Tank Cycling Question

cjm5283 · 11/19/2013, 10:57 AM

I am just about to add water to my 135g tank and have some questions about cycling. I asked two different LFS and got completely different answers to confuse me more. I have 150 lbs of dry Fiji rock and plan on doing a mixture of live and regular sand.

How long does it usually take to cycle a tank?
Do I just add the bacteria and or ammonia one time?
Do I need seeded live rock?
When in the cycle do I add cleaning crew?
Should I run my skimmer?
Should I start my refugium?
When do I actually need to suck it up and buy lights?

stingythingy45 · 11/19/2013, 11:14 AM

How long does it usually take to cycle a tank?
Anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months. Helps if you have a piece of live rock to add to the system.

Do I just add the bacteria and or ammonia one time?
yes once
Do I need seeded live rock?
it helps to have some,but it's not needed

When in the cycle do I add cleaning crew?
No,the ammonia gets pretty high and will kill CUC.

Should I run my skimmer?
You can if you want to test it out. I will have no real effect on the cycle.

Should I start my refugium?
Same as the skimmer,but,I wouldn't put any macro algae like chaeto in there.

When do I actually need to suck it up and buy lights?
Before you put live stock in. It helps to get them as soon as you can.
That way you can establish a lighting cycle.

11/19/2013, 10:57 AM	#1
cjm5283 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 70	Tank Cycling Question I am just about to add water to my 135g tank and have some questions about cycling. I asked two different LFS and got completely different answers to confuse me more. I have 150 lbs of dry Fiji rock and plan on doing a mixture of live and regular sand. How long does it usually take to cycle a tank? Do I just add the bacteria and or ammonia one time? Do I need seeded live rock? When in the cycle do I add cleaning crew? Should I run my skimmer? Should I start my refugium? When do I actually need to suck it up and buy lights?

11/19/2013, 11:14 AM	#2
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	How long does it usually take to cycle a tank? Anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months. Helps if you have a piece of live rock to add to the system. Do I just add the bacteria and or ammonia one time? yes once Do I need seeded live rock? it helps to have some,but it's not needed When in the cycle do I add cleaning crew? No,the ammonia gets pretty high and will kill CUC. Should I run my skimmer? You can if you want to test it out. I will have no real effect on the cycle. Should I start my refugium? Same as the skimmer,but,I wouldn't put any macro algae like chaeto in there. When do I actually need to suck it up and buy lights? Before you put live stock in. It helps to get them as soon as you can. That way you can establish a lighting cycle. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref