cycling

[tmkx3]

I want to cycle with LR and LS my lfs said that everthing will die during the cycle and the die off will cause problems. How do you do this? The lfs wants me to use damsels. I DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS. How is this done?

[The R/C Man]

Welcome to Reefland tmkx3!

I wouldn't bother with the store bagged "live sand". It is a marketing ploy. The live rock that you will be adding to your tank will "seed" the sand and the die off from the live rock should start the cycle. Some people use a piece of raw shrimp and just drop it in the tank. The decomposition of the shrimp will also start the cycle. While damsels are fairly hardy fish it is cruel to subject them to the toxic levels of the tank during the cycle and they can die from it. Also what if you do not really want to keep those fish in your tank. Getting them out is a nightmare. They will hide in crevises of the rock forcing you to remove it all to get them out....

What are you planning for filtration? What size tank to you have? Are you planning a future reef or just intend to have a FOWLR?