advice on cycling and what it is???

[roggy23]

OK IM A NEWBIE, I HAVE A 60 GAL TANK WITH 50 LBS OF LR AND SAND. I'VE HAD THE TANK RUNNING FOR 2 WEEKS NOW. DOES THE CYCLE START ONLY WHEN I ADD FISH? HAS IT STARTED ALREADY? HOW LONG SHOULD I WAIT BEFORE ADDING FISH?
WHAT IS MEANT BY CYCLING THE TANK? THANK YOU

 

[armageddon]

Cycling a tank just means putting the water through the nitrogen cycle. To start it off you need some ammonia to be present. This can be done by adding fish or a common way is to add some cocktail shrimp and leaving them to decompose for a few days. One thing you will hear on this board is dont talk in all capslock because it means your yelling.

 

[mr. ray]

so you just drop in a dead shrimp? Any kind?

 

[thomas712]

One raw cocktail shrimp will do, I personally used a raw prawn which is a very large shrimp. This will start to decay and produce ammonia and you'll be on your way to cycling your tank.
Did you want an actual breakdown of the process?
Thomas