Mixed Cycle Advice

SilentK28 · Jul 8, 2026

I have finally started my aquarium after many months of saving and accumulating gear. Over that time I did a lot of research and visited a few of the LFS in the area and found one that gave me a really good experience in the store. Through that research I had decided to do a fishless cycle with added ammonia and a nitrifying bacteria. When I went to that LFS they said they don't sell ammonia and dont recommend adding any ammonia source (bottled or fish) with the nitrifying bacteria. They said to pour the bacteria in and wait 5 days and then add Snails and crabs to push the cycle along. I pushed back pretty hard on this as I have heard nothing about it, but they have been really great so far and I want to trust them. I have found nothing to support their advice so far. Does anyone have any advice in this regard?

Fish Fan · Jul 8, 2026

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

#WelcometoR2R

What they are describing works, but it's not favored here on the R2R community. I believe most members here favor a fish-less cycle without livestock, using bottled bacteria and an ammonia source.

For bacteria, the product that seems to work the fastest is Fritz Turbostart, which can cycle a tank in as little as two or four days. All others are fine to use, but expect the cycle to take about three weeks or so.

For ammonia, you can purchase Fritz Fishless Fuel, or you can use Baking Ammonia, which can be found in the baking section of craft stores like Michaels if you have one near you:
https://www.michaels.com/product/lorann-ammonium-carbonate-27oz-10695841
Get your tank running with the temp and salinity adjusted correctly, then add your bottled bacteria and your source of ammonia. Add enough ammonia to get the concentration up to about 2.0 ppm verified on a good test kit. Then, watch for the ammonia to fall to about 0.25 ppm or less, and you should be fine to start adding some hardly livestock, like a hardy fish or some snails, etc.

You can safely ignore nitrite, it's not toxic in saltwater, just watch for the ammonia to come down

Another method of cycling your tank would be to simply add a shrimp from your local seafood market, the shrimp is loaded with the beneficial bacteria and the shrimp will decay producing ammonia. This is less controlled, definitely 'old-school', can potentially, literally stink, but it does work

Last, adding some live rock or even a pinch of sand from the tanks at your LFS is another way to jump start the cycle.

I hope that helps and please post again with any questions!

Good luck!

BryanM · Jul 8, 2026

SilentK28 said:
I have finally started my aquarium after many months of saving and accumulating gear. Over that time I did a lot of research and visited a few of the LFS in the area and found one that gave me a really good experience in the store. Through that research I had decided to do a fishless cycle with added ammonia and a nitrifying bacteria. When I went to that LFS they said they don't sell ammonia and dont recommend adding any ammonia source (bottled or fish) with the nitrifying bacteria. They said to pour the bacteria in and wait 5 days and then add Snails and crabs to push the cycle along. I pushed back pretty hard on this as I have heard nothing about it, but they have been really great so far and I want to trust them. I have found nothing to support their advice so far. Does anyone have any advice in this regard?

Welcome to R2R!

I agree with Fish Fan above.

I am glad you had a good experience in the LFS, but this **feels** like a store that wants to sell you things, not actually give good advice. You were 100% right to push back.