Bare bottom cycle questions

[xbuckeyes]

I am setting up a waterbox Infinia 190.5 next week and will be going bare bottom with caribsea life rock. Curious how long I should anticipate cycle to be complete ? I understand bare bottom is more difficult but I ultimately like the look better. Any help is appreciated

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

Takes forever it feels like but I’ve done it in like a month ish….

 

[xbuckeyes]

Takes forever it feels like but I’ve done it in like a month ish….

Did you add Dr Tim’s or another product when you started ?

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

Dr. Tim’s all I use

 

[fishyjoes]

Dr.Tims is one of the slower products. Biospira and turbo start work more quickly.

There is a testing thread with details

Not all Cycling Bacteria are created equal. Who's who, and what do they need?

My hypothesis is that there are very different types of Bacteria that are being used to "cycle" tanks to prevent ammonia accumulation, and it's not entirely clear which products contain which group, and it's also poorly understood what the requirements are for one of these groups to do their...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[xbuckeyes]

Dr.Tims is one of the slower products. Biospira and turbo start work more quickly.

There is a testing thread with details

Not all Cycling Bacteria are created equal. Who's who, and what do they need?

My hypothesis is that there are very different types of Bacteria that are being used to "cycle" tanks to prevent ammonia accumulation, and it's not entirely clear which products contain which group, and it's also poorly understood what the requirements are for one of these groups to do their...

www.reef2reef.com

Thank you

 

[BriansBrain]

I redid my tank, also as bare bottom with new Caribsea dry rock. Here’s what worked for me.

I filled 12/21/22 (pic), added turbo start and Dr. Tim’s with a few Genesis blocks and marine pure cubes from another system. Dosed Dr. Tim’s ammonium chloride and the nitrogen cycle happened in an about a week.

12/29 (pic) added a few small fish and a handful of corals. I did put quite a few starter corals in. The LPS and anemone have been moved out, but all of the sps are still in there currently (pic).

Maybe I got lucky but I hadn’t had any real issues. I’ve started 2 tanks (One had sand) this way and have both been successful.

 

[xbuckeyes]

I redid my tank, also as bare bottom with new Caribsea dry rock. Here’s what worked for me.

I filled 12/21/22 (pic), added turbo start and Dr. Tim’s with a few Genesis blocks and marine pure cubes from another system. Dosed Dr. Tim’s ammonium chloride and the nitrogen cycle happened in an about a week.

12/29 (pic) added a few small fish and a handful of corals. I did put quite a few starter corals in. The LPS and anemone have been moved out, but all of the sps are still in there currently (pic).

Maybe I got lucky but I hadn’t had any real issues. I’ve started 2 tanks (One had sand) this way and have both been successful.

So you used Fritz turbo start and dr Tims ammonium chloride at start? Also how long did you leave your lights off during the cycle ?

 

[BriansBrain]

So you used Fritz turbo start and dr Tims ammonium chloride at start? Also how long did you leave your lights off during the cycle ?

Yes, I added both Fritz turbo start and Dr Tim’s bacteria. Used the Dr Tim’s ammonium chloride to add ammonia starting the cycle and feed bacteria.

You just have to check with a test kit you have ammonia present at first, then the nitrite spike, then nitrate will show and no real ammonia reading. After, added a small dose of ammonia to verify it was consumed after a day or two, did a water change and added coral and a couple small fish. Check ammonia after adding fish. Lower amounts of ammonia will not harm coral. Just have to play the chemistry balancing game.

I added the lights the first day I put in coral, so 8 days after starting the cycle.

 

[BriansBrain]

You definitely don’t need to add coral early if you don’t feel comfortable. I just feel that for whatever reason, cycling has become overly confusing/complicated. Just follow the directions and test. It’s important to add herbivores somewhat early (after cycling of course) to keep nuisance algaes in check

 

[ScottJazz]

I’d recommend finding some live rock or media from a local reefer with a bare bottom tank that’s healthy. That’ll turbo start your cycle.

 

[xbuckeyes]

You definitely don’t need to add coral early if you don’t feel comfortable. I just feel that for whatever reason, cycling has become overly confusing/complicated. Just follow the directions and test. It’s important to add herbivores somewhat early (after cycling of course) to keep nuisance algaes in check

I’m debating if I want to use Fritz turbo start or Dr Tim’s. It sounds like either work just fine. What were the dimensions of your tank ?

 

[xbuckeyes]

I’d recommend finding some live rock or media from a local reefer with a bare bottom tank that’s healthy. That’ll turbo start your cycle.

I’ve considered doing this. Just concerned with bringing in any unwanted pest

 

[BriansBrain]

I’m debating if I want to use Fritz turbo start or Dr Tim’s. It sounds like either work just fine. What were the dimensions of your tank ?

If you’re between the two, I really like turbo start to kick the cycle off. Idk, it’s refrigerated and smells like bacteria should I guess lol.

I think dosing a type of bacteria occasionally for a few weeks preemptively and after your first couple water changes is helpful.

My tanks 60x20x20 about 130 gal total.

 

[KrisReef]

I’m debating if I want to use Fritz turbo start or Dr Tim’s. It sounds like either work just fine. What were the dimensions of your tank ?

Fish need a cycled tank because ammonia wastes they produce will injure the gills.

Coral doesn’t need a cycled tank, they eat ammonia.

What are you planning to grow in the tank?

 

[xbuckeyes]

Fish need a cycled tank because ammonia wastes they produce will injure the gills.

Coral doesn’t need a cycled tank, they eat ammonia.

What are you planning to grow in the tank?

I’m planning to fill my tank with sps which is why I figured bare bottom would be the best route to go

 

[KrisReef]

I’m planning to fill my tank with sps which is why I figured bare bottom would be the best route to go

The rocks will go through stages, I e get ugly and eventually start growing coralline, which is the sign the sps is able to think about thriving.

I don’t think there is a dry rock process for “cycling” to grow sps?

 

[xbuckeyes]

The rocks will go through stages, I e get ugly and eventually start growing coralline, which is the sign the sps is able to think about thriving.

I don’t think there is a dry rock process for “cycling” to grow sps?

If possible I’d like to skip the ugly phase for the most part. I’m new to the hobby, ive been watching a lot of brs on YouTube and from what I understand I can reduce the ugly phase significantly if I leave the lights off for quite some time ?