Newbie q's

OK here goes with a couple of questions. My nano tank has been running now for 5 days with LS & LR. How long does the cycle take in general? and other than the tests that apply to both marine tanks and freshwater tanks what are the other tests that I need?

 

there is no exact timeline for the cycle process. what size is the nano? how much LR do you have? as far as test go, what are you planning on keeping in this tank? a lot of variables to this hobby, so take it slow and be patient. While the cycling is going on, take the time to fine tune what you want out of this tank, FOWLR? Reef? bad things happen fast...they happen at the speed of light in a nano! good luck and keep posting. Nanos' are fun, I had a 24G aquapod for a while.

 

It's an 8gal with about 9.5lbs of LR and 10lbs of LS. thinking of making it a reef tank with a couple of fish.

 

wow, 8G! that is small! good start though, use your LR as your filtration. I would think that your cycle wouldn't take more than 30 to 45 days, but that's an estimate. Remember you do not need the lights on to cycle, that will contribute to an algae bloom.
I, personally, would not put more than 2 fish in a tank that size. have you looked into a "Mantis tank" ? people do that with small tanks like that. Your lighting will also detrimine what type of corals you keep.

 

Just thought of a fish...a dwarf lion!

 

sorry...wrong thread, no dwarf lion in an 8G!

 

Now the fish sound cool and what is a mantis tank?

 

I think the dwarf lion needs a 30G tank.

 

mantis is a shrimp that eats small fish and inverts. it has to be your thing, since you have to buy live food for it to eat. sorry about the dwarf lion, that was for another thread. you need small gobies, maybe a clown.

 

the tank has 3 types of light. 2 blue moon led's 1 18w 10,000k and 1 18w true actinic 03 ( whatever that is)