Cycleing a reef tank

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by Steven896s, Sep 5, 2011.

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  1. Steven896s

    Steven896s Bristle Worm

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    What do you guys recommened i do i am going to be useing a biocube 29 and i have a 55 g that i am breaking down and will be useing some of the live rock from it i also bought 40 pounds of regular sand should i put all that in or get some live sand and mix it i was also wondering i seen that some people add ammonia to there system to help grow more bacteria should i do this or maybe add a couple hardy fish or something else
     
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  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    Just use a raw table shrimp, and the live rock from the 55 gallon to cycle the 29 gallon. You could very likely get away with no cycle if you are using live cured rock from a currently running tank.
     
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  4. dpruitt7450

    dpruitt7450 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    +1 good job corailline, just did this in my 10 gallon, took 11 lbs of live rock straight out of my 180 added it to the tank with new sand and a little bit of live sand to seed it, 7 gallons of live water out of the 180 and 3 gallons of new water. No cycle at all. So I recommend you do the same and you will have little to no cycle.
     
  5. tom.n.day

    tom.n.day Eyelash Blennie

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    I have always wondered, how long do you leave the shrimp in there? I am currently trying this method...
     
  6. dpruitt7450

    dpruitt7450 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    When cycleing my 180 I threw 2 shrimps in, and left them in there, I figured the clean up crew would enjoy it :) but that's just me....
     
  7. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    If it is a small piece until it is gone. A large piece until you can not stand the smell any longer. Smell equals decay, decay equals ammonia and the tank should be cycling.
     
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  9. dpruitt7450

    dpruitt7450 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    I never smelled it lol
     
  10. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    180 gallons of dilution. :) And live rock, you probably had a good head start on the process.
     
  11. dpruitt7450

    dpruitt7450 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    Mmmmm good point :) lol
     
  12. Steven896s

    Steven896s Bristle Worm

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    Thanks alot I don't know if I should use any of my old water. Because my 55 had a little green hair algae on the glass