Brand new and cycling tank

jamesyoung_31 · 08/02/2011, 01:53 AM

Hello everyone, brand new to the hobby and decided I may try a 35 gallon to start up, was told to break in tank with a few damsels. The local fish guy here said it was the way to go for a fastre cycle. I already have 4 lbs of live rock , just filled the tank last night, getting damsels today. Will be feeding heavily with flake food . When can i expect to put in the cleanup crew because i know algae will be upon me fast. Any advice greatly aprreciated fellow hobbyists. Really hoping for great success with this.

Tanks alot!!

bandr1002 · 08/02/2011, 02:24 AM

First off welcome to the hobby. A for cycling ur tank, I would not put damsels in! damsels can be extremely aggresive and you will regret it. For a speedy cycle save ur cash and go to the grocery store and pick up a piece of raw shrimp, its not only cheaper, but u won't get stuck with fish u may regret. A for a clean up crew, u will want to wait until ur parameters spike and go back down. Test for ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites. When these read zero then u will be good for snails crabs etc.

snorvich · 08/02/2011, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesyoung_31

Hello everyone, brand new to the hobby and decided I may try a 35 gallon to start up, was told to break in tank with a few damsels. The local fish guy here said it was the way to go for a fastre cycle. I already have 4 lbs of live rock , just filled the tank last night, getting damsels today. Will be feeding heavily with flake food . When can i expect to put in the cleanup crew because i know algae will be upon me fast. Any advice greatly aprreciated fellow hobbyists. Really hoping for great success with this.

Tanks alot!!

The local fish guy is selling fish. This is incredibly bad advice and that tells me any other advice going forward is suspect. Use flake food or a piece of table shrimp.

hddtran · 08/02/2011, 05:06 AM

I think you still could try with a damsel (just one). It might not be as fast as the raw shrimps though. If the fish survive your tank cycling, you will stuck with that fish forever.
I had this same problem, the fish survived and still doing okay in my tank and it's about 1 year old now.

Do not put any clean up crews in there until at least 3 weeks or at least when you know all your parameters are low.

snorvich · 08/02/2011, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hddtran

I think you still could try with a damsel (just one).

That is absolutely terrible advice. NEVER cycle a tank with fish.

bamf25 · 08/02/2011, 06:52 AM

Just get some live rock and throw in a dead shrimp. More than enough to cycle a tank. There is no need to put a fish through a cycle. Mean to the fish, and if it is a fish you do not want later you may get stuck with it.

snorvich · 08/02/2011, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamf25

Just get some live rock and throw in a dead shrimp. More than enough to cycle a tank. There is no need to put a fish through a cycle. Mean to the fish, and if it is a fish you do not want later you may get stuck with it.

Exactly. Some people use flake food in theory because the level of ammonia does not get as high. I am skeptical about that, but shrimp or flake food will work just fine.

bamf25 · 08/02/2011, 07:11 AM

One shrimp in my 120g dt setup never put my ammonia above 0.5 ppm when I cycled it.

snorvich · 08/02/2011, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamf25

One shrimp in my 120g dt setup never put my ammonia above 0.5 ppm when I cycled it.

Which is why I am skeptical of claims that flake is better. I always prefer shrimp.

Hextall · 08/02/2011, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesyoung_31

When can i expect to put in the cleanup crew because i know algae will be upon me fast.

I put in my CUC last week (one week after the tank was done cycling), and only did so when I saw some algae starting to grow. I wanted their food to be present before they got there so that I wouldn't potentially starve them. I got 15 snails (various kinds), one peppermint shrimp (I saw a couple apastias) and an emerald crab (I like them).

No offense, but your post gives the impression you want to speed things up. From what I've read, the general rule of thumb is that to do it right takes time and cutting corners will increase the chance of something bad happening. and when something bad happens, it happens fast.

Be patient and make a plan with a schedule, then add an extra week for everything in your schedule to promote patience.

bamf25 · 08/02/2011, 08:04 AM

I am going painfully slow, but I have come to except that it is the best way. I started my tank cycle in late March (like I said I have a 120g dt). At this point I have two 1 - 1 1/2 clowns in my tank, and I just bought two new fish last week which are in a QT tank now. By doing it that way though my DT numbers have been rock solid, very little algae, and two very happy clowns.

snorvich · 08/02/2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hextall

No offense, but your post gives the impression you want to speed things up. From what I've read, the general rule of thumb is that to do it right takes time and cutting corners will increase the chance of something bad happening. and when something bad happens, it happens fast.

Be patient and make a plan with a schedule, then add an extra week for everything in your schedule to promote patience.

