Not sure how to start cycle?

khpddog · 08/02/2008, 07:32 AM

I have just finished filling my 210 and adding salt. The salt level is presently 1.023. Refugium is up and running fine with the mud in place. Skimmer is in tank but not running. I plan to add live rock (need to purchase) and live sand (100lb of live aragontie which I have) I was wondering what the next step should be.

jimbo78 · 08/02/2008, 07:38 AM

once you get your LR and sand your cycle will start. no need to add anything else. infact once you add that"live" sand your cycle will start because of all the dead crap in it.

alextheromanian · 08/02/2008, 08:06 AM

dont waste your money on LIVE SAND...it wont help if your tank is EMPTY right now.

first off let me say. i envy you for the 210g

pick your choise of sand ...fine sand is HARD to keep cclean keep that in mind. after you added your sand (you need about 3 inches i think)

buy the live rock...which for a 210 wont come cheap but you could get lucky...some places sell cheaper the more you get.

when you have your live rock ...AQUASCAPE...for many this can be frustrating ...even more so than setting up the tank.

once you added the rock..the CYCLE will begin...fishless and in 1 to 6 weeks your cycle should be done time in which your sand will become LIVE...

many people buy live sand thinking this will help cycle the rock faster but chances are it WONT...it will cycle ANYWAYS.

good luck!

Sk8r · 08/02/2008, 09:21 AM

The cycle pretty well won't start until you have live rock in there. NOTE: lay down lighting grid eggcrate first, then rock, then sand. That way you won't have rocks cracking your bottom glass or rolling on you due to undermining.

One method of encouraging a cycle is to add a tiny (3-5 flakes) of Formula One fish food daily until you see ammonia. Then stop. WHen ammonia goes away on its own, you're cycled, but give it 2-3 more days before adding cleanup crew, just to be sure.
Use your cycling time to: stabilize your temperature at around 80: run all pumps, get lights on timer, run everything.
read up on fish and corals you're thinking of getting.
get an autotopoff set up.
buy your test kits (alk, cal, mg if you're going to have stony coral; alk if fish or softies)
get a refractometer.
Read the * threads at the top of this forum and ask questions.
you can be quite busy.

khpddog · 08/02/2008, 09:28 AM

At what point do I fire up the skimmer. FYI all pumps are external.

cveverly · 08/02/2008, 10:03 AM

Not sure if this is the "correct" way but I started my skimmer as soon as I added the live rock.

Sk8r · 08/02/2008, 10:07 AM

External pumps will mean much less heat, so you don't need that skimmer running. Your byline doesn't say where you are: hope coolth is an asset.

Once you have cycled, I'd say cut it on. It won't have too much to do at first, but it'll get going. With a fuge, and ample live rock, your cycle may be brief and shallow, but no less valid.
I would not run a filter sock with a fuge: traps the pods, which otherwise can keep going round and round.

SOunds like you're going to have a real nice system.

khpddog · 08/02/2008, 10:13 AM

Many good points. I will update my byline. Regarding the filter socks, I have 2 returns coming into the sump area with filter socks present as the water enters the sump. As I understood these will keep the bubbles at a minumum. If you are suggesting these will trap pods, do you have another suggestion for the bubbles or these not needed all together. Also, thank you for the lighting grid egg crate advice.

cveverly · 08/02/2008, 10:14 AM

Sk8r, I am not disagreeing but why wait to turn on the skimmer. I would think the skimmer would help remove any die off the rock may experience during the cycle.

Just asking and trying to learn more.

Thanks

Playa-1 · 08/02/2008, 11:54 AM

Your next step is to bring your salinity up to 1.0264. Then you need to get your liverock. If your buying uncured liverock you need to decide if your going to cure it in the tank or in a separate container. I would set the sand aside. I would add the sand after the liverock is fully cured.

I personally set my liverock right on the bare bottom of the tank and cure the rock. Once the rock is cured and everything is cleaned up then I would aquascape the rock and add the sand.

