Fishless coral/invert cycle

[TK_KW]

Hey @Randy Holmes-Farley

So I reset one of my qt tanks. New 40g gallon with external overflow, and 30g sump. Its been running for about 4-5 weeks. I had seeded it from my display. But a couple factors I think made it restart a cycle. So I dosed KZ ZeoBak and Zoe bio, one. Did one drop of each. With no fish, how often should I dose dr tims ammonia? And how often do I need to add any more KZ or Amonia.

Secondly, once it's cycled and settled down. With it being a fishless system only meant for coral/invert qt. What can I do to combat it being fishless and the bacteria.

Currently my display tank auto waterchanges from my display into that quarantine. Then from that quarantine to the drain. Does 4 gallons a day. So my mature system is at least feeding nutrients into that fishless system.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[lapin]

Dose ammonia to 2ppm let it fall. if it falls to 0 in a day then its cycled. 4 weeks with dirty water its prob all ready cycled. No need to add nutrients if its getting them form your other tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Secondly, once it's cycled and settled down. With it being a fishless system only meant for coral/invert qt. What can I do to combat it being fishless and the bacteria.
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I’d just follow the standard Dr Tim’s directions, but the criteria seem lower so one need not send it as high if you don’t want.

I presume you intend to use foods of some sort?

 

[FishLvR]

Dr Tim's drew out my cycle months on a previous tank. Yes it's good sound science and yes it works. However, I'm fat, old, tired, and dang it I want it now. So I swear by the safe start crap by tetra. Toss the suggested amount in the tank. Ghost feed for like three days. Toss in a sacrifice, if it lives you good if it don't, add more fish food. 3-5 days cycled.

 

[TK_KW]

I’d just follow the standard Dr Tim’s directions, but the criteria seem lower so one need not send it as high if you don’t want.

I presume you intend to use foods of some sort?

Will have inverts in qt. Going through there qt time frame. So yes periodically will feed into take for them