Cycle

[fishyclown]

I've been reading along with the other thread about "Tank Cycling" and I came up with a qestion...
1. I believe I would like to try Cycle, because I will be starting the tank w/out LS. I'll just have some LR and some of the rock that I let dry out from the old tank when I begin. I do plan on adding some LS later though. Do I need to wait until after the cycle to add the LS? I'm thinking YES because it will affect the cycling.
2. I think I need another thread for this one...
Shelly - Mother of "Huffy the Clown Fish" <img src="graemlins//angel.gif" border="0" alt="[angel]" />

 

[fshhub]

the lr will cycle the tank, and the ls(if it is only wet bacterialized sand) will only speed up the cycle so you could add it b4 curing or after without any adverse affects(good affects, if used with the lr to cycle with), no need for CYCLE(hte product, IMO), especially with the use of lr, we used lr and ls to cycle our last tank with,a nd it ony took a lil over 2 weeks, probably 2.5

 

[jastim]

fshhub is right. lr and ls will usually allow a tank to cycle faster than other means. This is because the rock is already loaded with large amounts of the bacteria that convert ammonia and nitrites. You really would be wasting your money if you bought cycle and you already were using lr. In my opinion lr is the best bio-filter you can have for a tank.

 

[broomer5]

FishyClown
This hobby is so easy and yet so hard isn't it.
If you say to yourself;
" I am going to start my tank today - cycle it with whatever method I chose, be it live rock, live sand, raw shrimp or a combination of these -while monitoring the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels periodically - with the full understanding that I will not be adding any fish or inverts for at least 6 weeks"
You'll be so much better off in my opinion.
It's so very hard to stare at a cycling tank full of saltwater, rock and sand for 6 weeks, but you'd be surprised at how many complications and casualties you'll avoid.
I have a hard time doing it myself.

 

[fishyclown]

Thanks a ton for the encouragement! I love just scouring the rock looking for any new thing that has developed. I think I'll be okay looking at the, so called, empty tank... but it's my husband who doesn't understand this hobby at all that will be bothered by the expensive empty tank! heh heh heh
One more question, I wasn't planning on getting the plain seawater LS, I want to get the LS with all the critters in it. Should I wait until after the cycle to get that kind? Thanks to everyone, for everything!
Shelly

 

[fab71]

I started with 15lbs ls and 10 lbs lr. I continued adding lr and ls throughout the cycling and it was great. There was an small cycle after adding the additions but within a week everthing was wonderful. There will be a little cloudiness but it goes away quickly and it doesn't bother the livestock. I would encourage you to add it to your tank now so it can help speed up the cycle. Buy a good test kit and check your water as you go along.