More Info Please nano cube reef tank

[Sgt_USMC]

Hi People... I need help setting up my New Tank ... I will be getting it on the 19th of this month ... I need step by step directions as all the books I have do NOT say the same thing... So any help would be grate... some tricks to get the 2 or 3-week cycle cut in 1/2??? And what are the easiest Live stock to get started with...



Semper Fi !

[Rob]

sounds like its time to backup a bit..
setting up the tank, ok, the podcast shows found on this site will give you a wealth of information, there is no "one way" to setup the tank, it depends on the type of tank, the size, what your going to keep in it, etc. learn what you can then you have to build your plan to suite your needs.. again, the hours of audio and video shows foudn here will guide you through each part of this.

as far as cutting the cycle, well the cycle is a natural process that must occur and needs to happen at its own pace. one of the most important things in this hobby is patience, you need to take your time and let your tank happen as it can, now as you want or when you want it... any attempts to force stuff to go faster almost always results in failure.

heres my suggestion for you...
download iTunes from here
Apple - iPod + iTunes

once installed go to the podcast directory and subscribe to the Talkingreef Podcast
download the shows and start listening and taking notes. this will take a while but will help you a great deal. as you go through this, come here and ask any questions on stuff you need clarification on, we will be here to help you in any way we can.

im sorry, i know a step by step is what you want, but you really need to build that, and we will help

[iglowce]

i think rob did a great job of guiding you. here are my two cents.. be patient, plan ahead of what you wanna have in your tank eventually, and do A LOT of research... dont follow my footstep and buy impulsively =]

[Sgt_USMC]

I have Book's upon Books and all of them Differ from each other ... One will say to do something then the other will say not to do it.... and the books are on the same thing just by different people... that’s why it's bugging me ... As for a plan, I have one ... Well To start It's 14GL Nano Cube with all the trimmings. Live send, live rock, want to have crostations and a small reef. Maybe 2 small fish and that’s it. I have a 100GL tank But it's fresh H2O and I have Discus in them So im not touching that lol ... I will go and do the podcast...

But I hear that some people are using (Gold Fish) ??? to get the cycle going ... Is that true?

[CarmieJo]

Some LFS, people & books recommend using hardy fish like damsels but it is cruel to put them into a toxic environment. I don't think that goldfish would live at all in a SW tank. What you can do to jump start the cycle is add a raw cocktail shrimp to your tank and leave it in there for a couple of days. (Perhaps the goldfish idea came from this as a dead fish would work the same way.) As the shrimp decomposes it adds NH4 to your tank and this is the beginning of the cycle.

[Rob]

Sgt_USMC, yes you are right...
getting information can be hard, if you want, bring the questions here, create a thread for it and you can get all of our thoughts and experiences on the issue then you can make a call..

[Bernie]

Trust me on this one brother, the 3 Ps have a 4th... and that is Patience. Trying to jumpstart the biological processes in a reef tank are just gonna speed up the downward spiraling balance in your checking account.

However, to hasten things along ever so slightly, you can use live sand and add live rock at the same time. DON'T add any critters for a good 6 to 8 (some argue 12) weeks atleast until you have some sort of evidence your cycle has ended. The live sand and live rock will bring along some beneficial organisms that will help the process along and will keep you from condeming an innocent damsel or two to death due to toxic water parameters.

As for the contradictory methods you read about, just post a few of the questions and we'll all try to do our darndest to give you the straight dope and get you back on target. With the number of seasoned reefers on the site, I'm sure there aren't too many processes we haven't tried, failed at, or succeeded with...

Semper Fi, brother!

[Sgt_USMC]

Originally Posted by Bernie

.

As for the contradictory methods you read about, just post a few of the questions and we'll all try to do our darndest to give you the straight dope and get you back on target. With the number of seasoned reefers on the site, I'm sure there aren't too many processes we haven't tried, failed at, or succeeded with...

Semper Fi, brother!

One book talks about using live ocean H20 (live H20) that is already cycled and just start out with that and then all you need to do is just add fish and all ... But it's not cheap as 4G of live H20 is $20....

But some people say not to do that ... what would you say ...

[Seahorsedreams]

You mean they are saying all you need to do was add NSW to start the cycle? If so, that's not going to cut it. If I start up a new tank I do use rock and some water and the sand from an existing system (except my seahorse tanks) and then throw in an ammonia source.

[Rob]

there is a whole podcast on using NSW, there are times when its ok, and times when its not.

if you have to buy it its usually not cost effective, and making your own is cheaper

listen to the show on NSW and you will get all the pro's and con's and when you should and shouldn't do it

[Sgt_USMC]

What I meant is that a Book is telling me is that I can just Get NSW and that’s it, I will not need to cycle the tank or if It dose it will be only a day or two ... I do not get that... How can it cycle in that short amount of time ... the other thing I was told in a pet store (That only has salt-water fish): if I fill the tank with NSW and add Live rock and Live sand I do not deed to cycle the tank and I can add fish or other stuff in 2 or 3 days...

So is any one tired of my questions ?

[Rob]

lol.. no we are not tired, we love them..

let me start by saying i disagree with that recommendation, and would not recommend following it.

start with your SW and LR, let the tank cycle, after 4-6 weeks of monitoring you should be confident you are in the clear, then proceed..

[Seahorsedreams]

Originally Posted by Rob

let me start by saying i disagree with that recommendation, and would not recommend following it.

Agreed... and with that recommendation I would question any "advice" that source has to offer.

[Sgt_USMC]

Thank you .... so why do they say I can use NSW and add fish ?