Fishless Cycle

[ClownieandBilly]

I think i will cycle my tank using the fishless method, could someone quickly run over the process so as i can ensure a successful cycle.I am using lr (not in tank yet) and dsb and protein skimmer as my filtration methods.

[kreblak]

Get your tank set up first. Add the sand, add the water, add the salt, get the temperature up, and make sure you have plenty of water movement. Basically, the tank should be ready to accept fish. If your live rock is pre-cured, you may add it before cycling. If it isn't cured, then you can use it to cycle the tank by simply placing it in the tank and letting the die back occur. I'll assume that your rock is pre-cured.

Now, just toss in a jumbo, uncooked, cocktail shrimp. One shrimp per 30 gallons of water seems to work well. As the shrimp rots, it releases huge quantities of ammonia, which kick starts your nitrogen cycle. Bacteria begin breaking down the ammonia and multiplying until they can handle the ammonia load in the tank, converting it into nitrite. A second type of bacteria then begins breaking down all the nitrites into nitrates, which are more or less harmless to fish (except in astronomical quantities). Once your ammonia and nitrites are zero, your tank is cycled.

[BrianH]

IMHO if your live rock is cured, I would add it after the fishless cycle to avoid the die off from the rock.

Brian