Is 15lbs of live sand enough to start the cycle?

yellowRubi · 09/08/2011, 06:26 AM

I have 60lbs of Dry Marcosrock in my tank, i also have 45lbs of sand and i bought 15lbs of live sand ( they have it bagged at the local LFS ) the 15lbs of live sand i on top of the regurlar sand, i tested for Amonia after 5 days and its 0, do You guys think the 15lbs is enough to get the bacteria growing? or should i add some pure amonia or put a raw shrimp there to help out with the cycle.

Thank You very much!

funkejj · 09/08/2011, 08:56 AM

Live sand is a gimick. Just put in a raw shrimp like you would buy to eat. leave it in until you see a ammonia spike. The other method is feeding "ghost fish" for a week as the decay of food will start the cycle.

ZR1001 · 09/08/2011, 02:38 PM

+1 on feeding "ghost fish"

Tahoe69 · 09/08/2011, 02:42 PM

+1 ghost fish

Ron Reefman · 09/08/2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkejj

Live sand is a gimick. Just put in a raw shrimp like you would buy to eat. leave it in until you see a ammonia spike. The other method is feeding "ghost fish" for a week as the decay of food will start the cycle.

A gimick? Somebody posted on here a few days ago a video of 2 very small fish that came with their sand. Somebody asked if it could have come with the LR... they didn't have LR! Now that's some live sand!

hollister · 09/08/2011, 05:44 PM

No shrimp needed. Live sand doesnt mean its live or has any die off or is completly base sand . You also have slightly less LR then reccomended but thats ok.

You may not see readings showing cycling but let it cycle for atleast 2 weeks.

sporto0 · 09/08/2011, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollister

No shrimp needed. Live sand doesnt mean its live or has any die off or is completly base sand . You also have slightly less LR then reccomended but thats ok.

You may not see readings showing cycling but let it cycle for atleast 2 weeks.

What? The only thing you said that I understood was the slightly less than recommended rock statement.

yellowRubi · 09/08/2011, 07:08 PM

I got 60lbs of dry rock, and the tank is only 57gal so i think it should be enough, as for the feeding "ghosts" wich food should i use? Frozen or some dry pellets? I dont have any so i will buy some, just need to know what would be better

Thank you very mych for all the replys!

acpoweradapter · 09/08/2011, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

A gimick? Somebody posted on here a few days ago a video of 2 very small fish that came with their sand. Somebody asked if it could have come with the LR... they didn't have LR! Now that's some live sand!

I must have missed that? Where was it?

Back to the topic, no live sand won't start the cycle. Use a shrimp, or buy ammonia.

09/08/2011, 06:26 AM	#1
yellowRubi Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Streamwood,IL Posts: 677	Is 15lbs of live sand enough to start the cycle? I have 60lbs of Dry Marcosrock in my tank, i also have 45lbs of sand and i bought 15lbs of live sand ( they have it bagged at the local LFS ) the 15lbs of live sand i on top of the regurlar sand, i tested for Amonia after 5 days and its 0, do You guys think the 15lbs is enough to get the bacteria growing? or should i add some pure amonia or put a raw shrimp there to help out with the cycle. Thank You very much! __________________ 48x36x20h tank & 40x20x16h Sump - NanoSeaCreations 2x MP40 Quiet Drives, SKIMZ SM161 , Water Blaster HY-7000 Return ATI T5/LED 48"Powermodule, Apex with all the goodies,2 BRS Reactors Last edited by yellowRubi; 09/08/2011 at 06:56 AM.

09/08/2011, 07:08 PM	#8
yellowRubi Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Streamwood,IL Posts: 677	I got 60lbs of dry rock, and the tank is only 57gal so i think it should be enough, as for the feeding "ghosts" wich food should i use? Frozen or some dry pellets? I dont have any so i will buy some, just need to know what would be better Thank you very mych for all the replys! __________________ 48x36x20h tank & 40x20x16h Sump - NanoSeaCreations 2x MP40 Quiet Drives, SKIMZ SM161 , Water Blaster HY-7000 Return ATI T5/LED 48"Powermodule, Apex with all the goodies,2 BRS Reactors

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09/08/2011, 08:56 AM	#2
funkejj Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 747	Live sand is a gimick. Just put in a raw shrimp like you would buy to eat. leave it in until you see a ammonia spike. The other method is feeding "ghost fish" for a week as the decay of food will start the cycle.

09/08/2011, 02:38 PM	#3
ZR1001 Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 359	+1 on feeding "ghost fish"

09/08/2011, 02:42 PM	#4
Tahoe69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Lake Tahoe Posts: 309	+1 ghost fish

09/08/2011, 05:44 PM	#6
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	No shrimp needed. Live sand doesnt mean its live or has any die off or is completly base sand . You also have slightly less LR then reccomended but thats ok. You may not see readings showing cycling but let it cycle for atleast 2 weeks.