Help on Cycling a Tank

[Billybatz9]

Hey guys,

I added saltwater, dry sand, and i think dead rock that has a coralife algae on there. So maybe it's not soo dead. But I doubt there's much living organisms in the rock.

Anyways, what steps should I take in cycling my tank? Should I add some calamari, shrimp, ammonia, etc? I said calamari because I have calamari strips in my freezer. Lol

[sepulvd]

U can add a piece of shrimp or some flake food

[snowflake_clown]

You can add the calamari strips. I'd recommend dropping it in for a few days until your ammonia reaches 2 parts per million. Then take it out and let the nitrogen cycle begin.

[coralsnaked]

I like 5 ppm ammonia then remove. Wait two weeks and ghost feed again...2 wks more ghost feed again,. this assures the greatest bacterial population possible in a 6 wks period. Then start testing and when ammonia and nitrites are zero and nitrates are +20ppm do a 20% water change and add your CUC

[Billybatz9]

So shrimp or ghost feed? Lol and when do I test for ammonia after putting in the shrimp or food?

[hampsterblade]

Test at your convenience. I like to test every couple days, mostly because I'm impatient and like to watch the numbers get smaller each day.