Starting to cycle my tank

[ndw]

I have added my water to my 275 litre reef tank I am going to add my live rock and sand in a few days when the water is at temperature, what is the best way to start the tank cycling? Should I add a shrimp to start the ammonia off? This is all new to me so any help is appreciated thankyou.

 

[Mattyfelts]

shrimp, watch levels when ammonia :0, nitrite: 0 and nitrate: present your are cycled.... then you can do a water change, dose some ammonia to make sure its cycled. Add fish, coral, and enjoy the tank.

 

[ndw]

What shrimp is best. And I take it this is a live shrimp. Does this get added now ? I apologise for my stupidity

 

[Mattyfelts]

nonononono not live.

its dead, just a single cocktail shrimp from the super market. put it in a pair of pantyhose and throw her in. once everything is ready.

might be worth pm-ing sniperhank and asking, i know he is a vast encyclopedia of knowledge and knows alot about this

 

[ndw]

Ok I will do that thank you

 

[Ingy]

Or you can dose with pure ammonia.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[ndw]

I've read you can also do it by just adding live rock and sand? Is that true or is it not very effective

 

[Ingy]

Adding sand and rocks that already have a BB build up, results in some bacteria die-off. that small amount of dying bacteria will give a small amount of ammonia, feeding other bacteria. Unfortunately it is not enough to feed enough bacteria to then support livestock. So adding another ammonia source is really needed. I prefer the ammonia dosing method as it is much cleaner (as compared to letting a cocktail shrimp rot in the tank).