Starting Up A Marine Tank

[callum_parsons]

what are the different ways to cycle a marine tank without fish

 

[Mr Miagi]

One, add live rock, two, use a portion of another hobbyist (no wait, that didnt come out right ), a portion of another hobbyists sand bed or mature filter media.

Live rock is probably the most common way. If you buy uncured live rock, it will have some creatures "die off" causing ammonia and nitrites etc, and eventually, bacteria/macroalgae etc etc found in/on the same rock will work to consume those products, eventually completing the cycle, and you should have a reading of zero nitrite and ammonia before adding fish and inverts. A level of 20ppm nitrate or below is probably the reading you'll want before adding anything.

Using another hobbyists mature filter media is another way of going about it, but you'll want to add fully cured live rock, so there wont be a re-cycle.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

if you just added fully cured rock to a brand new tank would you be able to stock straight off? My guess is it would be sort of the same as a cycled tank, you could stock a bit but not as much as for a mature set up. Not really relevant to me, we were just discussing it last night.

 

[andywg]

if you just added fully cured rock to a brand new tank would you be able to stock straight off? My guess is it would be sort of the same as a cycled tank, you could stock a bit but not as much as for a mature set up. Not really relevant to me, we were just discussing it last night.

If it is truly fully cured then you are best stocking straight away.

It's what I did on both our SW tanks.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

if you just added fully cured rock to a brand new tank would you be able to stock straight off? My guess is it would be sort of the same as a cycled tank, you could stock a bit but not as much as for a mature set up. Not really relevant to me, we were just discussing it last night.

If it is truly fully cured then you are best stocking straight away.

It's what I did on both our SW tanks.

would you stock completely or gradually?

 

[Chac]

Whenever adding stock you must give your Biological Filter (ie Liverock) enough time to catch up with the bio-load

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Whenever adding stock you must give your Biological Filter (ie Liverock) enough time to catch up with the bio-load

obviously that's the theory, but if you bought all the LR you need for your size of tank, and it was all fully cured, then in theory surley that would be enough to suppor the tanks full bioload. Just like in FW when fishless cycling in theory you can stock the tank fully when it's done...... I don't know if I'd trust it though

 

[Chac]

Whenever adding stock you must give your Biological Filter (ie Liverock) enough time to catch up with the bio-load

obviously that's the theory, but if you bought all the LR you need for your size of tank, and it was all fully cured, then in theory surley that would be enough to suppor the tanks full bioload. Just like in FW when fishless cycling in theory you can stock the tank fully when it's done...... I don't know if I'd trust it though

Just becasue Live Rock is Cured doesnt mean it is fully loaded with bacteria, time & food will solve this

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Whenever adding stock you must give your Biological Filter (ie Liverock) enough time to catch up with the bio-load

obviously that's the theory, but if you bought all the LR you need for your size of tank, and it was all fully cured, then in theory surley that would be enough to suppor the tanks full bioload. Just like in FW when fishless cycling in theory you can stock the tank fully when it's done...... I don't know if I'd trust it though

Just becasue Live Rock is Cured doesnt mean it is fully loaded with bacteria, time & food will solve this

OK cool, I wasn't sure if that's what cured meant exactly. Maybe should have just asked that question thanks!