[Ross87]

Hello,
I'm a beginner at marine aquariums and I am at the point where my tanks needs to cycle. I have a 29 gallon bio-cube which I've filled with water purified by distillation, 40lbs live sand, and 16lbs highly porous - low density cured live rock.

My limited knowledge is from the pet-store, CR brightwell's "The nano-reef handbook," and the internet. The book has been very helpful in setting up my tank, but fails to mention anything about cycling.

If I choose to let my tank cycle with the live rock and sand, approximatly how long will this take? I've read that some will introduce a fish to spark this cycle, but I feel that this is unfair and cruel to the fish. Others suggest adding hermit crabs, or true crabs, which will withstand the cycle. Which way is the best, and how long may this take?

Any suggestions and information is welcome, success is my goal.


-Thank You.

[Ross87]

I am aware that this cycle is a continuos process in a reef aquaria. most importantly, I want to know when i can start to add any kind of livestock

[saltysteve]

dont add anything till your tank cycles. you can add nitromax to speed things up.

[Jeremy0322]

You can also throw in a cocktail shrimp or something of that nature. Just anything to get ammonia in the tank for the process to start and you will be fine. I dont remember what book i read, i will find the book tomorrow, that says you could even pee in it to start it up, but that just sounds icky.

[Ross87]

I'm trying to avoid any chemical additive's that I don't really need as far as "nitromax".

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Good plan Ross,no chemicals is the best way to go.If your rock is truly ctcled your cycle may be so small you wont notice it.Adding table shrimp will cause a spike in the amonia that will cause a sike in the nitrates that you may never get rid of.Add a small clean up crew and leave them alone for a while and then add fish slowly and you will be just fine.

[jimw369]

Hey Native...You ever pee in your tank? Hahahaha

[Jeremy0322]

lol, i really hope no one has ever peed in their tank, but it makes sense that it would work in a weird way.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Jim,someone on another forum actually recomended doing that.Its amazing how much bs there out there about reef tanks.One guy was using table shrimp to cycle a tank and couldnt understand why they would disapear over night.So he put two in and they disapeared.So he put three in and yep they disapeared.He still doesnt know why they went away.I decided not to tell him about pods because its a cute story when he tells it.Its beyond stupid but cute lmao.He will wake up one morning and have nitrates so thick he can walk on them.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Jeremy,there are people who actually dose sugar and vodka in there tanks to increase bacteria levels.Several things are wrong with this plan.It not only increase's good bacteria levels it increases bad bacteria levels.The bad bacteria is the kind that likes to cover coral and kill them.There is a saturation point for bacteria and to much of a good thing turns into a bad thing.Depending on food sources bacteria in a tank can double in 30 minutes,or half itself in the same 30 minutes.Trust me when I say that tanks dont need help creating bacteria.

[Ross87]

Just wanted to say thank you to eveyone who replied. I agree with native and I decided to put a few snails and hermit crabs in my tank