first tank cycle

R

ryno368

Guest
ok i am about to do my first tank cycle ever tomorrow and want to have a couple of questions answered.
1. I add my saltwater to the fill line of the tank so it starts to drain down my drain tube and down to my sump?
2. When i add my live sand and rock does the salinity have to be perfect before i add the LS and LR.
3. I understand the cycle goes thru an amonia spike then drops and then a nitrate spike then drops and finally a nitirte spike and drops and then the cycle is complete.
if i missed anything important someone please let me know !
 
ibanez

ibanez

Member
I am not quit sure what you mean about number one, but fill your tank up to the overflow till it starts overflowing, then fill your sump up to the desired level and take into account the amount of water that will be in your pipes so your sump doesnt overflow if your pump shuts off. For 2, it is a good idea to keep it the right salinity although there is no perfect number unless you want it to be 1.025 or 35 ppt. anywhere betwee about 1.022 and 1.025 should be fine. May as well get used to being pretty precise. Number 3, it goes amonia present, then amonia and nitrite present, then nitrite and nitrate, then just nitrate, and your cycle is ready for critters. Add them slowely. Read the first thread under the new hobbyist section, 101 tips...... as well as reading other posts on this site and anywhere else you might find valuable information. Some time towards the end of the cycle, you will get a brown diatom bloom. Shortly after that gets going, get some snails and hermit crabs for a clean up crew. There is way more information, I just don't have time tonight. Good luck.
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
i like to mix my saltwater in a seperate container so i dont get the white film on the dt glass.add the sand to the tank first i also like to pre wash the sand so it keeps down the cloud.if you have the lr set it up before the water so you can see it better.as i learned a trick from joe yesterday put a piece of newspaper on the sand then add the water on top of the paper to keep the water clear from the sand stirring up.lr wont always kick start the cycle so add some raw fish food like krill just a couple pieces so it can decompose and start the cycle.
 
R

ryno368

Guest
ok thanks for the tips and with the krill i also heard u could use a dead shrimp to help the process
 
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