3 ?'s on cycle

jackde · 01/23/2012, 01:47 PM

Tank is set up and running, 56gal. with a 20gal. sump. I used approx. 45lbs. of dry rock and 40lbs. of dry sand. 1pc of live rock on top of dry and 3pcs in the sump. Have added a fresh shrimp to the tank and checking for the ammonia spike, then the nitrite and the nitrate.

1st. question is at what point do I remove the rotten shrimp?
2nd. during the cycle do I do water changes or wait for the nitrate to rise?
3rd. I have read not to run lights during cycle to keep algea down but what about in the sump since it is full of live rock?

seapug · 01/23/2012, 02:01 PM

1. You could probably remove the shrimp now. The tank will cycle with or without it.
2. People do both. If the rock has a lot of life on it (hitchhiker corals, etc.), I'd do water changes to keep ammonia levels from killing everything off, but if it's just a rock with some coralline on it, it's not necessary.
3. Same as #2. If the rock has a lot of coralline algae on it, a little light wouldn't hurt, but you can do it either way.

01/23/2012, 01:47 PM	#1
jackde Old dog and new tricks Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern IN Posts: 328	3 ?'s on cycle Tank is set up and running, 56gal. with a 20gal. sump. I used approx. 45lbs. of dry rock and 40lbs. of dry sand. 1pc of live rock on top of dry and 3pcs in the sump. Have added a fresh shrimp to the tank and checking for the ammonia spike, then the nitrite and the nitrate. 1st. question is at what point do I remove the rotten shrimp? 2nd. during the cycle do I do water changes or wait for the nitrate to rise? 3rd. I have read not to run lights during cycle to keep algea down but what about in the sump since it is full of live rock?

01/23/2012, 02:01 PM	#2
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	1. You could probably remove the shrimp now. The tank will cycle with or without it. 2. People do both. If the rock has a lot of life on it (hitchhiker corals, etc.), I'd do water changes to keep ammonia levels from killing everything off, but if it's just a rock with some coralline on it, it's not necessary. 3. Same as #2. If the rock has a lot of coralline algae on it, a little light wouldn't hurt, but you can do it either way. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.