Starting my cycling today on my 85 gallon tank

[saxman]

I admit I skimmed the thread, so if I'm repetitive, excuse me:
Your sand will become "live" eventually, so don't fret if you can score a cup of sand. We typically have a dozen or so tanx running at any given time, and I generally use dry #3 or #1 grade aragonite and never swap sand between them as "starter" material. If you do start with dry sand, be sure you rinse, rinse, rinse until the water in the bucket runs clear. If you do this, and add the sand to the empty tank and add your water slowly (if you sit a plate on the bottom and let the water hit that, even better), you'll have virtually no "sandstorm" to clear up, a little clouding, but not much more than that.
NH3 = ammonia
NO2 = nitrite
NO3 = nitrate
These are "generic" and don't take ionic species into account, but they're close enuff.
As for the NH3 alert tag, you can get them at most places that sell fish.

 

[pfcbizz]

Ok I got everything going in my tank saltwater level is between 1.023 & 1.024, so what should be my next step ? I plan to go and I guess buy some live sand and a piece of live rock to add to the tank to send my base rock and sand, I bought some bacteria supplement should I or shouldn't I add this and it says after adding chlorine remover am I on the right track ? or should I be going another route ? I also got some raw shrimp I haven't added it yet I also bought a NH3 alert meter so my Questions are is there anything else I need to be doing at this point ?

 

[pfcbizz]

My tank Setup running, cycling

 

[mr. limpid]

Nice, have you come up with a wish list of fish?

 

[travelerjp98]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Limpid http:///t/388846/starting-my-cycling-today-on-my-85-gallon-tank/20#post_3432617
Nice, have you come up with a wish list of fish?
Haha... exactly what I was gonna say!

 

[pfcbizz]

Thank you, for the compliments I'm working not only for the looks but a healthy tank for the fish I want to add to it, but tell me hat would be nice group fish that I coulld add with a Dwarf Fuzzy Lionfish and a Flame Angelfish ? and am I on the right track in cycling my tank ? here's what's going on as of now
Water temp 80.6 F
Salt Level 1.024
I've only been cycling for 2 days so I havent tookin a reading on the Ammoia as of yet
and I need to add some live sand and rock to seed what I have already
but other then that I haven't done anything please give advise anyone.

 

[mr. limpid]

if you are going to add LS and LR do it now. After wait 8 weeks b4 adding fish just in case you brought ick with the LR. 8 weeks will end ick's life cycle without host.Loinfish and flame would be nice together its caution in compatibility but should be ok, I think add lion first then angle. The next fish will depend on who the Lion gets along with he's more picky then angle.

 

[teresaq]

Sorry I didnt understand you had dry rock and sand. The way it read you only had water and filters. lol
I always start a tank with just dry rock and sand. Why pay all the extra for all live rock when a piece or two will do.
There are a few places that sell refuge packages that have a little real live sand, pods, ect. I have used those in the past to seed my tanks.
T

 

[pfcbizz]

No offense taken, now this refuge package is something LFS sale ? and the problem I have is the tank has been running for three days and it wont be for another three days before I can get to the LFS to buy a little LS and LR will it throw off my cycling ? and when should I add the raw shrimp I have ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TeresaQ http:///t/388846/starting-my-cycling-today-on-my-85-gallon-tank/20#post_3432705
Sorry I didnt understand you had dry rock and sand. The way it read you only had water and filters. lol
I always start a tank with just dry rock and sand. Why pay all the extra for all live rock when a piece or two will do.
There are a few places that sell refuge packages that have a little real live sand, pods, ect. I have used those in the past to seed my tanks.
T

 

[travelerjp98]

Quote:
Originally Posted by pfcbizz http:///t/388846/starting-my-cycling-today-on-my-85-gallon-tank/20#post_3432722
No offense taken, now this refuge package is something LFS sale ? and the problem I have is the tank has been running for three days and it wont be for another three days before I can get to the LFS to buy a little LS and LR will it throw off my cycling ? and when should I add the raw shrimp I have ?
If you have base/dead sand and rock, water, and filters in your tank, it's not cycling at all.
Get a bit of LR and LS. The raw shrimp should be added directly after.
HTH- it's just my opinion.

 

[florida joe]

i would like to see you go bare bottom in a nano,
Me thinks it would be off to the proctologist to have it removed
FYI reserch ‘Berlin’ school/method of reef keeping Snake maybe its time for one of your threads on this
Quote:
Many people go bare bottom in a saltwater tank

 

[pfcbizz]

What's H-T-H ?

 

[travelerjp98]

Quote:
Originally Posted by pfcbizz http:///t/388846/starting-my-cycling-today-on-my-85-gallon-tank/20#post_3433138
What's H-T-H ?
Hope That Helps

 

[pfcbizz]

LMAO,Oh I want to know this I have 2 powerheads running in my tank is that too much water movement ? or shold I take one out ?

 

[travelerjp98]

Quote:
Originally Posted by pfcbizz http:///t/388846/starting-my-cycling-today-on-my-85-gallon-tank/20#post_3433155
LMAO,Oh I want to know this I have 2 powerheads running in my tank is that too much water movement ? or shold I take one out ?
How many GPH are they? Do they seem to have too much water movement? Do your fish seem affected?

 

[pfcbizz]

Well as of now I'm cycling, and don't have any fish in the tank, and Ill check and post the GPH's but it might just be me but I seems to be moving the water real heavyly and I just was concerned but Ill get back with the info

 

[saxman]

For cycling, 80*F is fine, but I'd bump it down to 76*F - 77*F when you get ready to stock the tank. As far as adding a bacteria product, it's not needed, but it will give the cycle a "kick start". We've used Super-Bac with really good results.

 

[pfcbizz]

Well tomorrow I'm gonna get some LS and LR and add it to my tank and can I add the bacteria supplement and should I use some Chlorine remover ?

 

[saxman]

If you used tap water, you should definitely use a water conditioner that removes chloramines (unless you're sure you water is treated with chlorine). My personal fave is Ultimate (it's also a buffer).

 

[pfcbizz]

Well Sax here's my breakdown of what I have done so far, I added the saltwater and it has been running for seven day's already without any LR or LS I added the raw shrimp and its been in the tank this being the third day, as I said in earlier post my saltwater level is between 1.023 & 1.024, the temp is at 78 F and today I am going to the LFS and get some LS just 10lbs and a pound of Fuji LR and add that to the tank and do a test for my Ammonia levels because I haven't done one as of yet, So I'm now asking you is there anything else I'm not doing that I should ? did I wait too long to add LR & LS ? I didn't use tap water I was told to use Distilled water so I guess because of me using Distilled water I don't need to add anything ? and the bacteria supplement I bought I don'tneed it ?