Cycling Marine Tanks

[jvoigt]

The local pet store told me that i had to wait 2 months before i could do anything with my 10 gallon salt water tank. I didnt beleive them when they said that. How long would it take to get it up and goin and then ready to stock? corals/fish?

 

[tmreynolds]

The local pet store told me that i had to wait 2 months before i could do anything with my 10 gallon salt water tank. I didnt beleive them when they said that. How long would it take to get it up and goin and then ready to stock? corals/fish?

What are you using for filtration?

 

[jvoigt]

i have been told that live rock does a pretty good job..

if your asking about the filter on my tank its a whisper

 

[tmreynolds]

You cannot put a time on cycling, have you got any tests kits, you'll need ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, alkalinity, ph, sg/salinity as a minimum. When the stats are zero ammonia, zero nitrite, and below 20ppm nitrate with ph around 8.0 - 8.3 and sg about 1.023 - 1.025 you can think about stocking. May take a week may take 2 months, depends how cured the LR is.

 

[jvoigt]

whats LR?

and isnt alkalinity the same as measureing pH?

 

[steelhealr]

Hi....I recommend that you go down to the nano section and read the FAQ page. First off, despite what you read here, CORALS should not go into a nano tank for, IMO, at least a couple of months. You'll find opposing comment to this but it is the safest way to avoid issues. Why? Easy:

• a tank needs time to mature
• you need to develop your water keeping skills
• many people add fish which adds a huge bioload to a small tank; this requires time to readjust your water keeping skills
• unwanted visitors usually occur during this time: cyano, hair algae, hitchhikers
• many corals require skill to keep them healthy and alive; this takes reading and education

Sadly, most people adapt the 'plunk 'em in method' since they want to have an instant reef. Patience is the most important skill you can acquire when setting up a nano tank.

pH is the measurement of the hydrogen ion level in a tank; alkalinity is the waters ability to neutralize acids.

SH