Creating the DSB

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bt300z32

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Feb 10, 2005
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I just got done reading that huge post about setting up a tank and cycling it. Here's what I did. This is how the guy at the LFS told me to do it, and I trust him very much as he owns a rather small store and has been doing this for years. He told me to add the whole bag of salt to the 55 gallons, which I did and after 24hrs of sitting in there it reads right at 1.023. So that looks good. I also added 40lbs of live sand, Fiji Pink to be exact.

Here is the question. In the post, it mentioned play sand. Is that really necessary? I got a pretty good deal on this sand. Should I add more sand? And if so, should I just buy a bag of that play sand and add it and will it mix ok? I'm going to cycle this the slow way - no shrimp in other words. In about a week he said I can add a few small pieces of live rock to help the cycle. I'm probably going to put some lace rock in there too so it will eventually obtain live rock characterisitcs. All suggestions appreciated.

Also, from my understanding I can acclimate my GSP and Leopard Puffer to marine conditions right? Just slowly... Thanks in advance!
 
The play sand isn't necessary, simply a cheap alternative to sand you buy from LFS'. The fiji pink should be great. :D It also depends on what kinds of critters you want. For example, burrowing fish and inverts (horseshoe crabs, some snails, etc) will like you a lot if you give them a deeper sand bed (3-4") whereas if you are going free swimming fish only, then 2-3" should be sufficient.

You can add live rock at any time in the cycling process, just don't expect any hitchhikers to survive.
 
is it true, that bacteria on live rock -- takes ammonia into nitrite,,,,, and bacteria in the sand takes nitrite to nitrate?... or not
 
Does live sand also help with the cycle? If you add live sand then your adding bacteria and should put something in there that produces ammonia to 'feed' the bacteria?

Leaving the tank just like that for a few weeks wont do anything, right? Unless you add live rock now? :hang:
 
The tank will cycle as long as there is a source of ammonia. It does not matter if there is live rock or live sand in there, although the LR is highly recommended. Your LR will seed the sand and make ordinary play sand live sand. :)
 
Heres something that article posted doesnt mention. Most published works are outdated when it comes to DSB, because there used to be a time when using Crushed Coral was the best thing to use as Aerobic bacteria where well known while Anerobic bacteria are not. Basically The Aerobic bacteria break down Ammonia intro Nitrite and then later into Nitrate. Anerobic bacteria live in a little to no oxygen enviornment. Hence they take the Oxygen off Nitrate which then turns it into harmless Nitrogen gas.
 
Hmm...some interesting things here

I just read that article in the link above, and it says u can cycle with live sand or live rock cause they produce waste. Or use the shrimp or live animals (which Im not going to do)
 
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