Hello MR, It's me again , thanks again for everyone's help. Here is my next question a few people said to speed up the cycle place a shrimp in tank. I placed two shrimp inside a stocking and just placed it in my tank. Is this correct?
How to speed up cycle process?
- Thread starter silverfox
- Start date
- Location
- Long Island
Let nature take its course, this hobby requires patience.. Trust me have I had so many mishaps due to rushing things I have lost count.
- Location
- Long Island
It really depends on the size of your tank, filtration and if you live sand or live rock present... In general it will take a few weeks at best to have the tank cycle. Some, people suggest you don't add fish or livestock as it is cruel.. Your choice, I know I added some damsels to my 125 when I first started new, and didn't lose any fish. Definitely don't add inverts during your cycle
Fully agreed!
Understandably, it is your tank and you reserve the right to do as you wish ... but if you choose to ignore the advice ... you will regret it in the long run. Not just you in particular but anyone that wants to speed nature along.
Enjoy the cycle of your tank ... embrace it ... and blah blah blah ... lol ... Just let things be. :lol2:
Test your tank over the next month or 2 ... and post the results!
- Location
- poughquag, ny
micro-lift products, get the nite out 2 and the special blend, love their products and are all natural, not that id throw anything n tank before a month as far as live stock, but these product will help move the process along faster and set up a good bacterial colony to help keep tank stable and clean
- Location
- poughquag, ny
yes you will, also depends how long the live rock was out of water, truelly best bet is too wait atleast a month after tank is started
- Location
- The Big City
The point of cycling your tank is to build up bacteria that will be able to handle the load you're going to place in. If your initial source of ammonia is small your tank is going to cycle fast but it's not going to be able to handle a heavy load and will probably result in a small cycle in your tank. So you want to make sure you have a good amount of ammonia to start your cycle. Putting shrimp, clams or other dead matter in your tank will start the cycle once the matter starts to break down and is turned into ammonia. These type of sources, even though they will help build up your bacteria load, will actually take time to cycle your tank, as the need time to break down and turn into ammonia. If you want to build up your bacteria load, and cycle faster, you need a good source of ammonia.
In the mid 80's people used to use products to boost the bacteria levels during cycling, Ammonia Cloride, which you could get at a chemical ware house, was something that was used. It greatly increased the bacteria in your tank and because it was already ammonia it made the cycle faster.
In the mid 80's people used to use products to boost the bacteria levels during cycling, Ammonia Cloride, which you could get at a chemical ware house, was something that was used. It greatly increased the bacteria in your tank and because it was already ammonia it made the cycle faster.
- Location
- Far Rockaway 11691
i used the shrimp method to cycle my tank and it worked.. after the first week the ammonia was sky high. i continued to monitor it till it was zero. After that i tested for nitrate and nitrites. and when they were zero it was about 6 or 7 weeks past
- Location
- Murray Hill
Just use LR and LS. Get the best LR you can afford. That should be enough for cycling. Don't use shrimp. It stinks. You'll find that you'll get all the entertainment you need for the time being while all of the hitchhikers make their way out of the rocks. You're sure to encounter them. I got some GSP as a hitchhiker on some of my LR. Free corals! Score!
Take your time. Cycling can go fast if you have really good LR that doesn't hit air too long. I'd wait at least two months before adding any livestock outside of a small CUC when you start to get some algae buildup. During that time, get your routine down. This is practice time. After the cycle is over, get used to how you are doing your water changes and testing parameters etc. That way everything will go smoothly and you won't have any major surprises when you do start adding stuff. Also, during this period, read everything you can get your hands on about all things aquaria. I would especially suggest researching about all the common and uncommon hitchhikers.
"Remember, nothing good ever happens fast in this hobby."
-Unknown
Good luck!
Take your time. Cycling can go fast if you have really good LR that doesn't hit air too long. I'd wait at least two months before adding any livestock outside of a small CUC when you start to get some algae buildup. During that time, get your routine down. This is practice time. After the cycle is over, get used to how you are doing your water changes and testing parameters etc. That way everything will go smoothly and you won't have any major surprises when you do start adding stuff. Also, during this period, read everything you can get your hands on about all things aquaria. I would especially suggest researching about all the common and uncommon hitchhikers.
"Remember, nothing good ever happens fast in this hobby."
-Unknown
Good luck!
the price of the live rock doesn't have anything to do with the quality or speed of your cycle.
if there is little die off on the rock, you'll have a small spike instead of a large one, but the bacteria colony will suffer. it will catch up later when you add livestock and you may see ammonia spikes.
"really good live rock" is simply very porous rock that lacks density, and has a lot of surface area.
you don't have to spend a lot of money on that.
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