Skipping cycle?

TX..r33f · 06/29/2012, 10:33 PM

I know, i know every one will want to say how crazy i am for even asking the question. So heres the story...I am ordering a 4gallon pico setup and want to skip the cycle. My plans are to have it bare bottom with live rock. i want to get cured live rock and see if the LFS will give me 5g of their water from the D tank. By doing this could i skip the cycle? There will be no fish in this tank only coral & maybe a shrimp. Also if any one know how to skipp the cycle step by step would you plz tell me! Trust me i would never try skipping the cycle in a bigger tank.

TX..r33f · 06/29/2012, 10:59 PM

bongarone · 06/30/2012, 12:57 AM

Transferring cured LR, sand, and livestock from one tank to another is done all the time... people size up to larger tanks, move, etc. This usually results in no cycle if done properly. Unfortunately we can't say what will happen in your specific case. Your LFS could give you uncured LR and label it as cured. Your LR could overheat during transport resulting in a bunch of die-off, creating a cycle. We just don't know.

rps3 · 06/30/2012, 03:57 AM

Cycle always happens... small or large. Some tanks have mini cycles sometimes.

ninjamini · 06/30/2012, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rps3

Cycle always happens... small or large. Some tanks have mini cycles sometimes.

Yep. You might not have one... Buy ten you might.

Don't trust the lfs buy rock from someone who keeps a tank. It's not just the cycle to worry about its also pests.

Can I point out that the cycle is when so much life occurs in the tank. Be awful if you missed it.

billdogg · 06/30/2012, 06:02 AM

You are on the right track, but I would not bother with the water. There is nothing in it that will help your tank avoid cycling if it is going to, so why bother. Using good fresh liverock alone will pretty much do the trick for you. You will almost certainly see a small cycle, but it should be quick. The biggest (or smallest?) issue will be the size of the tank. If you do a few 1g water changes over the first couple weeks all will be fine.

Good Luck!

vietnam · 06/30/2012, 07:56 AM

Reguardless, there is no way your tank will be the same as the LFS. Lots of different variables come into play. Cycle will happen eventually, this isn't a hobby you can rush into a hope for the best.

tmz · 06/30/2012, 09:55 AM

The bacteria involved in the nitrogen cycle are benthic( surface ). The water from the lfs will only import nutrients and organics with no biofilter to handle them and may spike ammonia.

06/29/2012, 10:33 PM	#1
TX..r33f Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Houston Tx :) Posts: 542	Skipping cycle? I know, i know every one will want to say how crazy i am for even asking the question. So heres the story...I am ordering a 4gallon pico setup and want to skip the cycle. My plans are to have it bare bottom with live rock. i want to get cured live rock and see if the LFS will give me 5g of their water from the D tank. By doing this could i skip the cycle? There will be no fish in this tank only coral & maybe a shrimp. Also if any one know how to skipp the cycle step by step would you plz tell me! Trust me i would never try skipping the cycle in a bigger tank.

06/30/2012, 06:02 AM	#6
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 3,619	You are on the right track, but I would not bother with the water. There is nothing in it that will help your tank avoid cycling if it is going to, so why bother. Using good fresh liverock alone will pretty much do the trick for you. You will almost certainly see a small cycle, but it should be quick. The biggest (or smallest?) issue will be the size of the tank. If you do a few 1g water changes over the first couple weeks all will be fine. Good Luck! __________________ I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound. That, my friends, is why some people appear to be smart until they start to talk. I can't help what my brain thinks! Current Tank Info: Currently I have 2 tanks - one - FOWLR _ with 4ft undulated moray and small cleanup crew, one 60g cube with softies and happyfish(reefsafe - gobies, etc.)

06/30/2012, 09:55 AM	#8
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 19,781	The bacteria involved in the nitrogen cycle are benthic( surface ). The water from the lfs will only import nutrients and organics with no biofilter to handle them and may spike ammonia. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

06/29/2012, 10:59 PM	#2
TX..r33f Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Houston Tx :) Posts: 542

06/30/2012, 12:57 AM	#3
bongarone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: California Posts: 423	Transferring cured LR, sand, and livestock from one tank to another is done all the time... people size up to larger tanks, move, etc. This usually results in no cycle if done properly. Unfortunately we can't say what will happen in your specific case. Your LFS could give you uncured LR and label it as cured. Your LR could overheat during transport resulting in a bunch of die-off, creating a cycle. We just don't know.

06/30/2012, 03:57 AM	#4
rps3 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 188	Cycle always happens... small or large. Some tanks have mini cycles sometimes.

06/30/2012, 07:56 AM	#7
vietnam Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: vietnam Posts: 126	Reguardless, there is no way your tank will be the same as the LFS. Lots of different variables come into play. Cycle will happen eventually, this isn't a hobby you can rush into a hope for the best.