Tank Cycling

[reefgreenhorn]

New Live Rock and Sand have been added to new 46GAL Tank. All is well. Do I need to add a few Inverts to begin the Tank Cycle? If not how long after the cycle is complete should I begin to add a few Inverts?

Any good ideas on Shrimp or Crabs or Stars or Snails...I should start with?

I will wait 2 months or so for Fish.

 

[DougBak]

Depends on how much live rock you used. In an adequate amount, the die-off in the rock with start the cycle. I started my first tank with a couple green chromis, both did very well thru the course of cycling the tank. (Only to become food for a carnivorous green starfish that no-one realized was carnivorous until it was too late)

You can watch the params (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) and determine if you need a larger bio-load to get things going.

 

[ChrisRD]

The live rock already has the bacteria on it that you need - there's no reason to add anything to the tank IMO. If you were to add anything (which IME/IMO is unnecessary) - stick to something dead like table shrimp. I would highly recommend NOT adding any inverts right away.

Just wait it out for about a month now - regardless of test kit readings. Make sure you have plenty of circulation and keep your skimmer going. I also prefer to run lighting during rock-curing, but opinions vary on that.

While you're waiting for the rock to cure get a couple of books (check my sig) and start planning what you want to keep...

HTH and good luck with your new setup.