how long does it take to cycle

rogerwilco357 · 07/03/2010, 02:11 PM

how long does it usually take to cycle a tank with new sand water and rock this is a 120 gal. tank ?

firereef · 07/03/2010, 02:30 PM

Some people say 1 month.

I'm gonna do no less than 3 on mine.

Dave VG · 07/03/2010, 02:44 PM

What kind of live rock did you use cured or uncured?

billdogg · 07/03/2010, 02:59 PM

IMO, 4 weeks minimum - and stay away from all the "instant cycle" crap you may see at your LFS or read about - it is all junk!

wilsonreefs · 07/03/2010, 03:02 PM

That really depends on a lot of things. Do you have any other tanks you can seed your new tank with? From the time I put water in my new tank (240) until the time I put my fish in was 2 weeks. I put my fish, corals everything in then. Although I do not recommend it if you've not done it before. I did have a 75 gallon that I tore down and used about half the live sand, about 3/4 of the water, all the live rock and then some. I'm telling you though if you've never done it wait! I also had a lot of help with other people giving me seed sand as well. In doing that you've really got to trust who you get your seeding media from too.

BigOldReef · 07/03/2010, 04:39 PM

It all depends what you are using to cycle the tank. All new sand, water, and rock. Just sitting running won't do much. Getting rocks, or sand from other established tanks, and feeding the bacteria (starter fish, a chunk of salmon, etc) will decrease the amount of time it takes for a tank to be able to sustain a bio load.

07/03/2010, 02:11 PM	#1
rogerwilco357 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: michigan Posts: 1,391	how long does it take to cycle how long does it usually take to cycle a tank with new sand water and rock this is a 120 gal. tank ? __________________ hook line and sinker Current Tank Info: 2x2x4 120gal,sump45 gal.RKE controller,ATI Powermodule 8x80watt,1MP20+2MP40,1 mp10,RoyalExclusive Alpha200

07/03/2010, 02:44 PM	#3
Dave VG Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northeast, Pa Posts: 3,129	What kind of live rock did you use cured or uncured? __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 40B Display, 40B sump/fuge

07/03/2010, 02:59 PM	#4
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	IMO, 4 weeks minimum - and stay away from all the "instant cycle" crap you may see at your LFS or read about - it is all junk! __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

07/03/2010, 04:39 PM	#6
BigOldReef Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 517	It all depends what you are using to cycle the tank. All new sand, water, and rock. Just sitting running won't do much. Getting rocks, or sand from other established tanks, and feeding the bacteria (starter fish, a chunk of salmon, etc) will decrease the amount of time it takes for a tank to be able to sustain a bio load. __________________ 400g Reef - Geothermal cooling. 1100g Total System Volume. Deltec Skimmer. 5' Fluidized Filter. Ozone. Finicky Apex. 25+ years of reefkeeping experience- Hence I have done it all wrong at least 3x. Current Tank Info: 400g Display Tank

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07/03/2010, 02:30 PM	#2
firereef Moved On Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Long Beach Ca. Posts: 4,641	Some people say 1 month. I'm gonna do no less than 3 on mine.

07/03/2010, 03:02 PM	#5
wilsonreefs Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Jonesboro, Ar Posts: 284	That really depends on a lot of things. Do you have any other tanks you can seed your new tank with? From the time I put water in my new tank (240) until the time I put my fish in was 2 weeks. I put my fish, corals everything in then. Although I do not recommend it if you've not done it before. I did have a 75 gallon that I tore down and used about half the live sand, about 3/4 of the water, all the live rock and then some. I'm telling you though if you've never done it wait! I also had a lot of help with other people giving me seed sand as well. In doing that you've really got to trust who you get your seeding media from too.