20" cube build and a bit of history

nine8taco · Jan 21, 2016

here is the finished product, now the long wait for all this dead rock to get populated with bacteria and actually cycle (the rock has been in water to give it time to leech phosphates since september and i added a piece of live rock to the sump a week ago once the tank got set up)

CastAway · Jan 21, 2016

A work of art, seriously! Awesome!

Jmcdaniel0 · Jan 21, 2016

CastAway said:
A work of art, seriously! Awesome!

I was on the fence with the canopy, but it turned out really nice!

Reeflogic · Jan 21, 2016

Very nice!! Gave me a great idea for my 30 AIO!!

Rob.D · Jan 21, 2016

Dude, this is turning out pretty sweet!

KJ · Jan 21, 2016

Great job!

nine8taco · Jan 21, 2016

Thank you, thank you, thank you all very much i really appreciate all the love! I have never started with dry rock before would yall go with the piece of shrimp, ghost feeding or some dr tims to kick start the cycle?

nine8taco · Jan 21, 2016

Reeflogic said:
Very nice!! Gave me a great idea for my 30 AIO!!

thank you! If you want any pics or aything like that just let me know!

cale0721 · Jan 21, 2016

That's sweet !

KJ · Jan 21, 2016

nine8taco said:
I have never started with dry rock before would yall go with the piece of shrimp, ghost feeding or some dr tims to kick start the cycle?

Stage 1: Ammonia Cycle

Ammonia is the first thing that forms when something rots. It is a waste product in nearly all creatures as well. Instead of using a fish to start the cycle just use some food. Anything that is all natural and uncooked works just fine. Table shrimp that is uncooked works great. Drop it on the sand so it is in view. The shrimp should begin to rot within a couple hours or more. Let this shrimp rot until it is completely gone. If you are curious what your ammonia levels are, go ahead and take some tests. Keep track of the results as the shrimp rots. The smaller the food gets the more ammonia should be present in your water column and pretty soon should be off the charts. This will stay high for a while, but then start to drop. As soon as the ammonia starts to drop you will see a rise in Nitrite, you are now on the next stage.

Stage 2: Nitrite Cycle

Ammonia when broken down by bacteria becomes Nitrite, which is still a toxin. As your Nitrites rise your Ammonia will drop, drop, and keep dropping as long as you haven’t added any animals. Keep up with testing to observe your progress. Eventually your Ammonia will be very low and your nitrites will peak out until it starts feeding a different type of bacteria that turns it into Nitrates. Once your first signs of Nitrates are seen you are on the next stage.

Stage 3: Nitrate Cycle

Nitrates are removed within the live rock deep inside in all of the deep pours. This hidden bacteria consumes the nitrate and creates nitrogen gas as a byproduct. The nitrogen gas rises in the water column and escapes into the air. When one gas leave, another enters. Oxygen is then infused into the water. After the Nitrates start to dissipate your oxygen will increase and you will be ready for the intermission:

Chriscrna · Jan 22, 2016

Looks great! Not sure if albuterol will kickstart your cycle tho....

Jmcdaniel0 · Jan 22, 2016

Haha @KJ has it right. I use pure ammonia for my cycling. You can pick that up anywhere. And it's cheap.

nine8taco · Jan 22, 2016

Shrimp it is then! And apparently some albuterol haha

nine8taco · Jan 23, 2016

does anyone know where to get dr tims locally? or is it only online?

seased · Jan 24, 2016

Looks great - I'm looking forward to seeing you stock it in the coming weeks.

Reefrookie220 · Jan 24, 2016

If your going with bottle bacteria check out seachem's stability, its available locally and is a 7 day thing. Fill the tank slap an ammonia badge on there dose stability and add fish. Just keep your regimen for that entire 7 days.

cee · Jan 24, 2016

It looks great, neat idea with the end table and all.

I've established many tanks with seafood or ammonia and a bit of live sand or small chunk of LR from an established tank. It doesn't take much. I wouldn't do anything to try to rush it in 1 week, though.

Dave