DIY live rock. So how do I cycle?

danoreef · 01/29/2007, 05:56 AM

I am going to use DIY rock that I have made. So I am not sure if live sand is enough to cycle the tank with. Or if I should add 1-2 small cocktail shrimps to the tank. I have a 24 Gallon Aquapod, what do you think the best way to cycle this tank is without LR?

kfowler · 01/29/2007, 07:12 AM

Hmm good question. Is your whole sand bed going to be LS or are you just adding a cup of LS to non-LS? I would probably go ahead and add the shrimp. IMO, this will fuel the production of bacteria to seed the DIY rock.

sir_dudeguy · 01/29/2007, 07:59 AM

I'd add 2 dead shrimp. Maybe just one since its just a 24g tank tho.

danoreef · 01/29/2007, 11:06 AM

kfowler; I was thinking of doing the entire sand bed with live sand for more of a biological load, figuring that might be enough for the cycle, Not sure though.
sir_dudeguy;I was thinking the same thing I don't know if I should 1 or 2 shrimps. I think 1 will be sufficient.
Thank you for the replies

WaterKeeper · 01/29/2007, 11:12 AM

I would also get a few pieces of real LR. True the sand will seed it but it takes much longer than using some LR to speed the process of coralline development. If you do that I'd skip the shrimp as it is unneeded.

danoreef · 01/29/2007, 09:11 PM

bump

sir_dudeguy · 01/29/2007, 09:20 PM

ya waterkeeper's got a good point. Also, you should add really uncured rock if you do add LR. That way you get the full affect of the amonia getting the rest of it going.

WaterKeeper · 01/29/2007, 09:24 PM

What is it on this Newbie forum. I always want to get rid of ammonia and you all wish to create it. Believe me, a reef will give you all the ammonia you can handle without supplementation.

danoreef · 01/29/2007, 09:33 PM

Yes grasshopper, I mean waterkeeper; but I don't want that ammonia spike at the wrong time.

WaterKeeper · 01/29/2007, 09:53 PM

True my young Padawan, but as the Master says, "If it is ammonia you seek, your tank will provide. It is part of learning the way of the Force"

danoreef · 01/29/2007, 10:47 PM

sir_dudeguy · 01/29/2007, 11:06 PM

that was a good one

drummereef · 01/29/2007, 11:14 PM

danoreef, your avitar is freaking me out!!!

danoreef · 01/30/2007, 06:01 AM

love those Saw movies.

danoreef · 01/30/2007, 06:13 PM

bump

01/29/2007, 05:56 AM	#1
danoreef I love ReefCentral! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 703	DIY live rock. So how do I cycle? I am going to use DIY rock that I have made. So I am not sure if live sand is enough to cycle the tank with. Or if I should add 1-2 small cocktail shrimps to the tank. I have a 24 Gallon Aquapod, what do you think the best way to cycle this tank is without LR? __________________ Any Aquarium is good enough for me!

01/29/2007, 07:12 AM	#2
kfowler Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,095	Hmm good question. Is your whole sand bed going to be LS or are you just adding a cup of LS to non-LS? I would probably go ahead and add the shrimp. IMO, this will fuel the production of bacteria to seed the DIY rock. __________________ Kevin "You cannot achieve what you are not willing to pursue." Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed Reef

01/29/2007, 07:59 AM	#3
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	I'd add 2 dead shrimp. Maybe just one since its just a 24g tank tho. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

01/29/2007, 11:06 AM	#4
danoreef I love ReefCentral! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 703	kfowler; I was thinking of doing the entire sand bed with live sand for more of a biological load, figuring that might be enough for the cycle, Not sure though. sir_dudeguy;I was thinking the same thing I don't know if I should 1 or 2 shrimps. I think 1 will be sufficient. Thank you for the replies __________________ Any Aquarium is good enough for me!

01/29/2007, 11:12 AM	#5
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	I would also get a few pieces of real LR. True the sand will seed it but it takes much longer than using some LR to speed the process of coralline development. If you do that I'd skip the shrimp as it is unneeded. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

01/29/2007, 09:11 PM	#6
danoreef I love ReefCentral! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 703	bump __________________ Any Aquarium is good enough for me!

01/29/2007, 09:20 PM	#7
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	ya waterkeeper's got a good point. Also, you should add really uncured rock if you do add LR. That way you get the full affect of the amonia getting the rest of it going. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

01/29/2007, 09:24 PM	#8
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	What is it on this Newbie forum. I always want to get rid of ammonia and you all wish to create it. Believe me, a reef will give you all the ammonia you can handle without supplementation. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

01/29/2007, 09:33 PM	#9
danoreef I love ReefCentral! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 703	Yes grasshopper, I mean waterkeeper; but I don't want that ammonia spike at the wrong time. __________________ Any Aquarium is good enough for me!

01/29/2007, 09:53 PM	#10
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	True my young Padawan, but as the Master says, "If it is ammonia you seek, your tank will provide. It is part of learning the way of the Force" __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

01/29/2007, 10:47 PM	#11
danoreef I love ReefCentral! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 703	__________________ Any Aquarium is good enough for me!

01/29/2007, 11:06 PM	#12
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	that was a good one __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

01/29/2007, 11:14 PM	#13
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	danoreef, your avitar is freaking me out!!! __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

01/30/2007, 06:01 AM	#14
danoreef I love ReefCentral! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 703	love those Saw movies. __________________ Any Aquarium is good enough for me! Last edited by danoreef; 01/30/2007 at 06:38 AM.

01/30/2007, 06:13 PM	#15
danoreef I love ReefCentral! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 703	bump __________________ Any Aquarium is good enough for me!