24gallon nano

[milkshake]

I recently purchased a 24 gallon nano tank. What is a good product that is out there to break in the tank? I mean so far as
beneficial bacteria and getting it ready to put in zoanthids? I already have a few small pieces of live rock to put in. I know that this will help kick it off. I will also be adding live aragonite sand.
I recently went to one of our reef club meetings and thought I heard somone say something about a product that they can add to the fresh RO saltwater to stabalize the tank. I just cant remember what it was.

[redhawk44cb]

Hey. What Richard was talking about was BIO-Spira.
Here are some links to info and stores:

http://www.marineland.com/science/nspira.asp

http://fishstoretn.com/bio_spira.html

http://www.elmersaquarium.com/h125bio_spira.htm

Colin

-p.s.- If you are considering ordering some hard to find zoa's, let me know and we might be able to split shipping.

[milkshake]

So...I can add this to the 24 gallon (along with the aragonite sand and live rock) and within a couple of days I can add zoanthids? If so, that's some good $#!)

[redhawk44cb]

I've heard that Dave at Kermit's adds it and immediately adds fish. You ought to PM him or start a thread on the club forum and see what they think.

Colin

[smy168]

best advice is to just take your time and cycle, I've watched people use all these market stuff and in the end a reef system needs to mature and cycle on it's own. As far as using bagged live sand...don't do it. there are absolutely no beneficial bacteria in them. Live sand from a bag has no way of keeping bacteria alive with no temp control and oxygen, all they did was market it towards hobbyist like us using words like, "alive, beneficial bacteria etc etc." there are NO logical ways for bacteria to stay alive in a sealed bag on a store shelf.

Use live rock and cycle natuarlly, trust me when you spend the kind of money on these corals that you will eventually spend, you don't want to risk a crash or death.

good luck.

[noschmo]

I agree with smy168. There is no logical way that bacteria could stay alive in those bags. Its a big rip IMHO. Set up the tank with live rock, add a cooked schrimp and watch the cycle take place. Use the time to learn about keepind proper parameters and getting use to manageing a tank. Rush and your in for trouble. I cycle for three to four weeks before I add anything.