Great advice. Nothing good ever happens quickly in this hobby. Believe it now or you will believe it later.

snorvich · 08/02/2011, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamf25

I am going painfully slow, but I have come to except that it is the best way. I started my tank cycle in late March (like I said I have a 120g dt). At this point I have two 1 - 1 1/2 clowns in my tank, and I just bought two new fish last week which are in a QT tank now. By doing it that way though my DT numbers have been rock solid, very little algae, and two very happy clowns.

Congrats on your patience. A great habit to get into. You will be so much happier in the long run.

tspors · 08/02/2011, 11:25 AM

The big question is why are you in a rush?????
Oh I know you want to post again in a few weeks to ask ....
Why are my fish dieing?

jamesyoung_31 · 08/02/2011, 09:27 PM

Thanks for the advice guys, but a quick question , why the flake food if theres only a dead shrimp in the tank? Won't it just polute my tank?

jamesyoung_31 · 08/02/2011, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesyoung_31

Thanks for the advice guys, but a quick question , why the flake food if theres only a dead shrimp in the tank? Won't it just polute my tank?

And i will let the local fish guy know that he does not know what he is talking about, guess he was trying to sell some stuff!

souperman · 08/02/2011, 09:46 PM

I used a chunk of tillapia fillet to start my cycle in my new 90g. Its been a few days and still no ammonia. The tank is also full of pukani dry rock. I'm kinda surprised nothing is rotting yet.

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

Megatrev62 · 08/03/2011, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesyoung_31

And i will let the local fish guy know that he does not know what he is talking about, guess he was trying to sell some stuff!

Yes tell him to stop selling damsels for cycling and learn to educate rather than sell anything he can just for profit. May get more customers that way.

08/02/2011, 01:53 AM	#1
jamesyoung_31 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 47	Brand new and cycling tank Hello everyone, brand new to the hobby and decided I may try a 35 gallon to start up, was told to break in tank with a few damsels. The local fish guy here said it was the way to go for a fastre cycle. I already have 4 lbs of live rock , just filled the tank last night, getting damsels today. Will be feeding heavily with flake food . When can i expect to put in the cleanup crew because i know algae will be upon me fast. Any advice greatly aprreciated fellow hobbyists. Really hoping for great success with this. Tanks alot!!

08/02/2011, 11:25 AM	#14
tspors Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Appleton, WI. USA Posts: 774	The big question is why are you in a rush????? Oh I know you want to post again in a few weeks to ask .... Why are my fish dieing? __________________ Everything is Good with Moderation. Current Tank Info: 150 Gal Oceanic, 30g Sump, Gen-X PCX-150 2250 gph, Red Sea Clasic Turbo Skimmer, 18w Turbo Twist UV, Ocean Clear Filter w/live rock, Several Buckets,

08/02/2011, 09:46 PM	#17
souperman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 262	I used a chunk of tillapia fillet to start my cycle in my new 90g. Its been a few days and still no ammonia. The tank is also full of pukani dry rock. I'm kinda surprised nothing is rotting yet. Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk __________________ No.

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08/02/2011, 02:24 AM	#2
bandr1002 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 200	First off welcome to the hobby. A for cycling ur tank, I would not put damsels in! damsels can be extremely aggresive and you will regret it. For a speedy cycle save ur cash and go to the grocery store and pick up a piece of raw shrimp, its not only cheaper, but u won't get stuck with fish u may regret. A for a clean up crew, u will want to wait until ur parameters spike and go back down. Test for ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites. When these read zero then u will be good for snails crabs etc.

08/02/2011, 05:06 AM	#4
hddtran Moved On Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 99	I think you still could try with a damsel (just one). It might not be as fast as the raw shrimps though. If the fish survive your tank cycling, you will stuck with that fish forever. I had this same problem, the fish survived and still doing okay in my tank and it's about 1 year old now. Do not put any clean up crews in there until at least 3 weeks or at least when you know all your parameters are low.

08/02/2011, 06:52 AM	#6
bamf25 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central NJ Posts: 1,419	Just get some live rock and throw in a dead shrimp. More than enough to cycle a tank. There is no need to put a fish through a cycle. Mean to the fish, and if it is a fish you do not want later you may get stuck with it.

08/02/2011, 07:11 AM	#8
bamf25 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central NJ Posts: 1,419	One shrimp in my 120g dt setup never put my ammonia above 0.5 ppm when I cycled it.

08/02/2011, 08:04 AM	#11
bamf25 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central NJ Posts: 1,419	I am going painfully slow, but I have come to except that it is the best way. I started my tank cycle in late March (like I said I have a 120g dt). At this point I have two 1 - 1 1/2 clowns in my tank, and I just bought two new fish last week which are in a QT tank now. By doing it that way though my DT numbers have been rock solid, very little algae, and two very happy clowns.

08/02/2011, 09:27 PM	#15
jamesyoung_31 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 47	Thanks for the advice guys, but a quick question , why the flake food if theres only a dead shrimp in the tank? Won't it just polute my tank?