starting over

aot220

aot220

New Member
here I go again...
I'm starting my 90 gallon tank up again. I'm relatively experienced (have had reef tanks in the past) but have learned more from my mistakes than anything else in the past...usually costly as you all know....
I have water circulating now and that's it. A heater and a wet dry filter are all that is hooked up. My aim is to not necessarily have a reef tank, but to keep that option open. My primary question is on cycling the tank. Before I spend hundreds on live sand and rock, should I put a lionfish in there for a month and feed him well?
I am a clean canvas at this point and I want to do it right this time. I am also looking for advice on a protein skimmer if anyone has suggestions. The most important lesson I have learned over the years with this hobby is patience...I am willing to take my time.....Andy
 
col

col

Active Member
A Lionfish - nooooooooooo
To start the cycle a source of ammonia is required. Some people use Damsels but other options are:
Raw shrimp
Household ammonia
Fish food
Live Rock
 
col

col

Active Member
The L Rock can start the cycle. I'm not 100% sure about L sand and cycling so I'd better not comment there.
What you are looking for is Ammonia levels to rise, Nitrite levels to rise. When these have peaked they need to drop to zero and the tank will be cycled. During this time the nitrates will slowly rise.
This can take up to 8 weeks to do, every tank is different.
Mine only took 11 days, but I was preparing for much longer.
My smaller quarantine tank took over 30 .
 
aot220

aot220

New Member
back in the old days (like 10 years ago) lionfish and groupers were used to cycle tanks....we hardly knew about live rock. That's where I got the idea. I just don't want to spend the $ on the rock and then foul it up with the cycle.
 
aot220

aot220

New Member
back in the old days (like 10 years ago) lionfish and groupers were used to cycle tanks....we hardly knew about live rock. That's where I got the idea. I just don't want to spend the $ on the rock and then foul it up with the cycle.
 
broomer5

broomer5

Active Member
AOT220
If you want to keep your options for a reef tank open, and want a sure fire way to cycle the tank - without harming fish, or having to remove an unwanted fish later - listen to these folks.
They speak wisdom.
Live rock - if it's good live rock, and a sandbed of aragonite sand - is about the safest most reliable method to cycle a tank these days ~ and prepare the tank for fish and/or reef down the road.
Providing your saltwater is in good shape.
Other's will agree.
Other's will disagree.
There's no one way to do it - but live rock is very popular - because it works.
 
debbers

debbers

Member
My tank cycled in under 2 weeks. I used cured LR and aragonite sand (dead). I didn't use any critters or dead shrimp... but I did use Biozyme for a few days. I know a lot of people out there don't like it... but my set-up worked for me.
 
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