What about copepods?

big cats · 12/14/2011, 01:54 AM

Just wondering if I can add them while the tank is cycling..someone told me it would be a good idea to get them going while I don't have any fish in there so they can multiply, but wasn't sure if they apply to the don't add anything during the cycle rule...lol

jamesbaur13 · 12/14/2011, 02:15 AM

I'd let it cycle first.

You should have copepods already with your live rock. Adding more is only to help the replenish the ones that didn't survive the cycle.

big cats · 12/14/2011, 03:07 AM

Ohhh..I don't think I got too many with my live rock.. I haven't seen anything in there as of lately, but I may just not be seeing them or somethin..I'm sure they like to hide in the rock work..

I'm sick of people trying to tell me what I have to do to get my tank cycled as fast as possible.."Oh yeah, just put some damsels in there and your tank will be ready in a few days.." What part of, "My ammonia has spiked to 1 and has now declined to .25 and the nitrites have spiked and are slowly starting to fall" didn't they under stand?? I'm not going for as fast as possible! I'm going for doing it right the first time!! People are just so impatient these days..

Danzig · 12/14/2011, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big cats

Ohhh..I don't think I got too many with my live rock.. I haven't seen anything in there as of lately, but I may just not be seeing them or somethin..I'm sure they like to hide in the rock work..

I'm sick of people trying to tell me what I have to do to get my tank cycled as fast as possible.."Oh yeah, just put some damsels in there and your tank will be ready in a few days.." What part of, "My ammonia has spiked to 1 and has now declined to .25 and the nitrites have spiked and are slowly starting to fall" didn't they under stand?? I'm not going for as fast as possible! I'm going for doing it right the first time!! People are just so impatient these days..

You tell em buddy lol

j86miu · 12/14/2011, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big cats

Ohhh..I don't think I got too many with my live rock.. I haven't seen anything in there as of lately, but I may just not be seeing them or somethin..I'm sure they like to hide in the rock work..

I'm sick of people trying to tell me what I have to do to get my tank cycled as fast as possible.."Oh yeah, just put some damsels in there and your tank will be ready in a few days.." What part of, "My ammonia has spiked to 1 and has now declined to .25 and the nitrites have spiked and are slowly starting to fall" didn't they under stand?? I'm not going for as fast as possible! I'm going for doing it right the first time!! People are just so impatient these days..

Hey cats, no worries, i started my tank two saturdays ago with live rocks and live sand, added a dead shrimp on sunday, ran my tests and got ammonia to spike and drop back to 0, Nitrate readings spiked to 40(?) and ended up back down around 5 or 10. This was not even a week. everybody says it take 2 weeks to 6 weeks to cycle, but it really depends on your setup and more importantly the water parameters/test numbers.

I added a damsel and 4 hermit crabs and 4 snails this saturday, and all four crabs look really good and active. I can't tell if the snails are doing good cause they seem so lifeless, but they are definitely moving about on the glass/sand and rocks.

The damsel I bought swims normally and moves around the tank for the most part and loves to eat. the only problem is I think he has ammonia burn from the tank in the LFS, but it was 5 bucks and I just wanted to see if he can thrive in my tank. I think I stressed him out though yesterday after doing some more aquascaping with my rocks.

Bottom line is i had my tank cycled in a week (I think), animals look healthy and are active, and my water parameters are in range. Now I'm just waiting for my second half othe CUC from reefcleaners.org

TjwBlake · 12/14/2011, 09:13 AM

With regards to the pods, I wouldnt worry about adding them untill after your tank has cycled. They aren't absolutely "essential" to the tank or the cycling process so let em be. They are in there, they are just shy during the day and probably still very small... I had very little going on in mine for a month then its like all the eggs hatched and blam! they were everywhere.

And ya, your cycle is done when it is done 1,2,3,6,8 weeks.. whatever it takes. I still left mine almost 3 weeks after it finished with nothing more than a small CUC to help manage algae and parameters.

big cats · 12/14/2011, 10:25 AM

Thanks everyone! I love getting feedback!

I'm quickly learning that in this hobby, everyone has their own way of doing certain things. Whether it's because they've been doing it for X amount of years that way and it's worked for them, or because that's how they were taught, or because they did what someone else told them to do and it screwed up their tank.

I'm beginning to think that this is more of a, "you have to ask the right questions, gather all the good information, find the similarities, and just make your own decisions" kind of hobby. I mean, there's a million different ways to start the cycle of the tank right? Not all of them are right or wrong, some work faster than others, but in the end the tank still cycles right?

And what is a good clean up crew for a smaller tank? One roughly 25g.
I'm going full reef, and I want to put a lobster in my tank as well. I know I want some hermits, I'm not a huge fan of snails, and I would like to have a shrimp or two in there as well. What are your thoughts?

