Cycling mistake

[DustyBootsAZ]

I’m brand new to the hobby and I think I screwed up in cycling my first tank. I’ve been doing so much research and started up my tank 2 days ago. I was prepared to let my tank cycle for a few weeks with the live rock and live sand, but then when I was putting the Fritz Turbo 900 in, the directions said to add fish to the tank with it. I looked up some BRS video on cycling and it said the same thing, to add fish with the Turbo. So I went and got a tiny pair of clowns and two hermit crabs. It’s a 32g biocube. So far the fish are fine but I’m worried I may have screwed up. Any helpful tips I can do to give these fish the best chance?

 

[SeattleReefer]

I think (I’m not sure) that the fish you add are supposed to die to give ammonia for bacteria to feed off of and start the cycle. So sacrifice I think.

 

[DustyBootsAZ]

I think (I’m not sure) that the fish you add are supposed to die to give ammonia for bacteria to feed off of and start the cycle. So sacrifice I think.

I surely hope not! I was under the impression that they’re supposed to produce waste that creates ammonia and the turbo 900 is the nitrite/nitrate startup.

 

[Fish Fan]

I’m brand new to the hobby and I think I screwed up in cycling my first tank. I’ve been doing so much research and started up my tank 2 days ago. I was prepared to let my tank cycle for a few weeks with the live rock and live sand, but then when I was putting the Fritz Turbo 900 in, the directions said to add fish to the tank with it. I looked up some BRS video on cycling and it said the same thing, to add fish with the Turbo. So I went and got a tiny pair of clowns and two hermit crabs. It’s a 32g biocube. So far the fish are fine but I’m worried I may have screwed up. Any helpful tips I can do to give these fish the best chance?

It's Deja Vu all over again

I'm just joking, but this just came up earlier on the forum tonight

While myself and most here on R2R frown on doing a fish-in cycle, preferring instead for a fish-less cycle, you haven't made a disastrous mistake

You're using the bacteria-in-a-bottle product that hands down works the fastest at establishing an interim biofilter for your fish, and you're chosen fish that are very hardy, and were traditionally used for fish-in cycles and should pull through just fine.

Test your water for ammonia, and if it started to go over about 1.0 ppm, I'd do some water changes to bring it down, but I think you'll be fine with the Fritz product.

 

[Fish Fan]

Here's some real info on ammonia toxicity from Randy Holmes-Farley:
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/ammonia-is-our-friend.1062/
From the above:
1. While ammonia is toxic at high levels, the levels needed to be lethal to a marine fish are higher than many people think. I’ve not seen any study in the literature that shows an LC50 (half of fish die) in less than 15 ppm total ammonia in seawater over 4 days or more of exposure at normal pH.

2. Sublethal toxic effects of ammonia, such as gill lesions observed by histopathology, do not seem to become significant until levels reach 5-10 ppm total ammonia at pH 8.1.

I hope this helps!

 

[Fish Fan]

I think (I’m not sure) that the fish you add are supposed to die to give ammonia for bacteria to feed off of and start the cycle. So sacrifice I think.

Thanks for your reply. We wouldn't use fish like that as a sacrifice to produce ammonia, that would be an expensive and cruel way to do it. Much easier, cheaper and more humane would be to add a piece of table shrimp from your grocery store, and let that produce ammonia for the cycle. I hope that helps

 

[DustyBootsAZ]

I’m brand new to the hobby and I think I screwed up in cycling my first tank. I’ve been doing so much research and started up my tank 2 days ago. I was prepared to let my tank cycle for a few weeks with the live rock and live sand, but then when I was putting the Fritz Turbo 900 in, the directions said to add fish to the tank with it. I looked up some BRS video on cycling and it said the same thing, to add fish with the Turbo. So I went and got a tiny pair of clowns and two hermit crabs. It’s a 32g biocube. So far the fish are fine but I’m worried I may have screwed up. Any helpful tips I can do to give these fish the best chance?

