[jsgates]

I have my live rock in the tank for 2 days now. Bought it from mrmarine on ebay. Is the live rock enough to get my tank to start cycling? Or do I need to add a piece of shrimp or something? I've had the tank lights on during the day for the past two days, and the purple coraline is starting to appear on the LR again. Tank otherwise looks clean. Expected some algae to start to form, but not sure how long it takes. Going to test water this weekend. I've read so much, I keep mixing things up! Thanks for any assistance.

[lynnvangsnes]

You didn't say how much LR you had. You should have at lease between 1-2 lbs of LR per gallon of tank size. Check your ammonia after another day or two and monitor it. It will take 3-4 weeks to cycle. Yes, you can put a piece of shrimp to speed up the process, although I prefer the natural way. The algae will come in due time. You may see some diatom bloom toward the end of the cycle. Be patient. It will be worth the wait. Get your test kits and watch your parameters. Don't change any water until your nitrites hit zero. Then do a major water change. Like at least 20%. Are you using RO water? You can leave your tanks lights on or off..it really doesn't matter when cycling with LR, although few may disagree. Now is the time to get your lights on timers and start tweaking your lighting cycles. Your actinics should come on 2 hours before your daylights, and stay on 2 hours after your daylights go off. My actinics run 12 hours, the daylights, 8.
Hope this helps.

[jsgates]

80 Ga. tank w/ 100 lbs of Fiji Live Rock. I have the Seachem basic Multi-test kit. Yes I'm using R/O water. Problem on the lighting though. I've got 4 T5 bulbs with one ballast. All lights are on at the same time. Actinic in the back, two daylights in the middle, n rated bulb in the front. Any idea what my light cycle should be? I've got moonlights on at night. Thanks.

[Tonz of fun]

That will be more then enough. Are you doing the cycle with Live Sand as well? I ran 4 hours of lights. Although some people disagree I wanted to get a head start on any life that maybe hiding in the rocks...

[thelastmucci]

Yea I've kinda been wondering that since I've heard mixed things...I mean I know when you get the LR you need to put it in the correct salintiy amount but what about LS do you wait to put it in after the cycle or will it help speed up the cycle...Also what about LR supplements does anyone put any stock into those...just thorowin this out there.

[jsgates]

No live sand. Using all natural white sugar-sized sand. Will let tank cycle for about a week or so before adding the sand. Read the guide in the Reef Building Step-by-step forum, and this is recommended to keep you white sand from gettng very dirty with the diatoms.