TjwBlake · 12/14/2011, 10:36 AM

i think the only cycling method that comes up as "wrong" is to cycle with a fish. That gets into morality and ethics though and something that I will stay out of in this thread

for your CUC snails are your best friend hands down IMHO. They scour the glass and climb places most others cannot they are the one member I would not do without. Stick with the smaller species.. ceriths, nerites, and smaller nassarius since you have a smaller tank. Trochus's are a med size one and a couple of those would be great (i love mine)

Be careful with the lobsters, I dont know much about them but they may not be ideal for your tank size (someone else will likely have something to say bout this though)

Hermits are great as long as you supply them with empty shells so they dont kill off others for bigger homes. The skunk cleaner shrimp are great as well.

big cats · 12/14/2011, 11:05 AM

My boss likes to cycle with fish...but he just want's to make even more money and says it will help the tank cycle faster..(which it may, or may not) My tank hasn't seen anything but sand, base rock, and two very small pieces of live rock, and it's been a week and a half and I'm just waiting on the nitrites and nitrates to go down. He says it takes two weeks tops to cycle the tank that way...I'm not so convinced.

I don't mind having a few snails, I just hate how dull and boring they are. they don't move fast, but I do agree that they do work when it comes down to it. I will for sure have them, I just want to find some good looking ones.

I know sometimes lobsters don't agree with other inverts and crustaceans, so I'm trying to set my tank up with lots of burrows for one to hide in. I was looking at either a reef lobster or a blue spiny tail lobster. But if I can't get one that's okay too..I will just have to start up another tank for a lobster

Will corals eat pods? I'm going for really just a reef tank. Maybe a fire fish, a goby or two, and some shrimps and what not. I'm sure the fire fish and goby will chow on em, but will the corals?

TjwBlake · 12/14/2011, 11:15 AM

oh man.. dull and boring?? lol i love watching the nass's come out of the ground like a zombie and racing (man they are fast) across the tank for food. Or my False Trochus snapping his shell to knock the hermit off him... fun little guys they are. The bumblebee snails are nice looking, and the banded trochus's have some great colors

No I dont believe corals eat pods (99% sure)

big cats · 12/14/2011, 11:21 AM

I do like the bumblebee snails. Those have some really good color to em. And they don't get very large do they? I may just have to go with a few of those and see what comes of it..maybe they will open my eyes a bit more to the snail world. Hahaha

TjwBlake · 12/14/2011, 11:49 AM

nope 1/2-3/4"
id go with a couple bumblebees and maybe a couple nassarius and a few nerites. the BB snails dont climb the glass, they are more for the sandbed and rocks (detrivours). The Nassarius will burrow, helping to keep your sand from compacting and cleaning it out (carnivours). The Nerites are herbivours that will live mostly on the glass cleaning the algae. That should cover all the bases

12/14/2011, 01:54 AM	#1
big cats Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Yucca Valley, CA, United States Posts: 338	What about copepods? Just wondering if I can add them while the tank is cycling..someone told me it would be a good idea to get them going while I don't have any fish in there so they can multiply, but wasn't sure if they apply to the don't add anything during the cycle rule...lol

12/14/2011, 02:15 AM	#2
jamesbaur13 Apsiring Alhcohlolic Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 772	I'd let it cycle first. You should have copepods already with your live rock. Adding more is only to help the replenish the ones that didn't survive the cycle. __________________ 120G AGA Dual Overflow, 40G B Sump, SRO-2000int, 2 Eheim 200w Heater, Eheim 1262 Return, BRS C & GFO React., BR-1000ss Biopellet React., Tunze 5017 ATO, 2 MP-40wes, DIY 76LED (36RB,24NW,6B,6CW,4Moon)

12/14/2011, 09:13 AM	#6
TjwBlake Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kitchener, ON. Canada Posts: 404	With regards to the pods, I wouldnt worry about adding them untill after your tank has cycled. They aren't absolutely "essential" to the tank or the cycling process so let em be. They are in there, they are just shy during the day and probably still very small... I had very little going on in mine for a month then its like all the eggs hatched and blam! they were everywhere. And ya, your cycle is done when it is done 1,2,3,6,8 weeks.. whatever it takes. I still left mine almost 3 weeks after it finished with nothing more than a small CUC to help manage algae and parameters. __________________ Current tank: JbJ Nanocube 28. 1 Falco Hawk, zoas, cabbage leather, trumpet coral, GSP, mushrooms, CUC Current Tank Info: JbJ Nanocube 28

