Water changes during cycle
- Thread starter Ed89
- Start date
BigBarnacles
New member
No sir. You want the bacteria to do all of the work in the beginning. Get that ammonia nice n high. Let the bacteria convert the ammonia to nitrites and the nitrites to nitrates. I wouldn't recommend skimming or water changes until the cycle has completed.
Jimbojames
New member
im no expert at this point, but im pretty sure you just sit and wait until you see all the spikes and then do a wc when u see your no3 go up and everything at zero
superslinky911
New member
Dont you have to use some kind of ammonia source to begin a cycle if you do it naturally? I used some fish food to get mine going with my previous tank. Can always go with the instant cycles as well.
BigBarnacles
New member
A decaying raw deli shrimp (or two) is a perfect source of ammonia. I can't tell you the amount of problems I've seen with the "instant" cycle method. The method he is using takes longer but ensures a strong/stable system.
fwadiver
New member
there are much better ways than using shrimp, the shrimp method is antiquated and generally a bad idea IMHO, especially with ammonia chloride readily available in the hobby, not to mention the various bacteria in a bottle products that will start the cycle in a much cleaner method and not instantly cloud up your system with junk.
They sell ammonia at dollar general for well a dollar. Just get the non pine version. I think the company that makes it is pine Glo and they make two kinds. One with no dyes and one that smells like pine. Get the one without anything in it.
Dose ~ 4-5ppm ammonia and keep it there until it converts than do a massive wc at the end.
Dose ammonia again after wc and wait 24 hours if it converts than you are good. I usually do another water change and add a small amount of fauna.
Dose ~ 4-5ppm ammonia and keep it there until it converts than do a massive wc at the end.
Dose ammonia again after wc and wait 24 hours if it converts than you are good. I usually do another water change and add a small amount of fauna.
fwadiver
New member
i would still be wary of that, there is lab grade ammonia available from several places, my fav source is dr tim.
Aquaman
New member
the prob i see with dr tim is ppl dont follw the directions .. then say it dosent work ...the part they usually miss is
ADD A FISH IMMEDIATELY when you add the dr tims.. even dr tim said it ... ppl i talked to that complained about it not working right added the fish a day or 2 later ... i love the dr tim stuff .. fish the same day ... whats not to love ...
good luck ed hope it all works out
ADD A FISH IMMEDIATELY when you add the dr tims.. even dr tim said it ... ppl i talked to that complained about it not working right added the fish a day or 2 later ... i love the dr tim stuff .. fish the same day ... whats not to love ...
good luck ed hope it all works out
Reefwise
Premium Sponsor
Edgar, are you curing live rock or cycling to build up denitrifying bacteria?
If curing live rock, you will need to due water changes to remove the nitrates. You will need to wait until all of the die off of the rock completely goes through the nitrogen cycle. Then, you can add dr Tim's and fish.
If you are cycling to build up denitrifying bacteria, Dr Tims is the bacteria and fish should be added right away.
If curing live rock, you will need to due water changes to remove the nitrates. You will need to wait until all of the die off of the rock completely goes through the nitrogen cycle. Then, you can add dr Tim's and fish.
If you are cycling to build up denitrifying bacteria, Dr Tims is the bacteria and fish should be added right away.
superslinky911
New member
Your rock is your filter. Sand is not needed unless you have an animal that requires it, its just for looks. Rather than sand it would be better to get a established sponge from a tank or a piece or 2 of some ones live rock if you were trying kick start the cycle.
MrDemonicAngel
New member
