questions that I just dont get?

[yellow tang]

I proubly ask to many questions...

This pet store told me that I need cycle my tank for 8 weeks and even longer with cured rock is this true?

Another pet store told me that I need put some fish food like krill in the tank to cycle the it is this true?

will cleaning the cainster's media twice a week with hot freashwater help stop nitrate build up?

For a hopsital tank would a 100 per cent water change once a week be good enough?

So far my tank has cycled for two and a half weeks.

[hypertech]

I proubly ask to many questions...

This pet store told me that I need cycle my tank for 8 weeks and even longer with cured rock is this true?

Possibly, yes. But, better than guessing at a number of weeks is to test and monitor your tank. First, there will be an ammonia spike. Then this will go down and you will see nitrites go up. Then this will go down and nitrates will go up. When nitrates are down after all the other spikes, the tank is cycled and ready to start slowly stocking. Remember, slowly. The tank is now adjusted to having no fish in it. Each time you add a fish, it will take time for the bacteria to balance out. If you add too much too quick, it will cycle again and could kill your livestock int eh process.


Another pet store told me that I need put some fish food like krill in the tank to cycle the it is this true?

Its not completely necessary but some do it for a source of ammonia to kick start the cycle. I've never done it.


will cleaning the cainster's media twice a week with hot freashwater help stop nitrate build up?

Canister filters are generally not recommended for reef tanks. Live rock + water changes is the minimum you need. A skimmer is even better.


For a hopsital tank would a 100 per cent water change once a week be good enough?

I don't think so. Its better to have a small filter on it. This may actually be counter productive if you are medicating as the medicine will be diluted. Also, it may shock the fish. Large water changes are good to reduce contaminants, but that may be a bit much on a stressed fish.


So far my tank has cycled for two and a half weeks.

:biggthumpup:

[yellow tang]

Possibly, yes. But, better than guessing at a number of weeks is to test and monitor your tank. First, there will be an ammonia spike. Then this will go down and you will see nitrites go up. Then this will go down and nitrates will go up. When nitrates are down after all the other spikes, the tank is cycled and ready to start slowly stocking. Remember, slowly. The tank is now adjusted to having no fish in it. Each time you add a fish, it will take time for the bacteria to balance out. If you add too much too quick, it will cycle again and could kill your livestock int eh process.



Its not completely necessary but some do it for a source of ammonia to kick start the cycle. I've never done it.



Canister filters are generally not recommended for reef tanks. Live rock + water changes is the minimum you need. A skimmer is even better.



I don't think so. Its better to have a small filter on it. This may actually be counter productive if you are medicating as the medicine will be diluted. Also, it may shock the fish. Large water changes are good to reduce contaminants, but that may be a bit much on a stressed fish.



:biggthumpup:


How many water changes would you recommend on a hospital tank? And thank you for all of the great advice.

[hypertech]

I've never done a long term hospital tank.

That said, I would test the nitrates, nitrites and ammonia and if anything gets elevated, do a 50% water change.

[Jonty]

When I have setup a tank with "cured live rock" I have seen little or no cycle in the past. usually a week or less, of course the definition of cured live rock is very broad. I am referring to rock that has sat for several months in a vat with a skimmer and low lighting just stewing away.

[David Grigor]

There is no need to guess at cycle time. It will vary depending on the type of rock you choose ( dead or live ) plus if it was in transfer for long. The right answer is, test ammonia until it's zero, then start testing nitrite until zero. Then your done. Do as large of a water change as possible ( near 100% ) to remove the nitrate. If you do decide to test for nitrates ( shouldn't be necessary just ammonia/nitrite ) but if you do be sure nitrites are zero first because the nitrite present will interfere with the test and will ready high.

You can add some fish food or frozen if you wish. However there is likely enough dead stuff in/on the rock to start the cycle. Likely no need.

Changing filter will have nothing to do with the nitrate reduction . It will accumulate no matter what during cycling because any anerobic bacteria are the last to mature and that is 5 weeks plus most tanks can't keep up with nitrate unless you have a deep sandbed becuase there will be not enough anerobic ( low-oxygen zones ). Water changes would be more beneficial for nitrate reduction AFTER the cycle is over. A tank with liverock will have plenty of biological filtration. Only thing that may be benneficial is for mechanical filtration such as carbon.

[Alunai]

Good explanations. :biggthumpup:

[SvRider]

I always use like temp. water to my tank for rinsing and on my salt tanks i use saltwater for rinse. Wanna rinse detritus away but not bacteria.

[PaulTushaus]

while were on this topic I recently pulled a bunch of aptasia infested rock out of my 24 gallon aquapod, acid washed it, dried for 1 week, then started cycling it. I am not running a skimmer on it just maxi-jet and heater, how should I proceed from this point do a 100% w/c then wait a few days and test for ammonia?? and should I add it 1 rock at a time a few days or even a week apart, or will I be fine adding all of it to the system at once?? I have 2 black clowns, pep shrimp, zoas, rics, and 8 rbtas in the tank

[yellow tang]

But wait dosent the bacteria on the filters media build up nitrates?

[danreefs]

But wait dosent the bacteria on the filters media build up nitrates?


Yes...

[Alunai]

I proubly ask to many questions...

Nope, questions are your best friend, along with research.

[Tendo]

while were on this topic I recently pulled a bunch of aptasia infested rock out of my 24 gallon aquapod, acid washed it, dried for 1 week, then started cycling it. I am not running a skimmer on it just maxi-jet and heater, how should I proceed from this point do a 100% w/c then wait a few days and test for ammonia and should I add it 1 rock at a time a few days or even a week apart, or will I be fine adding all of it to the system at once?? I have 2 black clowns, pep shrimp, zoas, rics, and 8 rbtas in the tank

You want to recycle it in another tank. IE your hospital tank. You don't want to run the risk of having a big ammonia spike and killing off your fish and coral. Your clowns would probably fine, but don't risk it. Just cycle like you would a normal tank. Once everything back to 0 stick in you display again.

If you already put the rock back. Make sure you test your ammonia daily. If spikes pretty high you want to do a big water changes probably 50%. Just watch it till everything back to 0 again.