Tank cycling?

[NYCxBRVCE]

I am starting a 120 gallon FOWLR (will become a reef with time) and have everything I need set up, BUT sand and rock (going dry rock aswell). Is it a good idea to cycle my tank with it being completely empty or is it a waste of time? I would add the sand and rock in about a month or so when I have some more money to spend. Any reply is appreciated, thanks.

 

[cbutkos]

If I've understood your question correctly it would be pointless to cycle without the rocks and sand because it is the rocks and sand that get colonized by bacteria. The growth of this bacteria IS the cycle.

 

[Mandrew]

Yeah the rocks are your biological filtration, without the Rocks the bacteria has nowhere to populate.

 

[TroutbumNV]

As ot g ers have stated, you cant really cycle an empty tank. What cycling is, is developing the bacterial colonies to break down the waste from your critters. The vast majority of that bacteria lives in the sand and rocks.
If youre using dry sand, and dry rock, youll need some starting source of that bacteria to get things started. A simple small live rock or small scoop of sand from an estaboished tank works well.

 

[sithrico]

You should wait. You need to cycle everything on go around to give a good boost to your tank from the beginning. Then to cut the time use some DR Tim's One and Only and the ammonia. If you follow it right, you'll cycle in 7 to 12 days. It's worth the wait.

 

[Themako1]

If your that short on cash, you should wait altogether till you have enough. This hobby is expensive and if you start cutting corners to when you don't know what your doing it will eat you alive