Welcome Guest, Please Login or Register!
Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Support RL
Home Forum Aquarium Log Gallery Sponsors RHO Bookstore

Cycle????

Go Back   Reeflands Forum > Saltwater Aquariums > Saltwater (Fish-Only) Aquariums
Sponsored Links
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-14-2004, 01:24 PM   #1
Just Moved In
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NY
Posts: 21
Question Cycle????

HI,

The book that I am reading is a little confusing about the cycling process. Can any one tell me what I need in, and around the tank to start this process. I have been contemplating putting stress coat to help neutalize heavy metals and chlorine in the tap water. The book said if I let my tap water sit out and mature that I would not need to purify it. That the water would purify it self. Is that correct? Do I need a Ph buffer when I start? The book states that all I need is the salt, sand, hydrometer, test kits, tank, stand, heater, decorations/ rock, and water purifier. The book also states that I would not need to turn on my power filter. I should just let my water sit and mature is that correct?
monsterM is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links

Old 04-14-2004, 01:31 PM   #2
Just Moved In
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NY
Posts: 21
Red face wanted to add

Just to add If any one wanted to know.
I have: a 55 gal
Heater
standard flo. light
power filter
monsterM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2004, 02:06 PM   #3
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 19,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by monsterM
I have been contemplating putting stress coat to help neutalize heavy metals and chlorine in the tap water.
I would not use Stress-Coat except maybe for a new outdoor freshwater pond. Even then I probably wouldn't use it.

Quote:
The book said if I let my tap water sit out and mature that I would not need to purify it. That the water would purify it self. Is that correct?
If it is treated with chlorine, the chlorine will dissipate within 24 - 48 hours. However, if it is treated with chloramines, they take at least two to three weeks to dissipate. So the book is wrong. Maybe it was written a long time ago before municipal water districts started using chloramines.

Quote:
Do I need a Ph buffer when I start?
No.

Quote:
The book states that all I need is the salt, sand, hydrometer, test kits, tank, stand, heater, decorations/ rock, and water purifier.
I would get a refractometer instead of a hydrometer. You can get decent refractometers for less than $50 online. You would need some sort of water purifier if you intend using tapwater. Eventually you might want to invest in an R.O./D.I. filter system to process your tapwater before you make the saltwater. Or you could buy R.O. water from some supermarkets or perhaps the LFS.

Quote:
The book also states that I would not need to turn on my power filter. I should just let my water sit and mature is that correct?
Hmmm... I would recommend a decent protein skimmer instead of a power filter. I assume they are talking about the initial cycle period but I'm not sure why they would recommend letting the water "sit and mature" without any filtration at all. If you are using just sand and dead decorations, you will need to begin the cycle with a few raw shrimp from the local supermarket or even a nice sized piece of raw fish. They will begin to decay immediately and provide nutrients to power the growing beneficial bacteria. For your size tank, three or four average size raw shrimp or a 4 oz. piece of raw fish would do the trick. You could place them in a mesh bag or an old nylon stocking to make it easier to remove the resulting detritus.

You might want to consider buying some live rock for your tank. That's a lot better than dead decorations. The live rock would cycle the tank all by itself and it is a constant source of filtration and nutrient recycling.

Good luck,

__________________
Ninong
Ninong is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2004, 02:49 PM   #4
Just Moved In
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NY
Posts: 21
Unhappy

After I put the raw shrimp in the tank to start cycling, do i then turn on my protein skimmer and filters or just let the water just sit?


[
monsterM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2004, 09:35 PM   #5
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 19,500
I would run whatever you have for filtration, skimmer, etc. If you have any live rock in the tank, I would run your lights for about four or five hours a day. If there is no live rock in the tank then don't run the lights.
__________________
Ninong
Ninong is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2004, 09:56 PM   #6
Just Moved In
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: kingwood, texas
Posts: 9
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ninong
I would run whatever you have for filtration, skimmer, etc. If you have any live rock in the tank, I would run your lights for about four or five hours a day. If there is no live rock in the tank then don't run the lights.
To start cycling : Place good quality live rock and live sand amounts suitable for your tank size - see this site: http://tampabaysaltwater.com/package.html

It gives good instructions on how to start the cycle. Run the power filter at low flow - maybe with 1 sponge. Add a skimmer like aqua remora c or remora pro. Run lights for 4-5 hrs per day. ( with LR)
irabren is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2004, 09:59 PM   #7
Just Moved In
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: kingwood, texas
Posts: 9
[quote=irabren]To start cycling : Place good quality live rock and live sand amounts suitable for your tank size - see this site: http://tampabaysaltwater.com/package.html

It gives good instructions on how to start the cycle. Run the power filter at low flow - maybe with 1 sponge. Add a skimmer like aqua remora c or remora pro. Run lights for 4-5 hrs per day. (

Also - prepare saltwater 24 hours or overnite in advance ) in garbage can. Use Oceanic or Instant Ocean. Place powerhead or airstone to agitate and heater to keep water temp 78-80 deg.
Add amquel to get rid of chlorine and chloramine. Keep near tank and use for water changes. During cycling - be ready to do water changes if ammonia goes over 1
irabren is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
new tank 4 week cycle ldrhawke Reef Aquariums 2 07-20-2003 11:25 PM
PLEASE HELP: I think my Cycle ended much earlier than I thought. RLiu818 Reef Aquariums 2 01-31-2003 03:31 PM
Can I cycle a tank like this? eses Reef Aquariums 2 10-29-2001 10:20 AM
No cycle? chromis Reef Aquariums 1 07-01-2001 12:20 PM
Optimum Lighting Cycle For Caulerpa. SPASSE Reef Archives 7 02-23-2001 07:54 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:59 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0 Release Candidate 3
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.1.0 ©2007, Crawlability, Inc.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77