How long should I cycle my Nuvo 16g tank?

[Santillana]

Hey people My name is Leo just looking for some advice for my new tank I'm new to reef I bought a 16g Nuvo tank upgrade the filter trays to tank media
Which holds purigen and chemi pure also bought a nano skimmer and planning on adding some chateo w a led light in one of the media trays I also upgraded my light to a marineland led unit.
My question is how long should I let my tank cycle before I add any corals planning on having Lps sps softies. Was planning on getting a mandarin but I've been doing some reading and my tank would have to be up and running for at least a year and have pleanty of pods, I would appreciate some advice thanks!

Also I used live sand and live rock lots of Rock.

[brandon429]

There is usually no cycle time if you used live media. All you do is do a huge water change now that the lr and live sand has been in the tank, this exports any ammonia you might have had from slight die off

And then get started. The test kit you need to follow is ammonia, you can add whatever you want as long as no ammonia shows, so add slowly

[Santillana]

Thanks Brandon I appreciate your help.

[Mr Cob]

I'd still wait 4 weeks to be safe. The time also gives you time to get acclimated to your tank and your tank's parameters.

There are also way too many variables in regards to live media "live rock", "live sand".

Take your time and play it safe.. got nothing to lose playing it safe.

[Santillana]

Thanks Rob will do.

[brandon429]

Be sure and use an ammonia test kit...its the difference between guessing and knowing exactly when you can add something.

The bacteria on the rocks and sand doesn't die when you x fer tanks, so you are using ammonia testing to see how the tank supports bioload. Place your first candy coral or zoanthid frag in the tank and test next day...if zero, add more etc

Wait the 4 weeks for a fish. Clean up crew can be added now as well

[Santillana]

I have a marine saltwater test kit but I need to invest in a reef kit

[brandon429]

Yes that's a necessary $40 ish investment. As stated earlier live can mean different things

Can we get a picture

[Santillana]

[Santillana]

[Santillana]

[Mr Cob]

beautiful system

[hackney]

That tank is awesome. As long as your parameters are in check, you're good to go (ammonia, nitrate, nitrate). A reef test kit is not necessary to see if your cycle is complete. A standard saltwater test kit will be sufficient.
I have used bio-spira many times with great success; on my own tanks as well as others. It has never let me down. Usually completes the cycle in about 3-4 days.

[Santillana]

Thanks Rob.

And @ hackney is that bio spira instant ocean brand?

[hackney]

yes it is

[brandon429]

Good pics the system should work out great. I wanted to see pics to assess colorations in the rock that indicate submersion...ie coralline.

From that pic what you have may very well be cycled but I wouldn't call it exceptionally cured, ie no coralline/benthic growth, it looks like base rock kept in a lightless vat which is really common in LFS

So if you are sure its been submerged for a least 6 weeks at the LFS then yes Id say you are good to go now for a low bioload test. as long as you don't see ammonia with whatever bioload you insert, be it a small fish or a small coral frag w some feeding, you are fine. if you do get ammonia off a tiny/reasonable bioload, they lied and it was just recently submerged then sold as live! I hope you didn't pay premium prices per pound for it. But for cycled base rock, its nice, Im glad there's no bad algae or anything.

The pics was to guess how well it was truly cycled.

[Santillana]

Thanks will wait one more week and do a water change b4 I add a coral also gonna add a power head. Any recommendations?

[x3thelast]

i spot some purple-ish on a few rocks (some in the middle and on the right by the glass). as far as powerheads; mp10 if you have the money, if not korillas are nice too.

[Santillana]

Close up of the rock