cycling a new tank`

[octopus8]

Hello Guys,
I have received so many different views on cycling a new tank. Everything from throwing in a thawed frozen shrimp, to damsels, and everything in between. Right now I have had my 120 tank running for 1 week. I have 47lbs of lr and 40lbs of ls. I have also thrown in two damsels to help with the cycle, last night. Am I doing this right or am I way off? Thanks guys. Right now my water reads 1.026 and my temp is 86.6. I know I need to get both of those down, but any other tips?

 

[bizzmoneyb]

no, you dont want anything alive to be in the tank during cycling. cycling is the process of introducing and allowing enough bacteria to form and to break down compounds that produce ammonia/nitrates in your tank. right now these are not there, so the ammonia levels are toxic and not a good environment for anything living. start testing your water in about a week. once your ammonia, nitrates and nitrites are all at zero you can begin adding livestock. also make sure you have good PH.
Your salt is good. I'd keep it around 1.024-1.026.
I'd bring your temp down to around 78-80.

 

[salt210]

+1
plus you def dont want those damsels in there once you get the tank going with more rock. you will never be able to get them out

 

[octopus8]

I was told by my lfs that the only way to get the cycle started was to introduce amonia from some fish. That is why they had me throw in two damsels. They said I already had so much bacteria from all my live rock and live sand? See, I am so confused?

 

[crimzy]

Originally Posted by octopus8
http:///forum/post/2738232
I was told by my lfs that the only way to get the cycle started was to introduce amonia from some fish. That is why they had me throw in two damsels. They said I already had so much bacteria from all my live rock and live sand? See, I am so confused?

You are confused because people give advice on here based on their ethical judgments, rather than on science. Scientifically speaking, a damsel is a tried and true method of cycling a tank. People recommend against it because they feel it's wrong to subject damsels to tanks polluted with ammonia or nitrites.

 

[bizzmoneyb]

Originally Posted by octopus8
http:///forum/post/2738232
I was told by my lfs that the only way to get the cycle started was to introduce amonia from some fish. That is why they had me throw in two damsels. They said I already had so much bacteria from all my live rock and live sand? See, I am so confused?

I think you'll quickly learn here not to simply believe anything you here from your LFS. The shrimp you added breaks down and introduces the bacteria you need.
Where did you get your live rock? The only way it will have enough beneficial bacteria on it is if it was already setup in an established tank and you immediately transfered it into your tank.
Otherwise, even if it was "cured", it almost certainly has some dead things on/in it. This is what causes the ammonia to build in the tank. And this is why you need that bacteria, to eliminate the ammonia.
Have you tested your levels? That will tell you everything you need to know.

 

[nycbob]

the problem with cycling with damsels is u will hv problem adding certain fish in the future, since damsels in general r aggrssive. if the live rocks u bought r cured and r from a lfs, ur cycling period will be dramatically reduced. 40lbs in a 120 is very little rocks imo. u need to add more if u dont want high nitrate in the future.

 

[dalo78]

Damsels aren't the greatest but I think it sucks that people cycle with them when there are other ways. Its cruel and can kill them or burn their gills

 

[octopus8]

I know that cycling with damsels is not the most ethical thing in the world, but there are many things that are not ethical, but they get the job done if you know what I mean? Anyway, no the 47lbs of lr and the 40lbs of ls came from my lfs reef tank that was set up for more than two years. They closed one of their shops down and I bought that lr and ls from that tank. I am sure some of the bacteria died, but I was told that I needed some amonia to get the cycle going with the bacteria I already had. I will be testing my levels again on Sat. and I guess we will see? Thanks

 

[ds450x]

Cyling with damsels works but it isnt the fastest. Now your gonna have a hard time catching the damsels. One of the fastest ways to cycle with pure ammonia from your grocery store. All you need is a couple drops to get your ammonia up to .5ppm and just let it go. Another way is to just get some base rock and put it in your tank and it will start the cycle. My tank has almost finished cyling and it will just be 2 weeks on saturday.

