Ready to Cycle

[infalable]

Water temp at 79
salinity at 1.024
powerheads are running
Any reason why I cant buy my lr and ls and start the cycle?
Is there anything else I should test before adding lr and ls?
Thanks.

 

[tangman99]

You want to make sure your PH is at or near 8.2 and have your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate kits ready so you can follow your cycles progression.

 

[infalable]

I odered my kit on line. I should get it today or tomorrow. I will test ph before buying lr and ls. I made a chart in Excel to track my water quality.

 

[col]

I wouldn't worry about Ph until tank has finished cycling and has settled down.

 

[scotts]

What are you waiting for? (I know go slow) I put in my live sand and water on the same day. I can't remember, but I think I put the rocks in on that day as well. If not I know it was probably within 3 days of adding the ls an water. Then I waited.
The tank looked so good and clear then. I wish it was that clear now.

 

[beaslbob]

Sorry to interrupt here. And excuse me as I am "old school". So maybe you can help me understand the live sand/life rock method.
I thought you put in sand, add saltwater, add rocks, and let everything run for a week or so. I then add a mollie and monitor the cycle.
What makes no sense to me is adding sand after the tank is setup and running. Seems to me that would really create a mess.
Perhaps people on this board can clarify my confusion.

 

[jlem]

If you have cured live rock then your tank may be cycled within a day or two since the rock with be already saturated with beneficial bacteria. If this is the case then put everything in and let your tank run for a week and check ammonia every couple days to see if your tank will even experience a cycle. If you have uncured live rock then put it all in and monitor the cycle with test kits untill ammonia and nitrite are at zero. Don't put in a molly just so it can suffer through a cycle that it isn't needed for. Your rock ill have enough die off to cycle your tank just fine. Stuff grows and dies constantly on live rock years after it is in the tank so don't worry about throwing in shrimp or fish to keep up your bioload since the rock will do it for you. Once your tank reads zero nitrite for a good week then do a good size water change (%50) and add in a small clean up crewa couple days later. Monitor for a week or so more and if everything is still reading at zero ( nitrate can have readings ) then you can start the VERY SLOW process of stocking your tank. This is one good way that has worked for me