Cycling question

[Juice780]

I plan start cycling my new tank next week. I am doing a fishless cycle with Fritz turbo start. My plan is to dose the tank with ammonia then add the turbo start. Once the ammonia goes down I will add some more ammonia to make sure ammonia goes back to zero then I will add a pair of clown fish for a permanent ammonia source for the bacteria. Does this sound about right

 

[lapin]

You will need to test for nitrates. Converting ammonia is only 1/2 the bacteria cycle. Once you see nitrates start to rise then change out 1/2 your water and you are good to go. You don’t want to start with high nitrates.

 

[Dom]

During my time in the hobby, I probably had about 10-12 tanks of varying sizes.

But the only tank I've ever cycled (using a cocktail shrimp) was my first one. After that I moved a piece of live rock from one of my established tanks to the new build and called the tank cycled. Doing that transports the nitrifying bacteria colony to the new tank.

Do you have a friend in the hobby from whom you can take a piece? Does your local fish store have live rock to sell?

I like the idea of buying a piece of live rock; you never know what interesting creatures are hiding inside!

 

[Juice780]

Yeah I thought about getting a couple pieces of live rock from a local store to put in the sump too

 

[Dom]

Yeah I thought about getting a couple pieces of live rock from a local store to put in the sump too

Yes, you could put it in the sump. But if there are any creatures in the rock, they will end up in your sump.