Well I'm finally back, and I just converted one of my 55 gallon tanks to saltwater. I just got my substrate and UGF installed (this is mostly to keep the substrate from going anerobic since I have a trickle filter and will be adding live rock), I threw in the raw cocktail shrimp and some established live rock from my 20L. I just want to know if I should wait the standard month for the tank to cycle, or if since I will be adding established live rock to a tank that has plenty of filtration if I can cut this to when the shrimp has decayed (this took about two weeks in my 20L, but I only used half a shrimp). Thanks.
How long to cycle... Again
- Thread starter QCppg
- Start date
Actually a UGF will promote nitrate development, you dont really need a UGF as a DSB wont go anoxic (anerobic is a good thing, thats where the bacteria that break down nitrates live) as long as its stirred enough (which a good clean up crew will do), and even a 3-4" will rarily go anoxic. Also when Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate read 0, you can add stock to the aquarium, which usually consists of the cleanup crew first, which may or may not be a month, could be a few weeks.
Generally speaking...no matter how or with what you are cycling your tank you want to get to the point where you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites. Once your shrimp is gone and you have 0/0 you would be considered "cycled". Using the live rock should speed up the process, but not eliminate it completely.
I guess I'll have to get some test kits then (I have never used them in the past but have not had any water quality problems in the past). Thanks for the info.
So back on the topic of the UGF do you think I'd be better off ripping it out and transplanting it to my oscar tank which needs one anyways? If you think I should do this now is the time to be doing so. Thanks.