Cycling a new tank

pskelton · 08/21/2010, 07:18 AM

I am starting my first reef tank and I have a question about cycling. This is a 55 gallon tank with dry sand dry rock and a little live rock. I have everything in the tank cycling now. I added a cup of dark skimmate from another tank hoping that it would kick start the bio cycle. Should this be sufficient or should I put a dead shrimp in also?

bnumair · 08/21/2010, 07:46 AM

as long as u have something to start producing ammonia u will be ok to start the cycle.

pskelton · 08/21/2010, 08:14 AM

So... The skimmate should be good enough?

Frick-n-Frags · 08/21/2010, 08:32 AM

also, the amount of organics you put into the system will determine how hard the system cycles. a shrimp makes a lot of rot and will cycle the tank hard.

cycling with just live rock many times isnt even measurable BUT you have to ease animals in so the tank doesnt re-cycle hard due to a huge bioload increase(mostly refers to addition of fish)

pskelton · 08/21/2010, 09:16 AM

I am a patient person. Think I will add a shrimp and make sure the tank cycles well.

nwinverts · 08/21/2010, 11:44 AM

I've always used shrimp in a media bag or you can cut off the foot of one of your wife's old nylons...you will want to retrieve it from the tank when the cycle is completed.

08/21/2010, 07:18 AM	#1
pskelton Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Manassas Va Posts: 100	Cycling a new tank I am starting my first reef tank and I have a question about cycling. This is a 55 gallon tank with dry sand dry rock and a little live rock. I have everything in the tank cycling now. I added a cup of dark skimmate from another tank hoping that it would kick start the bio cycle. Should this be sufficient or should I put a dead shrimp in also?

08/21/2010, 07:46 AM	#2
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	as long as u have something to start producing ammonia u will be ok to start the cycle. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

08/21/2010, 08:32 AM	#4
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	also, the amount of organics you put into the system will determine how hard the system cycles. a shrimp makes a lot of rot and will cycle the tank hard. cycling with just live rock many times isnt even measurable BUT you have to ease animals in so the tank doesnt re-cycle hard due to a huge bioload increase(mostly refers to addition of fish) __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

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08/21/2010, 08:14 AM	#3
pskelton Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Manassas Va Posts: 100	So... The skimmate should be good enough?

08/21/2010, 09:16 AM	#5
pskelton Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Manassas Va Posts: 100	I am a patient person. Think I will add a shrimp and make sure the tank cycles well.

08/21/2010, 11:44 AM	#6
nwinverts Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northwest- Leftcoast Posts: 52	I've always used shrimp in a media bag or you can cut off the foot of one of your wife's old nylons...you will want to retrieve it from the tank when the cycle is completed.