cycling

i know someone has probably answered this but i was wondering i am starting a 75g reef tank in the next month or so could someone tell me if i could use about all base rock and if so how could i cycle it and make it live and around how long before it would purple up thank you please comment.

what would i have to add to make it cycle could i use a pair of small clowns and would you add sand from the start

 

You can use all base rock if you like. It is always recommended to use some cured rock as it will have a variety of organisms that will spread to the rest of your rock. As for purpling up that will come with time, you must have some coralline algae in the tank for it to continue to grow. As well you will have to make sure your Calcium readings are atleast 400 and your alk (dkh) should be at 2.7-3.2 (8-9) in order to help the coraline algae grow faster.

 

ok thank you i will do that hopefully starting a thread soon but would it be ok to use two clowns to cycle

 

and do you have a link for some good base rock

 

Using a fish to cycle your tank probably isn't the best idea. It isn't good for your fish either! Most people on her say to use a piece of raw shrimp, or you can buy chemicals to jump start the process. Also buying a piece of live rock could help as well.

 

I wouldn't use clowns to cycle IMO there survival rate during cycling wouldn't be good.

as far as base rock you could buy it at a LFS or if you want to buy online
reefcleaners has a good selection of base rock.
ReefCleaners.org | Clean Up Crews and Macro Algae - Home

 

ReefCleaners.org | Clean Up Crews and Macro Algae - Home is the way to go for base rock

 

thank you i will look into that so if i use just a few small pieces of live rock mixed in with my base and then put in the sand through a few raw shrimp in i should be fine and my tank will cycle

 

I just cycled my 75g tank with 80lbs of Marco dry rock, 10lbs of Fiji live rock, 80lbs of dry sand and 10lbs of live sand. I cycled with 3 green Chromis but didn't see any Ammonia spike after the first 2 weeks then added shrimp in my sump and then it cycled a week later, YES I SAID A WEEK LATER. I test my water twice a day, morning and night and my readings have been zero for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate every time I test it.

I began the tank journey on Feb. 17 of this year and here it is March 12 and my tank has been cycled for 2 weeks now, and I did not lose a single Chromis.
I threw a small clean up crew in last Sunday and will be quarantining a Blenny this weekend for a few weeks before adding it to the tank.

Good luck and take your time, do lots of reading, sit back and let nature take it's course, you'll be glad you did...

 

I cycled with a royal gramma and a clarkii clown they both done great until I got the slug...I think it would be better with the shrimp and for sure get some live rock to seed with. Tie the shrimp on a string so it when it gets funky you can swap it out. I dont advise the clown idea. The clarkii is a rather hardy fish in the clown family the rest would not make it through a cycle. Use the shrimp and do it right my mistakes so far has cost me hundreds I could use elsewhere...get the shrimp friend its the best way...