 

[texasmetal]

If you're not worried about the ethics involved in CARING for animals you definitely aren't fit to care for an octopus or a leech for that matter.
Torturing fish in order serve your own selfish desire to speed up the cycling process by a few days is just crap.

 

[dalo78]

Originally Posted by TexasMetal
http:///forum/post/2740324
If you're not worried about the ethics involved in CARING for animals you definitely aren't fit to care for an octopus or a leech for that matter.
Torturing fish in order serve your own selfish desire to speed up the cycling process by a few days is just crap.
WOOT!

 

[jerryatrick]

Originally Posted by ds450x
http:///forum/post/2738276
Cyling with damsels works but it isnt the fastest. Now your gonna have a hard time catching the damsels. One of the fastest ways to cycle with pure ammonia from your grocery store. All you need is a couple drops to get your ammonia up to .5ppm and just let it go. Another way is to just get some base rock and put it in your tank and it will start the cycle. My tank has almost finished cyling and it will just be 2 weeks on saturday.
Live rock would be the better option and a dead shrimp would speed it up even faster.

 

[jerryatrick]

Originally Posted by TexasMetal
http:///forum/post/2740324
If you're not worried about the ethics involved in CARING for animals you definitely aren't fit to care for an octopus or a leech for that matter.
Torturing fish in order serve your own selfish desire to speed up the cycling process by a few days is just crap.
I will take it a step further. If you don't care about the life of a fish, why do you even want to keep a saltwater tank? For show?

 

[texasmetal]

Originally Posted by JerryAtrick
http:///forum/post/2744527
I will take it a step further. If you don't care about the life of a fish, why do you even want to keep a saltwater tank? For show?
Considering the content of the threads by this particular member, I would say your assumption is correct.

 

[yearofthenick]

Don't throw Octopus8 under the bus just yet guys. I know SW fishkeeping is near and dear for many of us, but this guy is new to the trade and I'm sure he'll begin to understand the level of care and fondness we've developed for our little marine friends.
Also, I was shocked to find that a very established pet supply corporation actually recommends the use of damsels when cycling a tank, although personally I don't have a problem with it. All I can tell you is they have "Pet" in their name and they're a "CO"rporation. Put the two together and there you go.
Anyway, it's surprising that even the big corporations are condoning this method of cycling on their website.
I know some people may hate me for this, but I have no problems with cycling with damsels. I hate damsels so much, they should be called demonsels. I had a damsel in my tank that bit off the fins of half of the rest of my livestock... finally I returned him to the LFS, but I almost flushed him because I was so mad... two clowns died because of him... they could no longer swim. This happened in literally a couple of hours.
On a totally separate occasion, I inherited a damsel when I purchased a used tank and it was the same thing... I added a clown and he kept chasing him around and biting him
Stupid damsels. They're like the rats of the hobby. And just as rats live in sewers, so should damsels live in uncycled tanks.
But the rest of my fish I absolutely love... even my pseudochromis, despite his cockiness. I actually got a little emotional when my atlantic fang died about a week ago... I was truly upset.
I love and care about all forms of fish EXCEPT for the god-forsaken damsel. I doubt you'll find anyone else who hates damsels more than I do.
However, just for the record, I have never cycled my tanks with damsels... usually I just put the dead shrimp in and let it marinate. I want the ammonia/trites to REALLY peak... to the point that it's toxic for even a damsel... give it a good 3 months and then add fish. This way, I know the developed bacteria is bullet-proof.
Sorry if I offended anyone, but it's just my opinion.

 

[texasmetal]