08/02/2008, 07:32 AM	#1
khpddog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 19	Not sure how to start cycle? I have just finished filling my 210 and adding salt. The salt level is presently 1.023. Refugium is up and running fine with the mud in place. Skimmer is in tank but not running. I plan to add live rock (need to purchase) and live sand (100lb of live aragontie which I have) I was wondering what the next step should be.

08/02/2008, 07:38 AM	#2
jimbo78 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: miami Posts: 3,099	once you get your LR and sand your cycle will start. no need to add anything else. infact once you add that"live" sand your cycle will start because of all the dead crap in it. __________________ Dive with sharks? Doesn't everyone. Current Tank Info: 60 cube

08/02/2008, 08:06 AM	#3
alextheromanian Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 1,007	dont waste your money on LIVE SAND...it wont help if your tank is EMPTY right now. first off let me say. i envy you for the 210g pick your choise of sand ...fine sand is HARD to keep cclean keep that in mind. after you added your sand (you need about 3 inches i think) buy the live rock...which for a 210 wont come cheap but you could get lucky...some places sell cheaper the more you get. when you have your live rock ...AQUASCAPE...for many this can be frustrating ...even more so than setting up the tank. once you added the rock..the CYCLE will begin...fishless and in 1 to 6 weeks your cycle should be done time in which your sand will become LIVE... many people buy live sand thinking this will help cycle the rock faster but chances are it WONT...it will cycle ANYWAYS. good luck! __________________ i just cant think of any phylosophical, deep, critical thinking quotes right now. Current Tank Info: 29g Reef, 75g FOWLR

08/02/2008, 09:21 AM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	The cycle pretty well won't start until you have live rock in there. NOTE: lay down lighting grid eggcrate first, then rock, then sand. That way you won't have rocks cracking your bottom glass or rolling on you due to undermining. One method of encouraging a cycle is to add a tiny (3-5 flakes) of Formula One fish food daily until you see ammonia. Then stop. WHen ammonia goes away on its own, you're cycled, but give it 2-3 more days before adding cleanup crew, just to be sure. Use your cycling time to: stabilize your temperature at around 80: run all pumps, get lights on timer, run everything. read up on fish and corals you're thinking of getting. get an autotopoff set up. buy your test kits (alk, cal, mg if you're going to have stony coral; alk if fish or softies) get a refractometer. Read the * threads at the top of this forum and ask questions. you can be quite busy. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/02/2008, 10:07 AM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	External pumps will mean much less heat, so you don't need that skimmer running. Your byline doesn't say where you are: hope coolth is an asset. Once you have cycled, I'd say cut it on. It won't have too much to do at first, but it'll get going. With a fuge, and ample live rock, your cycle may be brief and shallow, but no less valid. I would not run a filter sock with a fuge: traps the pods, which otherwise can keep going round and round. SOunds like you're going to have a real nice system. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/02/2008, 09:28 AM	#5
khpddog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 19	At what point do I fire up the skimmer. FYI all pumps are external.

08/02/2008, 10:03 AM	#6
cveverly Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Port Clinton, Oh Posts: 1,470	Not sure if this is the "correct" way but I started my skimmer as soon as I added the live rock.

08/02/2008, 10:13 AM	#8
khpddog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 19	Many good points. I will update my byline. Regarding the filter socks, I have 2 returns coming into the sump area with filter socks present as the water enters the sump. As I understood these will keep the bubbles at a minumum. If you are suggesting these will trap pods, do you have another suggestion for the bubbles or these not needed all together. Also, thank you for the lighting grid egg crate advice.

08/02/2008, 10:14 AM	#9
cveverly Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Port Clinton, Oh Posts: 1,470	Sk8r, I am not disagreeing but why wait to turn on the skimmer. I would think the skimmer would help remove any die off the rock may experience during the cycle. Just asking and trying to learn more. Thanks

08/02/2008, 11:54 AM	#10
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	Your next step is to bring your salinity up to 1.0264. Then you need to get your liverock. If your buying uncured liverock you need to decide if your going to cure it in the tank or in a separate container. I would set the sand aside. I would add the sand after the liverock is fully cured. I personally set my liverock right on the bare bottom of the tank and cure the rock. Once the rock is cured and everything is cleaned up then I would aquascape the rock and add the sand.