Cycling question
- Thread starter sn4k33y3z
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That's where the calcium acetate comes in Rich. The acetate provides the organic carbon for denitrification and leaves behind both calcium and alkalinity, in balanced proportions.
This may be difficult for some to understand, but it all works. It's the most elegant 'system' I've found in my many years in this hobby.
Though all this may work, isn't there the simple elegance of just dropping a few small damsel , and lighting the fire. I had a yellow tail damsel for 15 years.
Why is time such a factor? How can Aerobic bacteria live in sealed bag? Seems hoekey
Getting freebies cheapies from members , you guys really got me verklempt. Microanimalia Variety is what's going to make a tank flourish.
Why wouldnt you run the skimmer.it sets up stability, get your game on using the skimmer It mitigates die off aka cycling. ph swing oxygenates Orp levels . Play with it. Get to know it. And they are just plain cool.
I ve had tanks since the 80's, I took a break for a couple years while I rebuilt my house for 5 long years.
I just set one up this year, I love my yellow tail and zebra pair.
I havent even come close to losing any thing from tank conditions.
It seems you need to get in he habit of husbandry , and weekly water changes is the only way to go.
It's cheaper heathier more engaging. Isn't this what you normally need to do with a new tank anyway.
I didn't even get a the extra test kits until 5 months. After 30 days, I didn't see any green or red dukee and started adding a few frags. Watched how they fair .. lighting placement circ ect.
I still dont test much. I tested nitrates until my nitrate reactor took hold. It climbed a little before I installed it. Some clear snot on the sand. It took four months for it to take hold. All the while do 15% weekly wc.
I mostly hate measuring and sticking my Hands in the tank. I do it for the feel good, if I get time.
They goal in this hobby is simplicity and stability and that's from s Tryree at the frag swag
Maybe your just a damsel hater, thats fair enough.
Why is time such a factor? How can Aerobic bacteria live in sealed bag? Seems hoekey
Getting freebies cheapies from members , you guys really got me verklempt. Microanimalia Variety is what's going to make a tank flourish.
Why wouldnt you run the skimmer.it sets up stability, get your game on using the skimmer It mitigates die off aka cycling. ph swing oxygenates Orp levels . Play with it. Get to know it. And they are just plain cool.
I ve had tanks since the 80's, I took a break for a couple years while I rebuilt my house for 5 long years.
I just set one up this year, I love my yellow tail and zebra pair.
I havent even come close to losing any thing from tank conditions.
It seems you need to get in he habit of husbandry , and weekly water changes is the only way to go.
It's cheaper heathier more engaging. Isn't this what you normally need to do with a new tank anyway.
I didn't even get a the extra test kits until 5 months. After 30 days, I didn't see any green or red dukee and started adding a few frags. Watched how they fair .. lighting placement circ ect.
I still dont test much. I tested nitrates until my nitrate reactor took hold. It climbed a little before I installed it. Some clear snot on the sand. It took four months for it to take hold. All the while do 15% weekly wc.
I mostly hate measuring and sticking my Hands in the tank. I do it for the feel good, if I get time.
They goal in this hobby is simplicity and stability and that's from s Tryree at the frag swag
Maybe your just a damsel hater, thats fair enough.
I picked up a couple of bottles of the bio spira this afternoon to help with my upcoming cycle. I am still planning on taking it slow with the tank re-boot; however, I will be interested to see how quickly the amonia levels drop after adding the bio spira to the system.
Darren- I again appreciated you sharing your thoughts. I'm in no-way in any kind of hurry. Please, enlighten me some more. Why are Damsels a viable option for cycling (also why this specific breed)? I suppose I never even considered using a fish to start the cycle. The main reason just because I've understood it to be cruel... One things for sure, a stinky shrimp decaying isn't gonna keep me in the good graces with the wifey LOL. Chemicals appeal to me simply because I become the controlling factor. OK, I'm back now. I had to google the yiddish (verklempt) word. You lost me and apparently google when you used "Microanimalia Variety". Can you be more specific? Also, I'm not opposed to using the skimmer (it has to break in anyways). By going the Damsel route, I assume it would be critical to my success.
Edit: On another note. Aren't certain damsel fish highly aggressive?
Edit: On another note. Aren't certain damsel fish highly aggressive?
My opinion is yes it is cruel to use a fish to cycle a tank and everything I have heard says damsels don't make good tank mates with a lot of other fish you will want to add.
If you are in that big of a hurry, there is another way that is near immediate, requires no ammonia, shrimp or chemicals. Use half live rock and half base rock. You will have a die off of some bacteria in the live rock in the process of transfer. That will create a small ammonia source but you will have a small colony of bacteria to consume it. In a weeks time you could then add a fish or maybe two. As long as you go slow adding fish you should never see a peak in the cycle.
Matter of fact, in the time it took for this thread to develop you could have had fish in the tank.
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If you are in that big of a hurry, there is another way that is near immediate, requires no ammonia, shrimp or chemicals. Use half live rock and half base rock. You will have a die off of some bacteria in the live rock in the process of transfer. That will create a small ammonia source but you will have a small colony of bacteria to consume it. In a weeks time you could then add a fish or maybe two. As long as you go slow adding fish you should never see a peak in the cycle.
Matter of fact, in the time it took for this thread to develop you could have had fish in the tank.
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If you are in no hurry and want cheapest with the least side affects just put a pinch or two of fish food in and wait. Or, come on over and I will give you some pure ammonia and you can add a few drops here and there. Just my opinion but that is what I did and will do again.
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Rich looks like that's the plan. Would you do both the fish food and ammonia?
Reef reaper- I feel this is an area where simplicity makes the most sense. I'm a rookie to the hobby and I feel like the baby steps are just as important. This will give me a chance to use my test kits and get familiar with those reagents.
Reef reaper- I feel this is an area where simplicity makes the most sense. I'm a rookie to the hobby and I feel like the baby steps are just as important. This will give me a chance to use my test kits and get familiar with those reagents.
I see no need to do both. It isn't like a BBQ where you have burgers for the adults and hot dogs for the kids.
You have one goal. Building the bacterial colonies. All you need for that is ammonia. The more pure that ammonia source is the better. That is why I used the Ace Janitorial Strength.
If you go that route, try to get it up to 4ppm. As it starts to drop add a bit more until you see nitrites and nitrates. Once you see nitrates you are getting close. You should be ready for fish once you get to the point where it can take 4ppm ammonia and in 24 hours reduce it and the nitrites to 0. Once that happens, do water changes until you get the nitrate as close to 0 as you can and you are good to add a fish or two. Wait a couple of weeks between fish additions to give the bacteria time to catch up to the increased bio load.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - hence all the misspellings.
You have one goal. Building the bacterial colonies. All you need for that is ammonia. The more pure that ammonia source is the better. That is why I used the Ace Janitorial Strength.
If you go that route, try to get it up to 4ppm. As it starts to drop add a bit more until you see nitrites and nitrates. Once you see nitrates you are getting close. You should be ready for fish once you get to the point where it can take 4ppm ammonia and in 24 hours reduce it and the nitrites to 0. Once that happens, do water changes until you get the nitrate as close to 0 as you can and you are good to add a fish or two. Wait a couple of weeks between fish additions to give the bacteria time to catch up to the increased bio load.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - hence all the misspellings.
One other thing. It only takes a little ammonia. When I did my 35 gal I used a cap full and that was way too much. Start with a couple drops and work your way up to 4ppm.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - hence all the misspellings.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - hence all the misspellings.
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