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05/19/2006, 12:07 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Anderson, SC
Posts: 678
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Restarting a cycle
I've got a 75 that is just about ready to get filled! I'm putting all the arag. sand and base rock (was LR, but has been curing outside) I have into it, but can't afford to get any LR for a couple more paychecks. I just want to get some bacteria in there so it can start cycling, so can I accomplish that by doing the cocktail shrimp method?? I really don't want to use damsels or really any other fish to get it started.
Tanks 
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05/19/2006, 12:11 PM
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#2 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Posts: 3,130
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shrimp should do nicely
-- edit -- though when you put LR (if it has some die off) it might start another cycle, but it would be a lot smaller than the initial, thus preserve more live on you LR. |
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05/19/2006, 12:18 PM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 17,289
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A bunch of fish food or a shrimp will work. I would do the fish food personally. Fish that die from cycling go through a horrible death. Bleed through the gills
Welcome to sw remember to qt your fish for 6-8 weeks and you will do great.
__________________
Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
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05/19/2006, 07:51 PM
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#4 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Anderson, SC
Posts: 678
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Hmm... Fish food huh? I've got some old frozen cubes from marine cuisine I think. Would that work as well?
Also, I was planning on putting in sand and old/ sun cured/whatever it is called base rock into the tank at the same time, then add LR later after it's cycled. Anyone see any issues with this? Should I just add the sand, get it cycled then add the base and LR later?? |
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05/19/2006, 08:27 PM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Germantown, MD
Posts: 3,584
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What is the rush? The motto of this hobby is "Nothing good happens fast." If you haven't filled the tank yet, why don't you hold off until you're about to get the LR and do some more homework in the mean time (I mean the reef-related kind).
If you read the posts in this forum, you see the same old story year after year-- folks jumping in with both feet and then your hobby time is consumed by reacting to one problem after the other. I can tell you there is little joy in that. Proactive = enjoyment. Reactive = misery. Trust me on this.
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Looking for perfection in an imperfect world. Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ~ Anatole France (1844-1924) Current Tank Info: Dusty 110g, 55g & 29g tanks |
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05/19/2006, 08:48 PM
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#6 |
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RC Mod
 Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
Posts: 88,616
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You could add small amount of fish food every couple of days. That should be fine. Whole shrimp are overkill and can smell nastily, IMO.
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Jonathan Bertoni |
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05/19/2006, 09:49 PM
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#7 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Anderson, SC
Posts: 678
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pnosko-I understand the patience is the key in this hobby
My thing is that I'd really like for some bacteria to be present in the tank when I add the LR to assist with the cycle and keep whatever loss I might have with what's on the LR to a minimum. In my last tank which, was also my first hobby SW tank, I added LS with some cured sand 1st, let it cycle through and then added LR. That cycled for a while ebfore I started chipping away at getting my cleanup crew and eventually fish. If I wanted to take all the short cuts, I'd got out and buy one of those products that claims to get your tank "cycled" in a couple days ;p
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