Ammonia cycling a new tank.

[ramsey]

I do agree though, if you're using LR, you really don't need to dose ammonia. Either the LR is going to give you the ammonia you need to start the cycle, or the LR is going to be cured already and it'll likely have enough bacteria on it so you won't have much of a cycle. If you wanted to, you could dose just a small amount and see if it results in an ammonia reading or a nitrate reading. Like everyone else has said, you can also use fish food to do this.

[ramsey]

I agree, just how much should you put in?

I've never had to add anything to cycle a tank as its going to happen and a lesson in patience is one that will pay dividends later on.

And as you mentioned, there will be die off, and that's where you get a strong cycle with live rock that doesn't weather the transport or new tank well. If the rock and sand is sterile on the front end, any addition to the tank will get the process started. In fact if caution and patience is practiced you can start much earlier, adding that cuc or small fish. If there is nothing to die off, you won't get a cycle. It starts and filtration grows with the slow addition of livestock.

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I have some drops and it says on the label. I added what was on the label and got the 2 PPM of ammonia I was looking for.

I think all the methods work, and you're absolutely right about patience. In this hobby you're either going to have patience, learn patience or fail miserably. For me, being forced to be patient is something I like about this hobby. I felt like its made me a more patient person overall.

Back to ammonia dosing, I was just curious why everyone was hating on it. I guess for someone new, the fish food method is better if you need to cycle the tank. It's be a lot harder to mess up. However, if you need help, I'm an expert. I was testing an auto fish feeder the other night and dropped about 200 pellets in my 38g tank. Needless to say, I put a paper plate under the feeder for further testing. Nothing like siphoning out pellets and doing a water change at 2AM.

[allan]

Not hating, and I agree there are several paths to the end game.

There are quite a few folks on here that could set up a tank on Monday and start stocking by the weekend. But that isn't something I'd recommend for a new dude. That's all.

In fact, didn't he say he had a few pounds of rock, and that he would get another 40-50 lbs?

If so, now it's just a waiting game till he gets the rest of the rock. If its sterile, no prob, if its not...




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[ramsey]

Not hating, and I agree there are several paths to the end game.

There are quite a few folks on here that could set up a tank on Monday and start stocking by the weekend. But that isn't something I'd recommend for a new dude. That's all.

In fact, didn't he say he had a few pounds of rock, and that he would get another 40-50 lbs?

If so, now it's just a waiting game till he gets the rest of the rock. If its sterile, no prob, if its not...




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I see. Yeah, it's certainly one of the more advanced techniques for cycling. My first cycle ever was from LR. I think a newb should have to do that at least the first time as a right of passage! I remember staring into my tank everyday for weeks waiting for signs of life. Also, there's nothing like the rotten egg smell from new uncured LR in you're tank.

If you're still waiting on more LR, I wouldn't worry about trying to cycle your tank yet. With your water volume, I think any coral hitch hikers would be fine because a few lbs in a 90g is not going to spike ammonia (assuming the rock is uncured).

[Reef Swimmer]

The live rock is cured and of the 6 pieces I got 3 have coraline on them.

[KING]

Or just put fish in now an fast...

[Reef Swimmer]

No fish till I got 60 to 70 lbs of Tonga in my tank.

[footballdude2k3]

Since you're seeding it with cured rock, you really don't need ammonia

[Reef Swimmer]

I'm going to dose ammonia to my tank as well as add fritz 9. Once I get all my live rock.