How long to Cycle?

Neopimp

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Jun 9, 2014
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Sarnia
Shrimp just give the bacteria food to start with... But yes matured live rock is best. 

I used all new eco rock as well.  I was in no hurry so I just let it do its thing. Added a bit of sand and a single rock from another system... That was it.

Another time I dropped in some ammonia and it worked as well.

Lots of ways to do it
 

unibob

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Mar 15, 2012
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St Thomas
Neopimp link said:
Another time I dropped in some ammonia and it worked as well.

That's a subtle way of saying he tried peeing in his tank once or twice.
 

Jewel

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Oct 11, 2011
Location
Wingham Ontario
I used some old rock that had dried out for a month. It's been a week and I still have Amm present as well as Nitrite and Nitrate is present as well, I've used the Tims Nutrifying bacteria as well but was stumped by it, no readings at all, But it worked. I'll wait til the Amm is gone and the Nitrite as well. I think it'll be another couple of weeks.
 

Darryl_V

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Jun 29, 2011
Location
Woodstock, Ontario
A very complex question for sure.  Ty is right though....the nitrogen cycle is forever on going in our aquariums so the question is kinda miss leading to begin with.  The real question is how long till the bacteria populations grow large enough to process nutrients through the entire cycle and that question is really hard to answer with out knowing how large the nutrient load will be.  If you start with super clean dry rock and sand you may not really experience a build up of nutrients though the cycle.  You may be able to add a fish right away (one for a few weeks, and continue adding fish slowly to build up the nutrient load and subsequent bacteria).  If you use "live rock" from a store, a lot of time that rock has crazy die off so expect a large build up of nutrients through the different nitrogen cycle stages till the bacteria catch up.

Im with Jordan on the shrimp thing (why a shrimp, could be anything, why not steak), it just doesnt make sense to me.  Bacteria grow and die with the nutrient load.  Sure you will get some bacteria to grow from adding a shrimp but they will start to die soon after they are done there job.  So maybe you could time it perfect and add a fish but really if you needed the shrimp to build up a nutrient load for the bacteria (meaning your tank was lacking nutrients (die off) to build up bacteria) you could have just added a fish and feed it the shrimp (mysis kind preferably). 

My suggestion for you (starting a tank with clean dry rock) is to let it sit for a week or two.  Test ammonia, nitrite (if you have it) and nitrate (for sure).  If you dont see any of these present you are ok to slooowly start adding fish and feeding lightly.  Even if you see nitrate below 30ppm you can probably go ahead and start adding a fish.

I hope this made sense.    Oh and there is a whole algae cycle you will have to worry about next....always seems to last 3 months for me.
 

pulpfiction1

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Nitrates is at the end of the nitrogen cycle


http://www.airnitrogen.com/simple-nitrogen-cycle-explanation-how-waste-is-re-cycled-in-your-fish-tank/

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk HD
 

Jewel

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Oct 11, 2011
Location
Wingham Ontario
Could  you describe the Algea cycle in more depth Darryl? I think alot of people think they've done something wrong when Algea appears in their tank.
 

Darryl_V

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Jun 29, 2011
Location
Woodstock, Ontario
Sure.  The algae cycle happens on any new surface even if it's an established aquarium.  When I have added a new frag tank in the past it goes through the algae cycle as well.  Im sure the new surfaces also go through a bacteria cycle but it doesnt affect the system.  Any way the algae cycle seems to take longer than a bacteria cycle and its just the way I describe how different algae will grow on new surfaces.  For me it always starts with diatoms, than diatoms and cyano, just a snotty mess.  After that it generally clears up and I just get my regular bubble algae.
 
D

draper

Guest
with me it was live rock and immediate entry of snails and hermits.  2 months later added 3 damsels, 2 months later the rest.
I would attest that clownfish are a good cycling fish if you can get them cheap enough.  I raise them and have many in a 30 gallon tank with 3 foam filters, no water changes.
 
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