Soooo New ...I need advice with my brand new aquarium

[GaryM1966]

Hi All,

Gary here, I just put together my aquarium on Friday gone, put in sand and live rock along with water from the local fish shop. I was told to just leave it and it will go through its cycle, but I really don't know if its doing anything at all or if I need to be helping it. Could anyone help me here please?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R Gary,

Check out this thread, should help out

Cycling an Aquarium

Cycling a new aquarium. One of the earliest topics a new aquarium hobbyist needs to learn is how to properly cycle their aquarium. There is a ton of information on this process and many different methods on how to accomplish it. There are many different chemical and biological cycles our tank...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[UCF Alum]

Welcome to R2R!
Follow what Crabs said. And to add, check out Dr Tim’s fishless cycle ammonia to get things kickstarted. Gone are the days (I hope) with using fish (damsels) to cycle a new tank.
Good luck!

 

[Ling_Thing]

Welcome to R2R

 

[JCOLE]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[GaryM1966]

Welcome to R2R Gary,

Check out this thread, should help out

Cycling an Aquarium

Cycling a new aquarium. One of the earliest topics a new aquarium hobbyist needs to learn is how to properly cycle their aquarium. There is a ton of information on this process and many different methods on how to accomplish it. There are many different chemical and biological cycles our tank...

www.reef2reef.com

Thanks Crabs Mc, I did read this and its excellent, but I'm not sure if i need to be adding anything to help things along, shop gave me a couple of test kits and a bottle of bacteria, like I know what I'm doing don't get me wrong I want to know what I'm doing

 

[dbl]

Welcome to R2R and your new reefing family and welcome to the hobby.

 

[Salty Lemon]

I'm so glad you joined us! Read the link that Crabs posted for you and it will give you LOTS of help to get started. Also the BRS videos really help newcomers to the hobby a lot. Start with their 52 weeks of reefing (episode one ) and go from there: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video/category/52-weeks-of-reefing. But we are here too if you need anything. Welcome!.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Thanks Crabs Mc, I did read this and its excellent, but I'm not sure if i need to be adding anything to help things along, shop gave me a couple of test kits and a bottle of bacteria, like I know what I'm doing don't get me wrong I want to know what I'm doing

A little food every couple days will help keep the bacteria fed and the cycle going

 

[BeejReef]

Welcome
You're in good hands.
Best of luck on your new tank!

 

[Bleigh]

All gave good advice. I will say, my live rock and sand was super healthy and I also added two bottles of bacteria. My tank cycled in a few days, which shocked me. There’s not a set time frame. So just keep testing and if you’re getting nitrate and no ammonia or nitrite after you’ve added food, it’s cycled.

 

[GaryM1966]

I'm so glad you joined us! Read the link that Crabs posted for you and it will give you LOTS of help to get started. Also the BRS videos really help newcomers to the hobby a lot. Start with their 52 weeks of reefing (episode one ) and go from there: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video/category/52-weeks-of-reefing. But we are here too if you need anything. Welcome!.

Brilliant Thanks Salty

 

[SPR1968]

Hi Gary Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[Samina]

Welcome to R2R! That link should answer your questions!

 

[GaryM1966]

All gave good advice. I will say, my live rock and sand was super healthy and I also added two bottles of bacteria. My tank cycled in a few days, which shocked me. There’s not a set time frame. So just keep testing and if you’re getting nitrate and no ammonia or nitrite after you’ve added food, it’s cycled.

So should I add some of the bacteria I have? I have literally added nothing except water live rock and sand

 

[Redfoxtang]

Welcome to R2R!! Glad you could join us!!

 

[Salty Lemon]

Brilliant Thanks Salty

Anytime.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I added bacter 7 (Brightwell) every 2-3 days and fed 1x per week testing 24 hrs after feeding.
Do expect ugly stages with Algae, cyanobacteria and diatoms which is brown film. All part of new tank establishment

 

[Retro Reefer]

 

[Jeto2004]

Welcome to R2R!