View Full Version : cycleing tank
dpmac10
10-27-2003, 10:50 PM
what else can i use to cycle my tank i hear eveyone useing shrimp but i was just wondering what else i could use if anything.
Joey D
10-28-2003, 5:14 AM
Live rock will provide beneficial bacteria to help cycle your tank. Stress zyme, or some other bacterial chemical medium. Its a waiting game. If yuo want, buy a few cheap damsels, typically used for cycling because they are hardy, just avoid the aggressive ones.
I get really annoyed now when I see people recommend torturing damsels to cycle a tank. Unnecessarrily cruel, and totally unconscientious. And killing fish for the hell of it isn't good for a beginners morale. USe die off from the live rock. If it's in such good shape there's no dieoff , you're cycled automatically.
mogurnda
10-28-2003, 7:12 AM
Although I'm not sure I'd be so strident about cycling with fish, I do agree that the live rock method is effective and less stressful for everyone.
kreblak
10-28-2003, 8:48 AM
Live rock is a good way to go, but I like using shrimp. After 60 days, you have a biofilter that could handle just about anything!
BrianH
10-28-2003, 9:40 AM
Live rock is a good way to go, but I like using shrimp. After 60 days, you have a biofilter that could handle just about anything!
This is one advantage to using the shrimp method. However, you only gain from this if you plan on heavily stocking the tank immediately after the cycle. The bacteria population will rise and fall according to their food source(bio load). So if you stock your tank slowly(like many of us do) the bacteria population will adjust to the current bioload of the tank.
Brian
I've heard of people using Pure Non-Scented ammonia to cycle their tank. But it can't have anything else in it, it has to be 100% pure ammonia.
kreblak
10-28-2003, 10:35 AM
Didn't WetmanNY pee in his tank during cycling? That's one way to add ammonia! :D