Cycling tank with Aquaforest

[marco fish]

Good afternoon, I recently started to cycle my aquarium with Aquaforest.
Total water volume 130 gallons brought from 20 miles offshore of Key West, Fl
Dry cured pukani rock about 70 lbs total, in a bare bottom tank.
5 drops of Bio S daily for now 15 days
Running AF carbon, AF phosphate minus and AF Life Bio Fil in a AF 110 reactor
150 Vertex protein skimmer
Reef Octopus varios 6 running full throttle
2 Maxspect 230 gyres
My question is, what else do I need to put in the water to achieve a good cycle?

 

[120reefkeeper]

Good afternoon, I recently started to cycle my aquarium with Aquaforest.
Total water volume 130 gallons brought from 20 miles offshore of Key West, Fl
Dry cured pukani rock about 70 lbs total, in a bare bottom tank.
5 drops of Bio S daily for now 15 days
Running AF carbon, AF phosphate minus and AF Life Bio Fil in a AF 110 reactor
150 Vertex protein skimmer
Reef Octopus varios 6 running full throttle
2 Maxspect 230 gyres
My question is, what else do I need to put in the water to achieve a good cycle?

You need an ammonia source. This can be achieved several ways.

1. Using a raw shrimp.

2. Using Pure ammonia not one from the grocery store. Has to be pure ammonia.

3. Using a damsel type fish ( this is frowned upon)

You’ll need to test daily for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. This way you can observe the cycle and you’ll know when it’s complete.

There are many places to look up Nitrogen cycle in a marine Aquarium. And or YouTube videos.

You need to dose your Bio s along with the ammonia source.

Most people do the raw shrimp method.

If you look online you’ll find a ton of info on it. [emoji4]

 

[Anirban]

Get this and dose for ammonia source..
https://www.amazon.com/DrTims-Aquatics-Ammonium-chloride-bottle/dp/B006MP4QG6

 

[marco fish]

You need an ammonia source. This can be achieved several ways.

1. Using a raw shrimp.

2. Using Pure ammonia not one from the grocery store. Has to be pure ammonia.

3. Using a damsel type fish ( this is frowned upon)

You’ll need to test daily for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. This way you can observe the cycle and you’ll know when it’s complete.

There are many places to look up Nitrogen cycle in a marine Aquarium. And or YouTube videos.

Thank

You need an ammonia source. This can be achieved several ways.

1. Using a raw shrimp.

2. Using Pure ammonia not one from the grocery store. Has to be pure ammonia.

3. Using a damsel type fish ( this is frowned upon)

You’ll need to test daily for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. This way you can observe the cycle and you’ll know when it’s complete.

There are many places to look up Nitrogen cycle in a marine Aquarium. And or YouTube videos.

You need to dose your Bio s along with the ammonia source.

Most people do the raw shrimp method.

If you look online you’ll find a ton of info on it. [emoji4]

You need an ammonia source. This can be achieved several ways.

1. Using a raw shrimp.

2. Using Pure ammonia not one from the grocery store. Has to be pure ammonia.

3. Using a damsel type fish ( this is frowned upon)

You’ll need to test daily for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. This way you can observe the cycle and you’ll know when it’s complete.

There are many places to look up Nitrogen cycle in a marine Aquarium. And or YouTube videos.

You need to dose your Bio s along with the ammonia source.

Most people do the raw shrimp method.

If you look online you’ll find a ton of info on it. [emoji4]

Thank You 120 Reefkeeper
I lost everything during Hurricane Irma due to evacuation. I even had a 15 year old maroon clownfish that had been with me from Miami to Key West and from a 40 gallon tank to my current 100 gallon. I was and I am using full AF products. Very happy with the results from using them but I had never cycled a new tank with them. I will pull out a shrimp right now and throw it in there.
Do I let it disintegrate in there?
Should I run my lights on?
I have like 20 lbs of rock in my sump, should I run those lights?
Thank You again
Sincerely Marco

 

[marco fish]

Get this and dose for ammonia source..
https://www.amazon.com/DrTims-Aquatics-Ammonium-chloride-bottle/dp/B006MP4QG6

Thank You Anirban
I have shrimp in my freezer, do I spend the money on the Dr.Tims? It doesn’t bother me which one is better?
Thank Sincerely Marco

 

[Anirban]

Thank You Anirban
I have shrimp in my freezer, do I spend the money on the Dr.Tims? It doesn’t bother me which one is better?
Thank Sincerely Marco

Its personal choice. Both works. I like ammonium chloride as its readymade and don't need to wait for the shrimp to start rotting. If you have the shrimp then just just toss it in.

 

[marco fish]

Its personal choice. Both works. I like ammonium chloride as its readymade and don't need to wait for the shrimp to start rotting. If you have the shrimp then just just toss it in.

Gotcha, then I might just order it. These shrimp are frozen and processed, probably would take even longer. I am not in a hurry just want to cycle the tank right. I have read a lot about dry rock and people struggling with it. Should I run any lights for now?
Thank you

 

[120reefkeeper]

Gotcha, then I might just order it. These shrimp are frozen and processed, probably would take even longer. I am not in a hurry just want to cycle the tank right. I have read a lot about dry rock and people struggling with it. Should I run any lights for now?
Thank you

You don’t need to run your lights. That’s up to you. [emoji4]

 

[Anirban]

Gotcha, then I might just order it. These shrimp are frozen and processed, probably would take even longer. I am not in a hurry just want to cycle the tank right. I have read a lot about dry rock and people struggling with it. Should I run any lights for now?
Thank you

Which dry rock you used? Generally they leach phosphate if you have not cure them before.

 

[marco fish]

Which dry rock you used? Generally they leach phosphate if you have not cure them before.

Most of it is pukani that was in my tank before Hurricane Irma, the picture I posted previously, which I cured after in Rodi water and rain water. I put several pumps in the curing tank and drained water more than 6 times.
I really do appreciate the time that you Anirban and 120reefkeeper are helping me with
Sincerely Marco

 

[Anirban]

Most of it is pukani that was in my tank before Hurricane Irma, the picture I posted previously, which I cured after in Rodi water and rain water. I put several pumps in the curing tank and drained water more than 6 times.
I really do appreciate the time that you Anirban and 120reefkeeper are helping me with
Sincerely Marco

Did you check the po4 after the last water change during curing?

 

[marco fish]

Did you check the po4 after the last water change during curing?

I did not. But I have Red Sea pro for P04 and N03. I have not done any testing since I put the water in the tank and started. I have Hanna checkers for Alk and PH, and AF for calcium and magnesium. Do you think that I should test everything to see what’s going on?

 

[Anirban]

I did not. But I have Red Sea pro for P04 and N03. I have not done any testing since I put the water in the tank and started. I have Hanna checkers for Alk and PH, and AF for calcium and magnesium. Do you think that I should test everything to see what’s going on?

Just keep testing the PO4 and NO3 once or twice a week.

 

[marco fish]

Just keep testing the PO4 and NO3 once or twice a week.

Ok I’ll start testing tomorrow and see what I get I’ll let you know what the results!