Cycling my qt

shinobi9119

shinobi9119

Active Member
I am ready to cycle qt. But how should I start the cycle? I know most people use a raw shrimp. But can I use a small piece of bluefish I cut from a fillet? I know I should do a water change when ammonia hits about 1? What percent should I do if its 10 gallons?
 
bgbdwlf2500

bgbdwlf2500

Member
Originally Posted by Shinobi9119
http:///forum/post/2615719
I am ready to cycle qt. But how should I start the cycle? I know most people use a raw shrimp. But can I use a small piece of bluefish I cut from a fillet? I know I should do a water change when ammonia hits about 1? What percent should I do if its 10 gallons?
i realize im new to this site but the substrate labeled "instant cycle" will do just that... add a fish or 2 and add that substrate, i never saw the cycle. worked like a charm on the 120 i just set up. i checked 2 times everyday for 2 weeks and ammo or nitrate ever showed up..... its the 2nd time ive used the stuff and it works great. only used 20 lbs ($40.00) here in the stores for the 120 and it cycled instantly..
 
bgbdwlf2500

bgbdwlf2500

Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2615732
No bottled anything will cycle a tank, I am sorry to say. You can use a piece of fish. It will work fine.

not going to argue but dont knock it til youve tried it....i would have put fish in in 3 days but i didnt trust it so i added a few of my clowns at a time over a week and when there was no spike i changed the whole tank over on saturday... no ammonia to this day, total of over 15 well fed happy fish.....
if curious its made by natures ocean
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by bgbdwlf2500
http:///forum/post/2615934
not going to argue but dont knock it til youve tried it....i would have put fish in in 3 days but i didnt trust it so i added a few of my clowns at a time over a week and when there was no spike i changed the whole tank over on saturday... no ammonia to this day, total of over 15 well fed happy fish.....
if curious its made by natures ocean
While you are sharing, tell us all about what all is in your tank. Rock, inverts, ect. How long have they all been there? What are the EXACT readings for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, SG, and temp? What fish are in there? What sized tank?
 
bgbdwlf2500

bgbdwlf2500

Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2615949
While you are sharing, tell us all about what all is in your tank. Rock, inverts, ect. How long have they all been there? What are the EXACT readings for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, SG, and temp? What fish are in there? What sized tank?
120 gallon 9 clowns, 1 coral beauty, 1 sailfin, 1 foxface, fire shrimp, coral banded shrimp, skunk shrimp, BTA, lawnmower blenny, 1 firefish, 1 fish similar to firefish but bigger and that it..maybe 30 lbs live rock. ammo trite and trate are 0 ph 8.3 sg 1.024 temp 79.
this tank got all the fish that i originally had in my 55 that was set up for 4 months... pic is in the pictures thread "from 55 to 120"....
i started with 2 damsels then added the instant cycle substrate...2 days added 2 clowns....2 more days added 4 more....1 day added 2 more clowns, 3 days added all the other "stuff" listed... transferred the whole 55 over except for the substrate because i reset up the 55 for a QT so when i switched everything over tank is 3 weeks old
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by bgbdwlf2500
http:///forum/post/2615959
120 gallon 9 clowns, 1 coral beauty, 1 sailfin, 1 foxface, fire shrimp, coral banded shrimp, skunk shrimp, BTA, lawnmower blenny, 1 firefish, 1 fish similar to firefish but bigger and that it..maybe 30 lbs live rock. ammo trite and trate are 0 ph 8.3 sg 1.024 temp 79.
this tank got all the fish that i originally had in my 55 that was set up for 4 months... pic is in the pictures thread "from 55 to 120"....
How long has this been set up?
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by bgbdwlf2500
http:///forum/post/2615968
3 weeks
My friend, watch for spikes, they are coming. Have water ready. I am not trying to sound condescending at all, I have been there. I battled nitrites and multiple deaths, after MONTHS of no ammonia. The storm is coming, be ready for it.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
NOTHING, no bottle of anything, will cycle a tank. Bacteria does not come from a bottle. I am sorry, but you will see, soon, what I mean. All things in salt take time.
 
bgbdwlf2500

bgbdwlf2500

Member
not trying to argue with someone with almost 12k posts....i realize im not a total newbee but a newbee all the same....this is the second time ive use this brand of substrate and it works.... it worked in the 55 with no spikes...as i said i wanted to switch over in the first couple days but didnt believe it either..i checked for ammonia morning and night for 2 weeks.... occasionally id check trite but never saw any of that either.....i'll tell you what though, if it crashes i'll post on here im wrong and you can do this
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by bgbdwlf2500
http:///forum/post/2615985
not trying to argue with someone with almost 12k posts....i realize im not a total newbee but a newbee all the same....this is the second time ive use this brand of substrate and it works.... it worked in the 55 with no spikes...as i said i wanted to switch over in the first couple days but didnt believe it either..i checked for ammonia morning and night for 2 weeks.... occasionally id check trite but never saw any of that either.....i'll tell you what though, if it crashes i'll post on here im wrong and you can do this

I am not trying to sound like I know all. I have been around for awhile though. How long did you have the 55 up? What all was in it?
 
bgbdwlf2500

bgbdwlf2500

Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2615999
I am not trying to sound like I know all. I have been around for awhile though. How long did you have the 55 up? What all was in it?
55 was up for 4-5 months...the 120 got all the livestock from the 55....
 
bgbdwlf2500

bgbdwlf2500

Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2616010
The 55 never had any spikes at all? How much rock was in there? Was it cured?
i was overfeeding and eventually got a spike but that was in the last 3 weeks...same rock in the pic of the 120....i bought the rock as live rock but i didnt have whats in there now, in there when i started..hope that makes sense....
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by bgbdwlf2500
http:///forum/post/2616018
i was overfeeding and eventually got a spike but that was in the last 3 weeks...same rock in the pic of the 120....i bought the rock as live rock but i didnt have whats in there now, in there when i started..hope that makes sense....
Alright, we are hijacking the OP's post. Your rock was cured, correct?
 
bgbdwlf2500

bgbdwlf2500

Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2616030
Alright, we are hijacking the OP's post. Your rock was cured, correct?
sorry op but yes i bought it from the store and threw it in the tank, thats all i did.....
were still kinda on topic were discussing whether this stuff works or not :)
 
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