Cycling Tank advice?

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th64

Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Joined
Jun 19, 2011
Messages
18
Hey all, I just started cycling my 20 gallon tank about 4 days back with about 18 lbs of live rock and 20 lbs of live sand. My levels havent spiked yet so I will probably go get a raw shirmp to toss in there like I read around the forum. My question is that I have something whiteish looking covering some parts of my live rock and not sure what it is. I dont think its a sponge so could it just be die off? Pics below... thanks!



 
it could be die off or it could be a sponge i had something similar when my tank was cycling
 
I don't know what it is but it should die off eventually. All you basically do is keep the live rock in there for a month or two and just monitor the levels, there should be spikes in ammonia nitrites and nitrates before everything is stable.
 
It`s just where there used to be coralline at and it has bleached. After your cycle is complete it will turn back to color. No concerns.
 
Sounds good... I just wanted to make sure its not something I should be worried about. Did any of you use a raw shrimp to cycle or just the live rock? Thanks guys
 
I've used just live rock on some tanks and live rock with straight ammonia on others. :)

Never did the dead shrimp method though.

Good Luck!!
 
It's gonna smell awful. Just be prepared for that.
 
It's gonna smell awful. Just be prepared for that.

Not what I was hoping to hear since its in my room lol.. well anyways another question is I have 1 250gph powerhead pointed about 75% up but my sand is still moving around on the bottom for some reason. I also have a HOB filter on the opposite corner for now (going to take it out in 2 weeks) for added water movement. Any ideas? Thanks for the help guys
 
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