Newb has questions - first tank ever.

[MissT]

IF you are patient with letting the tank cycle properly and don't add fish and cleanup crew the day after you are reading no ammonia, no nitrites... in other words, do everything as SLOWLY as you can possibly stand, you will be on track to having a successful reef tank.
Read this to pass your days:

[IMG]file:///C:/Users/Owner/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/Users/Owner/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg[/IMG]

[atxchris1234]

Okay, Slow as possible, got it.


Question...

How long is it going to take for some ammonia to start showing? as of now im still at zero ammonia. Is there a trick to at least starting the cycle? Should I scrub all the dead stuff off of the live rock? that would certainly get some waste flowing about would it not?
Should I remove the paper filter? Maybe its filtering out too much waste already...
The suspense is killing me here..

[ismvel]

I have always put a cocktail shrimp (the frozen ones you find at the supermarket to eat) in the tank for a couple of days, and that kicks off the cycle. I have never put any live animals in the tank to start the cycle.

Or you can just feed your tank, that will cause an ammonia ****e because there is nothing there to eat it up.

[Bill S]

Don't forget, take your time. Best advice ever.

Did you miss this post?

Seriously, plan on this process taking WEEKS, not days. Otherwise, just reach into your wallet, take out a handful of $20 bills, and tear them up. There are no real shortcuts in this hobby.

[stoneroller]

I'll reiterate the point, patience is the reefer's best friend.

[erikharrison]

Chris, test once a week. This is the hardest part, yet most important part. You have to be able to walk away from it and not over analyze. I know it's the worst, but you have so much to learn, I would read up on as much literature as you can. If you feel the need to buy a fish, buy a book instead. There is no instant gratification in this hobby, everything comes with growth! Test once a week, for a couple of months. You may not ever have a ****e, but this gives time for the live rock to seed the rest of your tank and let all of your beneficial microfauna grow.

[ismvel]

Did you miss this post?

Seriously, plan on this process taking WEEKS, not days. Otherwise, just reach into your wallet, take out a handful of $20 bills, and tear them up. There are no real shortcuts in this hobby.

Bill is right, I have had 3 tanks...2 of which I feel I have done correctly...and I cycled those tanks for about 5 weeks each before I knew I was ready, and to verify, I took my water to LFS to test.

The new tank I set up here in the next couple of months will be no different. I have had rocks curing in the garage for a couple of weeks now...and I have a 29 gallon filled with about 40 - 50 lbs of rock. I will throw my rock in, a couple peices from the 29 gallon and let nature takes its course for the following 5 weeks (possibly a little shorter because the rocks are already curing, but I am in NO rush)...

[merlin0883]

possible to take 1-2 wks for ammonia to register. More likely, 4-6 days, if ur rock is indeed cured well, but there is stuff in it that will decay, if u give it time.