Hello everyone, I'm brand new to the saltwater world and just set up my first tank. It's a bow front 30 (26 gallons) with live rock and live sand. It's been a couple days now and I have no sign of an ammonia rise, I know the cycle could take weeks or even months to complete I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance.
New to saltwater
- Thread starter BradH
- Start date
- Tagged users None
dbl
It Takes Less Energy to be Nice
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Article Contributor
Moderator Emeritus
Reef Squad Emeritus
Hospitality Award
My Tank Thread
Welcome to R2R. Time has to be your friend right now. Patience is key.
KJ
Lone Wolf
- Start the cycle: DO NOT ADD LIVE ANIMALS. All you need is a pinch of fish food or an uncooked table shrimp. The table shrimp works because you can monitor its progress as it rots.
Section 5: The Cycle
image via rusticgirls
In a freshwater aquarium you can add some flake food, wait a couple weeks, and then you can add fish. In the ocean there is much more involved than mechanical filtration. In fact, 70% of your aquariums filtration relies on the maturity of the live rock. A combination of bacteria, algae, and various invertebrates compose the “live” part of the rock. It takes quite a while to establish an ecosystem, even on a microscopic level. Without a proper understanding of the Marine Cycle, you will be in for a long term battle with parameters and algae. There are six main stages to a properly cycled tank. Follow this guide and you cannot mess up. You will need your basic test kit to test the progress.
Stage 1: Ammonia Cycle
Ammonia is the first thing that forms when something rots. It is a waste product in nearly all creatures as well. Instead of using a fish to start the cycle just use some food. Anything that is all natural and uncooked works just fine. Table shrimp that is uncooked works great. Drop it on the sand so it is in view. The shrimp should begin to rot within a couple hours or more. Let this shrimp rot until it is completely gone. If you are curious what your ammonia levels are, go ahead and take some tests. Keep track of the results as the shrimp rots. The smaller the food gets the more ammonia should be present in your water column and pretty soon should be off the charts. This will stay high for a while, but then start to drop. As soon as the ammonia starts to drop you will see a rise in Nitrite, you are now on the next stage.
Stage 2: Nitrite Cycle
Ammonia when broken down by bacteria becomes Nitrite, which is still a toxin. As your Nitrites rise your Ammonia will drop, drop, and keep dropping as long as you haven’t added any animals. Keep up with testing to observe your progress. Eventually your Ammonia will be very low and your nitrites will peak out until it starts feeding a different type of bacteria that turns it into Nitrates. Once your first signs of Nitrates are seen you are on the next stage.
Stage 3: Nitrate Cycle
Nitrates are removed within the live rock deep inside in all of the deep pours. This hidden bacteria consumes the nitrate and creates nitrogen gas as a byproduct. The nitrogen gas rises in the water column and escapes into the air. When one gas leave, another enters. Oxygen is then infused into the water. After the Nitrates start to dissipate your oxygen will increase and you will be ready for the intermission:
dbl
It Takes Less Energy to be Nice
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Article Contributor
Moderator Emeritus
Reef Squad Emeritus
Hospitality Award
My Tank Thread
Thanks KJ...I really need to bookmark that information!!!
Welcome to R2R and congratulations on the new tank! Take the time over the next month+ while your tank cycles to research and read up as much as possible on all aspects of the hobby. Patience is your co-pilot! Good luck!
Thanks guys all great info I have no problem waiting I just wanted to be sure i was heading in the right direction. A question I do have is about the carbon in the filter leave it in or remove it until the tank cycles? Also lights, leave them on or off? I've been told both ways so don't no which to go with how many hours do I leave them on thanks again
KJ
Lone Wolf
For purposes of cycling your tank, neither carbon nor lights are necessary.
Tahoe61
10K Club member
Yes normal.
Coralline algae often dies back with the initial cycle or changes color. There are also different colors of coralline.
I see sponge growth in the first image so you must have used some live rock?
If so that will significantly shorten your cycle.
Welcome. :-)
Coralline algae often dies back with the initial cycle or changes color. There are also different colors of coralline.
I see sponge growth in the first image so you must have used some live rock?
If so that will significantly shorten your cycle.
Welcome. :-)
Tahoe61
10K Club member
Throw a pinch of fish food in there every other day to enhance the growth of the biological filter.
Salty1962
Wrasse and SPS Lover
Welcome to R2R! Have you used a bacteria culture product? Microbacter 7 is a good product to use to kick start your good bacteria. Give a couple of weeks, test your water to see when your ready for livestock. As mentioned, a little patience now will save allot of heart break later;)
domination2580
Reef-a-nator
Welcome!
Pruett-nc
Well-Known Member
Welcome aboard . Feel free anytime to ask questions and ask for help whether emergency or any other typical reef discussion . Feel free to help others as you get experience or if you have an experience and you fixed it . You will find some of the friendliest people willing to help you succeed here .
P.S. you will have a 200 gallon tank next lol . It's addictive :p
P.S. you will have a 200 gallon tank next lol . It's addictive :p
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
Super Moderator
Ultimate Member
Reef Squad
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
Hospitality Award
INDMAS Member
My Tank Thread
Welcome home, you will love it here!
Nice cube! Keep us posted on your progress! (all tanks are a constant progress haha)
Nice cube! Keep us posted on your progress! (all tanks are a constant progress haha)
Similar threads
