Just started Cycle , questions..............

[speedracered]

I finally started to cycle my 50 gallon tank,
I have 60 LBs or LS and 20 LB of LR with 30 LB of Base ROck. all in the tank right now. The water is really cloudly right now and I have thrown in 1 shrimp. How long should it take before i test the waters? and also when will the LS settle down? do i need any of the electrical things running? (heater,powerhead,lights, etc.) I do not have a skimmer as of yet, but im looking at the aquaC remora and the CPRs. Is a Skimmer really needed?
anyhting appreciated.

 

[sailfin]

I would run the heater. Actually the heater should have been on and the water up to temp before the LR went in. The lights could cause an algae bloom and are not needed unless you just want to be able to see in the tank. Don't run your filtaration unless you want to clean sand out of it. I wouldn't suggest running pumps either. Give it a day or two and the bacteria will weigh down the sand particles. As for testing, I would go ahead and check the following sometime today, if possible, and then check every day or every other day.
Ph
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrates
This is the beginning point of your journey. You will see ammonia rise, fairly quickly, within a few days. It will peak and then fall. Nitrites will rise off the charts while ammonia goes down. Ammonia will reach zero and nitrites will to. This is a good time to do a water change. During the whole cycle nitrates will rise slightly. This can take from three to six weeks.

 

[speedracered]

koo, thanks man..... when i get home from work today, I ll turn the heater on. is there anything else you would recomment me do? THe LS is all over my LR and LS should I brush it off, or just leave it.

 

[rossim]

I used a turkey baster to blow the sand off. You'll probably create a small cloud of sand again, but it'll clear up really quick. The turkey baster is great for feeding also

 

[sailfin]

Turkey basters are heaven sent, so I have to agree with rossim. I would definitely check your water parameters. If I think of anything else I'll let you know.

 

[speedracered]

Thanks for the great info.
I checked the Parameters today, and it came out
Specific Gravit: 1.023
Ammonia : about 1.0
Nitrites: .25
Nitrates: 5.0
pH: 8
are these good so far?