vtech2 Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 Hello Reefers, My 2ft tank has been cycling for about 2 weeks now with Lrs, sand running by a top filter and skimmer. Abt once a week i add some liquid bacteria growth by Oceanfree to my tank to speed up the cycling process. Today i went down to one of the Lfs and was advised by the owner that i cant just leave my tank like this on its own. He told me i got to purchase some ammonia substance for the bacteria to grow... Dont know whether it was neccessary? Alternatively do i need to add in any fish food pellets during cycling to help the bacteria grow or can i leave my tank as it is..... I intend to add in a clown abt 2 weeks time but the LFS owner said if the tank is left just on its own the fish might not survive when introduced... Reefers, help me out here... Is he being truthful or is he just trying to sell his product? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueheaven Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 You can add a piece of prawn and let it decompose instead of buying the ammonia solution. For cycling, it should be done once it does through 3 stages. 1) Ammonia goes up 2) Ammonia comes down, nitrite goes up 3) Nitrite goes down, nitrate goes up Once you have tested that ammonia and nitrite is undetectable, then your cycle is finished Hope that helps Quote But if you tame me, we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world... You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery Keep our hobby sustainable, participate in fragging NOW CHAETO Farmer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtech2 Posted January 15, 2006 Author Share Posted January 15, 2006 Will the LRS and the nitrifying bacteria(adding in once a week, enough?) on its own help though... Wont the die off from the LRS bring about the beginning of the ammonia process already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueheaven Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 Yes the die off from LR will start the cycle but if you want to speed it up, you got to provide more ammonia for the bacteria as if you compare the amount of die off to a piece of shrimp, it is quite evident which is more effective right? I don't really believe in the bacteria solutions but on the whole, the bacteria in the LR is quite adequate already as they reproduce fast. (E. coli, a type of bacteria studied in Life Science, doubles it's population every 20 mins) Quote But if you tame me, we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world... You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery Keep our hobby sustainable, participate in fragging NOW CHAETO Farmer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member Qxnviolet Posted January 15, 2006 SRC Member Share Posted January 15, 2006 Hrmz, i didnt add any prawn meat during my cycling. Added about 25kg of uncured live rocks and the ammonia level started to go up within a few days. As for the nitrfying bacteria, i dumped the whole bottle in at one go. Dunno if thats the correct way though, shrUgz. As long as the whole cycle goes according to what BH has listed out, you are safe to add fish, slowly of course.... Quote My Newbie Tank Thread My Blog All pics taken with CanoN!~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueheaven Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 Yeah and after that you have to work on the nitrates already Quote But if you tame me, we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world... You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery Keep our hobby sustainable, participate in fragging NOW CHAETO Farmer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtech2 Posted January 15, 2006 Author Share Posted January 15, 2006 The whole bottle Oh dear is your tank ok and how are the fishes doing now? I just put in the soluion weekly but am depending more on the Lrs to do the work... Been to Jireh today... They have lots of clowns vailable and their true percula clown is really beautiful man! I'll be adding my 1st clownfish abt 2 weeks time, will this pose to be a problem for it acclimating itself into my new tank? Clowns are hardy too hope it will be fine, i wldn't want to introduce a damsel first as later most probably i wld want to remove it because of its aggression.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member Qxnviolet Posted January 15, 2006 SRC Member Share Posted January 15, 2006 Mine still doing fine....*Cross Fingers* Have a look when u r free! http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=44258 Oh, i used it as a starter only......now never dose already. Anyway, there are instructions behind the bottle....and if i strictly follow them, i'll have to pour 1 1/2 bottles in.... Quote My Newbie Tank Thread My Blog All pics taken with CanoN!~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtech2 Posted January 15, 2006 Author Share Posted January 15, 2006 Blue and Yellow Tangs! My dream, but they too big for my tank leh and i'm very worried about em because they tend to get ich easily from my previous experience... anyway Qxnviolet Nice tank! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member KTLK Posted January 15, 2006 SRC Member Share Posted January 15, 2006 your liverocks are more than enough to provide the ammonia to kick start the cycle. Take it slow & steady,patient is the key Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtech2 Posted January 15, 2006 Author Share Posted January 15, 2006 Hmmm......Patience... yesh yesh thats what this hobby needs..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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