12/14/2011, 10:36 AM	#8
TjwBlake Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kitchener, ON. Canada Posts: 404	i think the only cycling method that comes up as "wrong" is to cycle with a fish. That gets into morality and ethics though and something that I will stay out of in this thread for your CUC snails are your best friend hands down IMHO. They scour the glass and climb places most others cannot they are the one member I would not do without. Stick with the smaller species.. ceriths, nerites, and smaller nassarius since you have a smaller tank. Trochus's are a med size one and a couple of those would be great (i love mine) Be careful with the lobsters, I dont know much about them but they may not be ideal for your tank size (someone else will likely have something to say bout this though) Hermits are great as long as you supply them with empty shells so they dont kill off others for bigger homes. The skunk cleaner shrimp are great as well. __________________ Current tank: JbJ Nanocube 28. 1 Falco Hawk, zoas, cabbage leather, trumpet coral, GSP, mushrooms, CUC Current Tank Info: JbJ Nanocube 28

12/14/2011, 11:15 AM	#10
TjwBlake Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kitchener, ON. Canada Posts: 404	oh man.. dull and boring?? lol i love watching the nass's come out of the ground like a zombie and racing (man they are fast) across the tank for food. Or my False Trochus snapping his shell to knock the hermit off him... fun little guys they are. The bumblebee snails are nice looking, and the banded trochus's have some great colors No I dont believe corals eat pods (99% sure) __________________ Current tank: JbJ Nanocube 28. 1 Falco Hawk, zoas, cabbage leather, trumpet coral, GSP, mushrooms, CUC Current Tank Info: JbJ Nanocube 28

12/14/2011, 03:07 AM	#3
big cats Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Yucca Valley, CA, United States Posts: 338	Ohhh..I don't think I got too many with my live rock.. I haven't seen anything in there as of lately, but I may just not be seeing them or somethin..I'm sure they like to hide in the rock work.. I'm sick of people trying to tell me what I have to do to get my tank cycled as fast as possible.."Oh yeah, just put some damsels in there and your tank will be ready in a few days.." What part of, "My ammonia has spiked to 1 and has now declined to .25 and the nitrites have spiked and are slowly starting to fall" didn't they under stand?? I'm not going for as fast as possible! I'm going for doing it right the first time!! People are just so impatient these days..

12/14/2011, 10:25 AM	#7
big cats Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Yucca Valley, CA, United States Posts: 338	Thanks everyone! I love getting feedback! I'm quickly learning that in this hobby, everyone has their own way of doing certain things. Whether it's because they've been doing it for X amount of years that way and it's worked for them, or because that's how they were taught, or because they did what someone else told them to do and it screwed up their tank. I'm beginning to think that this is more of a, "you have to ask the right questions, gather all the good information, find the similarities, and just make your own decisions" kind of hobby. I mean, there's a million different ways to start the cycle of the tank right? Not all of them are right or wrong, some work faster than others, but in the end the tank still cycles right? And what is a good clean up crew for a smaller tank? One roughly 25g. I'm going full reef, and I want to put a lobster in my tank as well. I know I want some hermits, I'm not a huge fan of snails, and I would like to have a shrimp or two in there as well. What are your thoughts?

12/14/2011, 11:05 AM	#9
big cats Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Yucca Valley, CA, United States Posts: 338	My boss likes to cycle with fish...but he just want's to make even more money and says it will help the tank cycle faster..(which it may, or may not) My tank hasn't seen anything but sand, base rock, and two very small pieces of live rock, and it's been a week and a half and I'm just waiting on the nitrites and nitrates to go down. He says it takes two weeks tops to cycle the tank that way...I'm not so convinced. I don't mind having a few snails, I just hate how dull and boring they are. they don't move fast, but I do agree that they do work when it comes down to it. I will for sure have them, I just want to find some good looking ones. I know sometimes lobsters don't agree with other inverts and crustaceans, so I'm trying to set my tank up with lots of burrows for one to hide in. I was looking at either a reef lobster or a blue spiny tail lobster. But if I can't get one that's okay too..I will just have to start up another tank for a lobster Will corals eat pods? I'm going for really just a reef tank. Maybe a fire fish, a goby or two, and some shrimps and what not. I'm sure the fire fish and goby will chow on em, but will the corals?

12/14/2011, 11:21 AM	#11
big cats Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Yucca Valley, CA, United States Posts: 338	I do like the bumblebee snails. Those have some really good color to em. And they don't get very large do they? I may just have to go with a few of those and see what comes of it..maybe they will open my eyes a bit more to the snail world. Hahaha

12/14/2011, 11:49 AM	#12
TjwBlake Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kitchener, ON. Canada Posts: 404	nope 1/2-3/4" id go with a couple bumblebees and maybe a couple nassarius and a few nerites. the BB snails dont climb the glass, they are more for the sandbed and rocks (detrivours). The Nassarius will burrow, helping to keep your sand from compacting and cleaning it out (carnivours). The Nerites are herbivours that will live mostly on the glass cleaning the algae. That should cover all the bases __________________ Current tank: JbJ Nanocube 28. 1 Falco Hawk, zoas, cabbage leather, trumpet coral, GSP, mushrooms, CUC Current Tank Info: JbJ Nanocube 28

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