| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
12-09-2007, 12:40 AM
|
#1
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 223
|
The cycle..
I have done the reef thing for several years but that only includes about 2 fresh starts. I am starting this tank with dried live rock from my last tank. I would prefer not to have to buy any additional rock for now. The question is....with saltwater, dry rocks, and a bare bottom(on the tank  ) will the cycle get on its way? I have heard some folks say to add a dead shrimp or add a damsel.
|
|
|
|
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
|
Last edited by tims; 12-09-2007 at 10:05 AM.
|
|
|
|
12-09-2007, 12:48 AM
|
#2
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Cincinnati,OH
Posts: 449
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjmd22
I have done the reef thing for several years but that only includes about 2 fresh starts. I am starting this tank with dried live rock from my last tank. I would prefer not to have to buy any additional rock for now. The question is....with saltwater, dry rocks, and a bare bottom(on the tank ) will the cycle get on its way? I have heard some folks say to add a dead shrimp or add a damsel. |
I dont know about "assing"  a dead shrimp but adding a piece of liverock from a friends tank will get things going. 
Last edited by tims; 12-09-2007 at 10:06 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
12-09-2007, 12:55 AM
|
#3
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 223
|
woops....should'a been add
|
|
|
|
|
12-09-2007, 01:00 AM
|
#4
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Cincinnati,OH
Posts: 449
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjmd22
woops....should'a been add
|
Lol I know....just bustin ya. I wouldnt add the damsel only because when the cycle is over taking it out will be a PITA. I never tried a shrimp....maybe someone will chime in on that.
|
|
|
|
|
12-09-2007, 01:15 AM
|
#5
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 223
|
I had a damsel survive my first tanks cycle...... besides, as mean as they are I think PITA would ignore it.
|
|
|
|
|
12-09-2007, 01:26 AM
|
#6
|
|
The Ninja MOD
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Planet P.....Why Me?
Posts: 12,563
|
Add the shrimp, using a live fish is cruel. The ammonia burns the gills.
__________________
If you feel so empty, so used up, so let down,
If you feel so angry, so ripped off, so stepped on,
You're not the only one refusing to back down
You're not the only one
So get up
|
|
|
|
|
12-09-2007, 04:00 AM
|
#7
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Posts: 288
|
Use shrimp...
Last edited by Twitterbait; 12-09-2007 at 06:04 AM.
Reason: Inappropriate language
|
|
|
|
|
12-09-2007, 08:43 AM
|
#8
|
|
Caitlin Renee 6/29/07
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Wooster, Ohio
Posts: 3,168
|
my first tank cycle i added one piece of store bought cocktail shrimp and that started the nitrogen cycle.
__________________
90g RR w/30g custom sump,30# Kaelini,30# Marshall,20# Uaniva,20# Tonga Branch,2 6045s,1 Seio 820,Milwaukee pH monitor,Milwaukee ORP monitor,(2) 150w Ebo Jager heaters,PanWorld 50px return pump, 2x54w T5 w/individual SLR IC reflectors,2x250w XM 10k w/ARO 250w electronic ballast,Reef Octopus NW200 skimmer
still a work in progress, but getting ever so close
|
|
|
|
|
12-09-2007, 10:38 AM
|
#9
|
|
I've got the REEF rash!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 25,608
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by motorslave
Add the shrimp, using a live fish is cruel. The ammonia burns the gills.
|
I agree! It's the nicer way to cycle!
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
12-09-2007, 11:57 AM
|
#10
|
|
Enjoy it now
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 4,087
|
use one pound of LR. you need some in there anyway for anything to kick off...You'll just get a nasty tank unless there is already some denitrifying bacteria present to take care of the decaying shrimp or whatever you use.
In no time at all, all the dead rock will become live once again. |
|
|
|
|
12-09-2007, 12:22 PM
|
#11
|
|
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 22,031
|
if you are using old dried up live rock I would add a small piece of raw live rock and "cook" it with all the rock you have, chances are there is a lot of stuff left on the old rock thats going to start to decay and cycle all over,as well as shed a lot of old organic debris. THe more of this stuff you can get rid of before you start stocking the tank the less apt you are to have serious algae issues later on.
Heres a link to the "cooking" thread, it goes into a lot of detail on the how and why of the process 
http://thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66551
__________________
When considering courage in battle, one should remember that there are 2 sides to every conflict.
The heroism of the losing side rarely gets remembered
but we were all husbands and fathers, sons and bros
|
|
|
|
|
12-09-2007, 01:05 PM
|
#12
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 223
|
Thanks for the link. I think I will add a pound or 2 of fresh rock to the mix. This rock was essentially cooked before drying. I moved it from container to container while moving and did a bunch or water changes. I would like to have came across this thread before getting the rock in the deep tank. It was so painful that i cant imagine taking it out at this point. Thanks again
|
|
|
|
|
12-09-2007, 04:24 PM
|
#13
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Santa Clarita, Ca
Posts: 361
|
Once again, i heard about urinating in your tank to get the amonia cycle going. I've only read it on a thread before. I personally dont know how it works or if it does. I'd be interested in finding out though.
|
|
|
|
|
12-09-2007, 04:34 PM
|
#14
|
|
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 22,031
|
It would but, theres easier ways to do it. A famous Clam Farmer from the midwest claimed to "feed his clams" all the time
__________________
When considering courage in battle, one should remember that there are 2 sides to every conflict.
The heroism of the losing side rarely gets remembered
but we were all husbands and fathers, sons and bros
|
|
|
|
|
12-09-2007, 05:17 PM
|
#15
|
|
Enjoy it now
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 4,087
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dancing4raiin
Once again, i heard about urinating in your tank to get the amonia cycle going. I've only read it on a thread before. I personally dont know how it works or if it does. I'd be interested in finding out though.
|
If you used a fish to cycle the tank ( which I am strongly against ), that's how he'd contribute. He'd poop and pee in the water for you...I don't know if I'd trust what my own urine contained. We humans consume things that are foreign to fish and corals and I wouldn't personally want unknown crap in my tank.
|
|
|
|
|
