how the heck do I cycle?

[waffle]

I'm way ahead of myself on this one and i'll probably get a million different answers but I'm all ears on how to properly cycle my 125 with a 55 fuge/sump

[crister13]

Put a dead shrimp or a couple for that size tank in a net and put it in the tank. You can also dose pure ammonia. Fish in cycles work but are cruel as they burn the fishes gills.

[JustinKBreen]

^ that is it in a nut shell. Test water for ammonia the first week then check for the nitrite and nitrate spikes.

[waffle]

How long to keep the shrimp in there? With live rock and live sand right?

[JustinKBreen]

I say leave it until you can't stand the rotting smell.

[waffle]

Lmao! I approx how long will it take

[JustinKBreen]

I was one of the not so smart people who started a tank before joining. My research has led me to believe the shrimp or pure ammonia dosing to be best.

I used bottled bacteria and I guess I got lucky as it worked and all three original fish and inverts I added lived.

[TheTodd]

There is also Dr Tims "One & Only". Other store-bought bacteria products do not seem to always work, but I tried this and it worked great for me. Lots of info on their site.

[Ingy]

The cycle could take up to a couple months, depending on how much live Rick you've added.
Use that time for researching your stock list

[Ingy]

Don't add live Rick. He won't like it.
But live rock is another story.

[melosu58]

Cycle your salt tank - Aquarium Advice

[waffle]

Originally Posted by Ingy

The cycle could take up to a couple months, depending on how much live Rick you've added.
Use that time for researching your stock list

Sounds good to me, I'm assuming live rock will help so the more the better?

[Flreefer]

Originally Posted by waffle

Sounds good to me, I'm assuming live rock will help so the more the better?

Yes, more live rock will make the tank cycle faster, because it already houses some of the beneficial bacteria you are trying to establish.

[waffle]

Thanks for the help everyone awesome website btw.. planning on starting cycle by the winter. Slow and steady