much information . Pick a methoed that you are comfortable with and start it it up or your 100 Lbs of sand will be dead if not already unless you have it in the tank and water circulating on it.. I suggested to you last night on another string how I cycle a tank. Its never failed me or the many people who have used the methoed over the last several decades..

08-03-2008, 12:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
khpddog Astrea Snail Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 42 Skin: Mint Karma: 1	I appreciate your response and info. I did respond to you last night, but I guess the thread died. The LS is in the tank and I am looking for the next steps. I am trying to procdeed slowly and cautiously. I plan on using at least some LR and given the the info I received sand from an established system. Even though I have made some decisions so far as to which method to use, the questions listed above are still open in my mind. Again, thank your for help and patience with my inexperience.

08-03-2008, 01:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
coral reefer Giant Squid Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wonderland Posts: 4,848 Skin: Dark Karma: 23367	If you refrain from adding the live rock during the cycling stage, you run the risk of bringing on another cycling issue with the introduction of the live rock at another point in time based on the amount of live rock you plan on adding.

08-03-2008, 01:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
khpddog Astrea Snail Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 42 Skin: Mint Karma: 1	Salinity 1.023. No other readings at present. I have not purchased any LR or base.

08-03-2008, 01:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
ssgheislerswife Ritteri Anemone Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Maumelle, AR Age: 36 Posts: 628 Skin: Mint Karma: 3070	just get base rock, it's cheaper and will save you headaches. The first time I purchased rock, it was covered in some corals, but also aiptasia that took me weeks to wipe out.