new to saltwater need info..

[fishluver1]

hello everyone i'm new here...i am getting ready to start a saltwater tank..fish and shrimp only..with some live rock...my question is ..is there anything on the market that can help me speed up the process of cycling the new tank? i was going to add my live rock and sand at first and let that cycle for a few days ..and then hopefully add a few blue damsels..but i was told i cant add any other fish until it cycles fully..so is there any chemicals that i can add to help speed things up a bit...cause i know that it could take weeks for this process... any advice is greatly appreciated..and thank you...

 

[meowzer]

WELCOME TO SWF
IMO you should let it cycle naturally WITHOUT putting any type of live fish in there....
YES..it takes TIME, but the main objective of this hobby is PATIENCE...you will get a lot more out of it in the long run if you do things right, and slowly...

 

[fishluver1]

the people at my LFS said that i should set up the tank..with the water ..and after 24 to 48 hours if all of the water test are right and stay were they should be that i can finish cycling the tank with some damsels...they said it didn't have to be competly cycled to add this type of fish...

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by fishluver1
http:///forum/post/3036753
the people at my LFS said that i should set up the tank..with the water ..and after 24 to 48 hours if all of the water test are right and stay were they should be that i can finish cycling the tank with some damsels...they said it didn't have to be competly cycled to add this type of fish...
OKAY, A lot of times LFS stores do not give the best advice...Obviously what you do is up to you....BUT IMO I would not use live fish...Why make them suffer
Put your salt and sw in your tank...let your ammonia spike on it's own..if you want to speed things up..you can add a raw shrimp...

 

[salt210]

the LFS is just trying to make a buck off of you. if you are to add the damsels they might make it but they will be put through pain from the tanks cycling. also once the tank is cycled you will probably regret adding them.

 

[ca161406]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3036762
OKAY, A lot of times LFS stores do not give the best advice...Obviously what you do is up to you....BUT IMO I would not use live fish...Why make them suffer
Put your salt and sw in your tank...let your ammonia spike on it's own..if you want to speed things up..you can add a raw shrimp...
Agreed.
its like telling you to live in a nasty dumpster until the rats eat all the garbage then you can bring your friends over

 

[jdl]

as with many things in this hobby, there are a few ways to do a task.
Cycling with damsels is perfectly fine. However, do you really want damsels in your tank. If you do, then go for it. But they are usually mean little devils and hard to remove once in your tank.
most people dont like cycling with damsels because they feel it is cruel to them because the fish have to live through your cycle. Then blindly do a billion other things that are cruel but never mention them... but soon as someone wants to cycle with damsels they come out in force.
What the LFS told you is one way to do it. You just have to judge for yourself if you want to do it this way.
goodluck

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by JDL
http:///forum/post/3036774
as with many things in this hobby, there are a few ways to do a task.
Cycling with damsels is perfectly fine. However, do you really want damsels in your tank. If you do, then go for it. But they are usually mean little devils and hard to remove once in your tank.
most people dont like cycling with damsels because they feel it is cruel to them because the fish have to live through your cycle. Then blindly do a billion other things that are cruel but never mention them... but soon as someone wants to cycle with damsels they come out in force.
What the LFS told you is one way to do it. You just have to judge for yourself if you want to do it this way.
goodluck
I can honestly tell you I HAVE NEVER....NOR WOULD I EVER cycle with a live fish...ALSO I would NEVER tell someone what to do with their tank....It is totally up to the OP, BUT if the OP comes to this forum asking for advice....I believe they should get ALL the advice that one has to offer...whether you agree or not...
NOW..OP...let me ask you this...if you knew there is a possibility that having a live fish in a tank with high ammonia and such, and it could cause this fish to be in pain or even to die...WHY would you want to do this??
That is what you have to ask yourself...then YES...you go from there

 

[hlcroghan]

Apart from the money you will save by not having to buy fish you don't want and the cruelty aspect of letting the ammonia burn the fish, damsels are hard as h-ell to catch once added and they are super aggressive and will kill most new additions.
The quickest way to cycle a tank is to buy fully cured rock. Many lfs's have fully cured rock in their store. It is more expensive and you may get some problems if they have any unwanted critters but that is usually minimal with fully cured rock. Then you just need sand (doesn't have to be cured, the rock will do that) and the water which you can either buy from the lfs or make yourself with a bucket and powerhead and salt. Make sure when you transport the rock home, they pack it with water so you don't have any die off. Then check your levels for the next week or so. Add in some fish food or a shrimp and if you don't see a spike in ammonia within another week, you are ready to go!!
I did mine this way and never had a cycle at all. You may have a small one, so it is important to check with water tests.

 

[jdl]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3036777
I can honestly tell you I HAVE NEVER....NOR WOULD I EVER cycle with a live fish...ALSO I would NEVER tell someone what to do with their tank....It is totally up to the OP, BUT if the OP comes to this forum asking for advice....I believe they should get ALL the advice that one has to offer...whether you agree or not...
NOW..OP...let me ask you this...if you knew there is a possibility that having a live fish in a tank with high ammonia and such, and it could cause this fish to be in pain or even to die...WHY would you want to do this??
That is what you have to ask yourself...then YES...you go from there
as i mentioned before:
most people dont like cycling with damsels because they feel it is cruel to them because the fish have to live through your cycle. Then blindly do a billion other things that are cruel but never mention them... but soon as someone wants to cycle with damsels they come out in force.
I've cycled with fish, without fish, with no cycle at all using cured rock. to the op: Do what you want to do with whatever route you feel comfortable.

 

[fishluver1]

i think what i will do is set up the tank with sand and cured live rock only at first...and just keep checking the water temp and ammonia leval...and keep testing for a few weeks before adding any fish..i didn't know that it spikes the ammonia levels and that i can cause the fish pain..the people at the LFS never told me anything about that...but that's why i came to you guys for help...cause i trust people that know from experense than from someone who dosn't know at all... and i thank all of you for you input....like i said you people are pro's .......

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by fishluver1
http:///forum/post/3036870
i think what i will do is set up the tank with sand and cured live rock only at first...and just keep checking the water temp and ammonia leval...and keep testing for a few weeks before adding any fish..i didn't know that it spikes the ammonia levels and that i can cause the fish pain..the people at the LFS never told me anything about that...but that's why i came to you guys for help...cause i trust people that know from experense than from someone who dosn't know at all... and i thank all of you for you input....like i said you people are pro's .......

Good choice.....Any questions just ask...there are a lot of people here who have a lot of experience...

 

[spanko]

Here is an explanation of what happens during ammonia poisoning.
"Ammonia poisoning is one of the biggest killers of aquarium fish. It occurs most often when a tank is newly set up. However, it can also occur in an established tank when too many new fish have been added at one time, when the filter fails due to power or mechanical failure, or if bacterial colonies die off due to the use of medications or sudden change in water conditions.
# Symptoms: Fish gasp for breath at the water surface
# Purple or red gills
# Fish is lethargic
# Loss of appetite
# Fish lays at the bottom of the tank
# Red streaking on the fins or body
Ammonia poisoning can happen suddenly, or over a period of days. Initially the fish may be seen gasping at the surface for air. The gills will begin to turn red or lilac in color, and may appear to be bleeding. The fish will being to lose its appetite and become increasingly lethargic. In some cases fish may be observed laying at the bottom of the tank with clamped fins.
As the damage from the ammonia poisoning continues, the tissues will be damaged as evidenced by red streaks or bloody patches that appear on the body and fins. Internal damage is occurring to the brain, organs, and central nervous system. The fish begins to hemorrhage internally and externally, and eventually dies."