Getting the tank ready

[phil6385]

I am about to start a 29g tank, this is my first saltwater adventure after several years of freshwater. I have been reading the message boards here as well as other places and it sounds like sand is the way to go instead of CC. Also, what is a good water cycle time and I have heard that using damsels to neutralize the water is a good choice? How long should I cycle before adding livestock and how long should the damsels do their work? Thanks.

 

[pchromis]

Originally Posted by phil6385
I am about to start a 29g tank, this is my first saltwater adventure after several years of freshwater. I have been reading the message boards here as well as other places and it sounds like sand is the way to go instead of CC. Also, what is a good water cycle time and I have heard that using damsels to neutralize the water is a good choice? How long should I cycle before adding livestock and how long should the damsels do their work? Thanks.

Do a search in this forum. Some people have been successfully cycling their tanks using shrimp. This seems to be the better choice because most peoply want to get rid of their damsels after cycling because they are mean and territorial. Aside from being somewhat cruel to have damsels endure the cycling stress, is is a real pain in the a** to get them out of a tank that has been already setup with rocks.

 

[phil6385]

ok, thanks, i will give shrimp a try, i have heard of the damsel reputation

 

[fgcu14]

Also, I have been told that green cromis are another good sub for damsels. They are good because IF THEY SURVIVE the cycling process they are fun to watch as they are a schooling fish and are not to territorial.

 

[opus18]

I went the route of the green chromis and was VERY lucky to purchase LR that had been super-cycled... My tank cycled without my knowledge... Other than a diatom bloom, my tank is looking better every day.
Two turbo snails and two margarita snails have been enjoying the diatoms along with 4 little bitty hermits... 2 B&W perculas are just waiting for their home anemone to arrive (after a lighting upgrade). And my cleaner shrimp just had its first molting... am VERY happy so far... :jumping:

 

[fgcu14]

Supercycled LR?

 

[opus18]

Only way I can describe it... it had been curing so long that it had most of the bacteria on it that the tank needed... so my cycle went very fast... Only way to explaing the presense of nitrates in a new tank... Did one water change and the trate count dropped and slowly started climbing again. I still monitor the water weekly just to make sure...