It's Deja Vu all over again

I'm just joking, but this just came up earlier on the forum tonight

While myself and most here on R2R frown on doing a fish-in cycle, preferring instead for a fish-less cycle, you haven't made a disastrous mistake

You're using the bacteria-in-a-bottle product that hands down works the fastest at establishing an interim biofilter for your fish, and you're chosen fish that are very hardy, and were traditionally used for fish-in cycles and should pull through just fine.

Test your water for ammonia, and if it started to go over about 1.0 ppm, I'd do some water changes to bring it down, but I think you'll be fine with the Fritz product.

I read through that thread which is what started making me worry. I had no intention of doing a fish in cycle until the turbo 900 instructions told me I had to add fish. The clowns I added are super small so I don’t think that they’ll produce too much ammonia for the size of the tank though. I’m just going to be testing like crazy. I just want as many pointers as possible to keep them alive and healthy!

 

[allof fish]

It's Deja Vu all over again

I'm just joking, but this just came up earlier on the forum tonight

While myself and most here on R2R frown on doing a fish-in cycle, preferring instead for a fish-less cycle, you haven't made a disastrous mistake

You're using the bacteria-in-a-bottle product that hands down works the fastest at establishing an interim biofilter for your fish, and you're chosen fish that are very hardy, and were traditionally used for fish-in cycles and should pull through just fine.

Test your water for ammonia, and if it started to go over about 1.0 ppm, I'd do some water changes to bring it down, but I think you'll be fine with the Fritz product.

I remember reading that thread too lol. Definitely check ammonia next couple days. Clownfish are so hardy they should be okay. If you have live rock and sand too that all definitely help

 

[Fish Fan]

I read through that thread which is what started making me worry. I had no intention of doing a fish in cycle until the turbo 900 instructions told me I had to add fish. The clowns I added are super small so I don’t think that they’ll produce too much ammonia for the size of the tank though. I’m just going to be testing like crazy. I just want as many pointers as possible to keep them alive and healthy!

The Turbo 900 is literally the only one of those products that you can get away with adding fish right away. It adds a type of bacteria that is quickly able to process ammonia, keeping the tank safe for fish. And I've learned from guys like Randy Holmes-Farley who I quoted above that concerns over how toxic ammonia is has been largely exaggerated over the years

 

[BryanM]

I’m brand new to the hobby and I think I screwed up in cycling my first tank. I’ve been doing so much research and started up my tank 2 days ago. I was prepared to let my tank cycle for a few weeks with the live rock and live sand, but then when I was putting the Fritz Turbo 900 in, the directions said to add fish to the tank with it. I looked up some BRS video on cycling and it said the same thing, to add fish with the Turbo. So I went and got a tiny pair of clowns and two hermit crabs. It’s a 32g biocube. So far the fish are fine but I’m worried I may have screwed up. Any helpful tips I can do to give these fish the best chance?

Lets start with this:

You said live rock and sand.

Is it real ocean live rock? If so you're in fantastic shape.

 

[reefnoob9]

I’m brand new to the hobby and I think I screwed up in cycling my first tank. I’ve been doing so much research and started up my tank 2 days ago. I was prepared to let my tank cycle for a few weeks with the live rock and live sand, but then when I was putting the Fritz Turbo 900 in, the directions said to add fish to the tank with it. I looked up some BRS video on cycling and it said the same thing, to add fish with the Turbo. So I went and got a tiny pair of clowns and two hermit crabs. It’s a 32g biocube. So far the fish are fine but I’m worried I may have screwed up. Any helpful tips I can do to give these fish the best chance?

I dont blame you man, I've seen lots of videos suggesting fish right away with live bacteria. But keep it mind, this is advice being given to newbies who barely understand the difference between live bacteria and dormant bacteria.

Its irresponsible advice, and I wish the gurus stopped making it sound so easy.

For my 32 G setup, the Frtiz 900 took 8 days to drive 2 ppm ammonia (Fritz Fishless Fuel) and associated nitrite to 0. Temp 26 C, pH ~7.8 with 'live sand'.

Tonnes of bad advice out there. Including those suggesting household ammonia cleaner to dose ammonia ( the bubble making detergent chemicals in the brand that doesn't specify ingredients can be quite not good). I waited a whole month to get my hands on Fishless Fuel in Canada.