Initial Start-up Question....

[RoryJ]

I have a 110 with promaxx 200 W/D..to get this tank going i was going to do live sand and a couple of pieces of live rock...any suggestions otherwise?..It is going to be a FOWLR tank..thanks for all the help everyone

 

[CodyRVA]

With a FOWLR system it's not as much of an issue, but I always avoid live rock unless i can without a fathom of a doubt confirm it's "clean" of pests, even if you're not planning on coral now, you might get the urge. If you confirm it, then rock on ;) otherwise i would start dry/dead and let the thing cycle. Bringing in a pest on day 1 is a rough way to kick off any system. If you do use live rock, maybe add a bottle of live bacteria to help establish the population. I would add fish slowly if you use live rock, the system will likely go through a mini cycle all depending on the bio load... too much too quick could pose a threat to your livestock. And goes without saying, but if you use dry/dead rock let the system cycle before adding any livestock. Good luck!

 

[RoryJ]

With a FOWLR system it's not as much of an issue, but I always avoid live rock unless i can without a fathom of a doubt confirm it's "clean" of pests, even if you're not planning on coral now, you might get the urge. If you confirm it, then rock on ;) otherwise i would start dry/dead and let the thing cycle. Bringing in a pest on day 1 is a rough way to kick off any system. If you do use live rock, maybe add a bottle of live bacteria to help establish the population. I would add fish slowly if you use live rock, the system will likely go through a mini cycle all depending on the bio load... too much too quick could pose a threat to your livestock. And goes without saying, but if you use dry/dead rock let the system cycle before adding any livestock. Good luck!

?If I started dry/dead rock, do I just put live sand in then the dry/dead rock and leave it be?...or is there another step?

 

[mrsaltwaterguy]

If you start with dry rock then you need to add a source of ammonia. There are several ways to go about it but I personally used a piece of shrimp.

 

[RoryJ]

If you start with dry rock then you need to add a source of ammonia. There are several ways to go about it but I personally used a piece of shrimp.

I am assuming a raw piece just placed into tank?..and that would be enough for a 110?

 

[mrsaltwaterguy]

I would place a few pieces directly into the tank. Get yourself a testing kit so you can view the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. I highly recommend reading the following: http://www.reefedition.com/291/

You can start at section 5 to view just the cycle but the whole article gives great information.

 

[CodyRVA]

You can also use pure ammonia.

 

[sinekal]

Some flake food will do it too. Doesn't take much to get the cycle to start, then it's just a matter of time for it to run its course so you can add fish. From there on as long as you add new livestock slowly over time the biofiltration will have time to adjust to support th load.