Cycle faster!!!

So My 40 gal is up and running. I bought it offline and it came with a lot of water but I had to make a lot too... There is more new water than established water, Also I added new sand, Half live bought in water and half was dry. So my question is, how long should I wait for the tank to cycle? I have added some biozyme stuff and some other nutrients to the water. I was thinking about tossing in a few damsels.. this weekend? is that too soon.

 

damsels are pretty hardy, but are you sure you want a damsel? Most people regret getting damsels because they become so aggressive...

The best way to know when to start adding livestock is test for ammonia and nitrates, when these are zero, you can probably add one fish and start testing again... you'll have a few mini cycles before the tank is well established... at around the 6 month mark, the tank will begin to stabilize.

 

Oh I was planning on getting rid of the damsels after cycling. I just really want to get everything in my biocube in there.. I have literally no room in my room I really need it out lol

 

good luck catching damsels withought removing the rock work. I did that, I had to take out 90% of the rocks to catch it. Id suggest do it with chromis, better yet, just do it with raw shrimp

 

oooooo life saver that is such a good point I didn't think about that. I love 3reef lol. hmmm what kind of raw shrimp where could I get that? just at a LFS?

 

Your local grocery store.

 

you shouldnt have much of a cycle...as long as whatever added was dry rock or dry sand then u should be fine... new water is just new water, it doesnt cause a cycle either...

i could set up a tank with new dry sand and all new water, and as long as my live rock didnt sit out water for too long, then i shouldnt have a cycle...HTH

just test ammonia and see what u get

 

Only bad things happen quickly in this hobby, ALL good things take time.
If you are this impatient already I see disappointment in your future.
Ride it out, you will be happier and have a more stable system.

 

there is a slight possibilty you will have a small spike with the new "live" sand. And I would definitely go with a piece of raw shrimp over a fish. I personally am not cool with throwing one in knowing that I could damage it's gills permanently. No matter if it was just $5.

 

Please do not cycle with live fish. Give the tank 4-6 weeks to cycle before adding any livestock.