Originally Posted by YearOfTheNick
http:///forum/post/2744620
Don't throw Octopus8 under the bus just yet guys. I know SW fishkeeping is near and dear for many of us, but this guy is new to the trade and I'm sure he'll begin to understand the level of care and fondness we've developed for our little marine friends.
Also, I was shocked to find that a very established pet supply corporation actually recommends the use of damsels when cycling a tank, although personally I don't have a problem with it. All I can tell you is they have "Pet" in their name and they're a "CO"rporation. Put the two together and there you go.
Anyway, it's surprising that even the big corporations are condoning this method of cycling on their website.
I know some people may hate me for this, but I have no problems with cycling with damsels. I hate damsels so much, they should be called demonsels. I had a damsel in my tank that bit off the fins of half of the rest of my livestock... finally I returned him to the LFS, but I almost flushed him because I was so mad... two clowns died because of him... they could no longer swim. This happened in literally a couple of hours.
On a totally separate occasion, I inherited a damsel when I purchased a used tank and it was the same thing... I added a clown and he kept chasing him around and biting him
Stupid damsels. They're like the rats of the hobby. And just as rats live in sewers, so should damsels live in uncycled tanks.
But the rest of my fish I absolutely love... even my pseudochromis, despite his cockiness. I actually got a little emotional when my atlantic fang died about a week ago... I was truly upset.
I love and care about all forms of fish EXCEPT for the god-forsaken damsel. I doubt you'll find anyone else who hates damsels more than I do.
However, just for the record, I have never cycled my tanks with damsels... usually I just put the dead shrimp in and let it marinate. I want the ammonia/trites to REALLY peak... to the point that it's toxic for even a damsel... give it a good 3 months and then add fish. This way, I know the developed bacteria is bullet-proof.
Sorry if I offended anyone, but it's just my opinion.
Well yeah, it's good for their business if they sell you a couple of fish with that brand new tank. At least... at that moment. But not in the next few months when the person realizes the advice they were given was crap.
I don't have a high opinion of damsels either, but I can respect that their life is a life. How crappy it is to be captured from your home, shipped in a bag to god knows where, only to end up in a pollution nightmare that reeks havoc on your body. All the meanwhile this scenario is completely controlled by someone with the power to refuse it or improve it.
Cruelty is cruelty. Even with something as benign as a fishes life.

 

[yearofthenick]

Originally Posted by TexasMetal
http:///forum/post/2744631
Well yeah, it's good for their business if they sell you a couple of fish with that brand new tank. At least... at that moment. But not in the next few months when the person realizes the advice they were given was crap.
I don't have a high opinion of damsels either, but I can respect that their life is a life. How crappy it is to be captured from your home, shipped in a bag to god knows where, only to end up in a pollution nightmare that reeks havoc on your body. All the meanwhile this scenario is completely controlled by someone with the power to refuse it or improve it.
Cruelty is cruelty. Even with something as benign as a fishes life.
I agree wholeheartedly. Like I said, I care a great deal about all of my fishes.
Except the damsel. It doesn't change that they're really mean. Also, I've never heard of a damsel dying... even in extreme cases.
Oooh and the mantis shrimp too. Those things are spawns of satan. I saw a 6" peacock mantis in my LFS once, they're so evil. He cracked his claws at the tank glass when I approached him. My daughter started crying when she saw him, and she's only 9 mos old. Truly evil things.

 

[texasmetal]

Originally Posted by YearOfTheNick
http:///forum/post/2744640
I agree wholeheartedly. Like I said, I care a great deal about all of my fishes.
Except the damsel. It doesn't change that they're really mean. Also, I've never heard of a damsel dying... even in extreme cases.
Oooh and the mantis shrimp too. Those things are spawns of satan. I saw a 6" peacock mantis in my LFS once, they're so evil. He cracked his claws at the tank glass when I approached him. My daughter started crying when she saw him, and she's only 9 mos old. Truly evil things.
Haha, I've said the same thing about Mantis shrimp. But, I have a serious respect for them. They have their place, and they command respect.
Powerful. Alien in appearance. Intelligent. They're just not made for a community. Take that into consideration, and their "evil" persona turns into a creature of great skill and design.
Lots of people "live" in less than ideal, unhealthy situations, much like damsels in a cycling tank. To me that's like leaving a dog in a room full of poo. Mean, unfriendly dog or not... mean, unfriendly fish or not.

 

[yearofthenick]

I agree... the mighty mantis demands respect. Honestly, even though I think they're evil, it would be so cool to own one. I mean, you could put anything in there (for me it would mainly be damsels lol) and the mantis can tackle it like there's no tomorrow.
The only thing I've seen battle the mantis and win was an octopus. It's on youtube... a truly epic battle.