Cycling Questions...

[Rborgia]

1.) At what point in a newly cycling tank do you add "clean up crews"?

2.) Once things settle after the cycle, do you clean out the tank of excess algae? Or just let the snails, crabs etc... do their thing?

3.) I have approx 20-30lbs of rock curing in a spare basement tank right now. I have an additional 50 pounds coming next week, should I cure the second batch in the show tank seperate from the basement tank to prevent any further die off on the rock in the basement? And add the basement rock to the show tank after the show tank cycles?

4.) How much does this cold weather affect the LR? I had the 20-30 pounds shipped and it was really cold when I got it.

Thanks

Rich

 

[House of Laughter]

Rich,

all rock with life in it has die off in the shipping regardless of temp - colder, though, doen't make it any better, so you should expect that the rock will need to be cycled.

If you have no animals in the new tank with the previously cured live rock, I would put the new rock into that tank and allow it to fully cure -

I never waited to put in my clean up crew, but I never read what the best way to do would be also. I always felt that the clean up crew would eat some of the die off.

You will find that regardless of cycle etc, you will have to do some routine maintenance on your tank when it comes to algea. So, I would lave it and decide how much of it you want to have in your tank - the more concerned you are about the algea, the more maintenance you will have to do - I let the clean up crew do thier duty and don't worry much about the algea - except on the viewing panel of the glass, for mr that has to be spotless.

Hope that helps,

House

 

[cali_reef]

I agreed with what Jim recommends on the rocks. As for the "clean up" crew, I don't think any animal can live happily in your tank if the Ammonia and NO2 levels are high, you might want to wait until those two are in the acceptable range. Doing some water changes will reduce the levels but it may also prolong the ?cycling? process if too much of the bacteria colonies are disturbed.

 

[Rborgia]

Thanks guys...

I will hold off on the "Clean Up Crew" till the cycle is a little further along. And, I will cycle the Show tank with the new order of rock which is coming next week and add the existing rock after both cycles are complete.

Thanks for your input...

Rich

 

[jhale]

definitely wait to add any snails and hermits.
snails are incredibly sensitive to water changes, and nothing likes to live in polluted water, which is what you will have till the cycle is over.