need help!!

[keith&erin]

my friend is buying a tank that he wants to do saltwater. my question is: is there any way i can start him up by giving him my water and he wont have to cycle his tank? if not, is there anything we can do to start his tank without needing to cycle his tank?

 

[skeletoncowboy]

well unless you are going to give them all your water then it wouldnt really work. how big is his tank? you could give him some water, but it would just speed up the cycle just a tad. but if you gave him alot of water, alot of already cycled LS and LR and threw a damsel in there it would be cycled in a few days most likely.

 

[angel237]

You would have to him him her filter/sponge/live rock to speed it up, and some water. He will have to still cycle, but it will only take a couple of days.

 

[lsu]

Don't cycle with a damsel, it's a cruel, outdated practice and you will be stuck with an aggresive fish that you do not want. Use a shrimp tail instead, just as effective and you will not kill an innocent fish in the process. Damsel cycling is messed up!!!

 

[vorlx]

My LFS stuck me with a 3 Striped/Humbug Damsel for cycling. He is more territorial than just out right aggressive, however he was very cruel to a shrimp I had in an earlier smaller tank. The percula clown and him get along really well now though. I would suggest the shrimp tail method though. Seems so much easier than having to try to keep a fish alive/getting stuck with something to aggresive.

 

[hammerhed7]

give him a cup or two of your sand, that should help to seed his tank but every tank needs to cycle fully on its own in order for a healthy system this cant be rushed.

 

[earlybird]

If he is going to buy cured rock from a local store his cycle should be minimum. If not get a couple of sponges and throw them in your sump if you have one and in about a month there should be enough beneficial bacteria in them and you can put them in his tank.

 

[b bauer]

go with the shrimp tail not the damsel its almost impossible to get them out later

 

[oceansidefish]

This is a hobby where patience is not only a virtue but a necessity..Allowing a tank to fully cycle and settle down will greatly increase its success.

 

[spanko]

The bacteria you need for your friends tank is not in the water column so giving him water will do little to nothing. The cycling process starts from the breakdown of proteins (nutrients) in the tank and the bacteria begin to adjust to the level needed. If you want to help himher start the cycle I agree with giving a cup or two or your sand and some pcs. of live rock. Here is something I found when cycling my tank and thought it a good timeline to follow.
Day 1
All readings should be near zero.
Day 2
Ammonia should be rising to a measurable amount.
Day 3
First stage bacteria are growing to become established,
but the amount is still very low.
Nitrite level in low, unmeasurable quantity.
Day 5
Ammonia maxs and drops.
Nitrite levels rising.
Day 8
First stage bacteria well established.
Temporary improvement of water condition.
Day 14
Nitrite levels maxs.
Day 27
Nitrite being converted to nitrate by second stage bacteri
Day 29
Second stage bacteria well established.
Nitrate levels rises
Day 30
Tank is cycled
A rise in nitrate levels after the tank has cycled may cause an algae bloom.
This is because nitrate is a plant nutrient.

 

[earlybird]

I agree with the shrimp or uncured LR for cycling a tank. This is a very important step and one that beginners need to experience. The constant checking of levels and learning the in's and out's of his tank will be priceless experience before he adds any livestock. This process teaches patience.