Barebottem tank Question

realest · 05/09/2009, 01:06 AM

I have setup a 200 gal barebottem tank. The tank houses nothing but water and i have a 100 gal sump which 6" sandbed and 60 lbs of live rock. I am currectly running this setup with 3 400W Mh lighting and the ligths are running 4 hrs a day.

My question is, Will this tank cycle? And when will i know when it is ready for fish or corals?

Any input would help, Is there a sign i should look for?

Thanks

Jerry W · 05/09/2009, 03:17 AM

Your tank will cycle given the live rock you have. It may take some time but monitor parameters every few days. I cycled my 120 with nothing more than live rock. Never saw any ammonia or nitrates. After a couple weeks, I tossed in a dead cocktail shrimp to "challenge" the cycle and again, never saw any spike in levels.

RealFish · 05/09/2009, 05:25 AM

It will cycle, but I'd be concerned that with the small amount of rock in a 300 gallon system and no bioload it would not be enough to sustain significant additiona. I'd toss something in their to "challenge the cycle" (I like that term). 60 lbs of live rock doesn't seem adequate for a 300 gallon system.

reefscape15 · 05/09/2009, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RealFish
It will cycle, but I'd be concerned that with the small amount of rock in a 300 gallon system and no bioload it would not be enough to sustain significant additiona. I'd toss something in their to "challenge the cycle" (I like that term). 60 lbs of live rock doesn't seem adequate for a 300 gallon system.

+1. It may take up to a few weeks or a month with only 60lbs of rock in that system. Why no rocks in the DT yet? It would help things along

realest · 05/09/2009, 03:27 PM

Here is my 2nd question, do my sump with sand and live rock need to be light up? i currently do not have any lights down at the sump? i have it running for about 2 weeks now and i see no sign of cycle at all.

Thanks

imcosmokramer · 05/09/2009, 10:14 PM

can you tell us more about your intentions? Are you going to add more rock to the tank? What are you planning on keeping?

You don't need to light up your sump, unless you grow macro algae (which is a good idea). So.... you don't need to light up rock/sand, but if you choose to add macro algae, then light it on a schedule opposite your tank (to help with stabilizing pH)

alextheromanian · 05/09/2009, 11:56 PM

60lbs is a small ammount for 200gal so the filtration wont be that great. unless you add rock to your display tank aswell...

which i suspect you will since you want to add corals.

another thing is...if your tank cycles ....and is done...and then you add rockwork liverock to your display tank...itll only start a new cycle...unless you do your entire display with dead rock.

Michael · 05/10/2009, 01:38 AM

yes the tank will cycle, you need to monitor ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, i keep seeing this basic mistake almost daily on here now, if the 60 pounds of live rock was fully cured and seeded with bacterial colonies then the die off may have been so fast you might have missed the cycle.

as you havent tested yet you may never know, id suggest buying these 3 essential kits at this stage anyhow to monitor the parameters just in case theres a cycle going on.

also as mentioned by many of the guys before 60 pounds isnt enough for a 300 gallon tank unless you plan on just 1 or 2 small fish, if you want larger fish then you will need to consider adding more biological filteration, and another 100-150 pounds of live rock in the dt would be a perfect way to do so.

dont forget you will need plenty of flow around the rocks and imo a decent skimmer

05/09/2009, 01:06 AM	#1
realest Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 258	Barebottem tank Question I have setup a 200 gal barebottem tank. The tank houses nothing but water and i have a 100 gal sump which 6" sandbed and 60 lbs of live rock. I am currectly running this setup with 3 400W Mh lighting and the ligths are running 4 hrs a day. My question is, Will this tank cycle? And when will i know when it is ready for fish or corals? Any input would help, Is there a sign i should look for? Thanks

05/09/2009, 03:17 AM	#2
Jerry W Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: PA. Posts: 2,873	Your tank will cycle given the live rock you have. It may take some time but monitor parameters every few days. I cycled my 120 with nothing more than live rock. Never saw any ammonia or nitrates. After a couple weeks, I tossed in a dead cocktail shrimp to "challenge" the cycle and again, never saw any spike in levels. __________________ Americans sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. Current Tank Info: 37 gal; pair of mocha clowns, ywg and tiger pistol shrimp

05/09/2009, 10:14 PM	#6
imcosmokramer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 1,709	can you tell us more about your intentions? Are you going to add more rock to the tank? What are you planning on keeping? You don't need to light up your sump, unless you grow macro algae (which is a good idea). So.... you don't need to light up rock/sand, but if you choose to add macro algae, then light it on a schedule opposite your tank (to help with stabilizing pH) __________________ You can agree with me, or you can be wrong. You pick.

05/09/2009, 11:56 PM	#7
alextheromanian Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 1,007	60lbs is a small ammount for 200gal so the filtration wont be that great. unless you add rock to your display tank aswell... which i suspect you will since you want to add corals. another thing is...if your tank cycles ....and is done...and then you add rockwork liverock to your display tank...itll only start a new cycle...unless you do your entire display with dead rock. __________________ i just cant think of any phylosophical, deep, critical thinking quotes right now. Current Tank Info: 29g Reef, 75g FOWLR

05/10/2009, 01:38 AM	#8
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	yes the tank will cycle, you need to monitor ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, i keep seeing this basic mistake almost daily on here now, if the 60 pounds of live rock was fully cured and seeded with bacterial colonies then the die off may have been so fast you might have missed the cycle. as you havent tested yet you may never know, id suggest buying these 3 essential kits at this stage anyhow to monitor the parameters just in case theres a cycle going on. also as mentioned by many of the guys before 60 pounds isnt enough for a 300 gallon tank unless you plan on just 1 or 2 small fish, if you want larger fish then you will need to consider adding more biological filteration, and another 100-150 pounds of live rock in the dt would be a perfect way to do so. dont forget you will need plenty of flow around the rocks and imo a decent skimmer __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

05/09/2009, 05:25 AM	#3
RealFish Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Milton, GA Posts: 91	It will cycle, but I'd be concerned that with the small amount of rock in a 300 gallon system and no bioload it would not be enough to sustain significant additiona. I'd toss something in their to "challenge the cycle" (I like that term). 60 lbs of live rock doesn't seem adequate for a 300 gallon system.

05/09/2009, 03:27 PM	#5
realest Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 258	Here is my 2nd question, do my sump with sand and live rock need to be light up? i currently do not have any lights down at the sump? i have it running for about 2 weeks now and i see no sign of cycle at all. Thanks