quick cycle Question

honestly now....about how long into a cycle does it take for algea and what not to bloom!
i added NSW to start off the tank all params are in check
and the only part of the cycle visible so far was really cloudy water!
the tank is Crystal Clear now
the rock in their is not live! it was comnpletely dead (base rock)
and so was the sand......
was the cycle super quick becuz of the natural (already) salt water?
plz help me in figuring out:)

All params are in check? What does that mean? Give the levels. In check to one person may not be to another. Natural water as in from the ocean? I don't know what kind of cycle that would go through. Is there a reason why you chose to use dead rock instead of live? Of course later on what was dead will be come live but the live would help your cycle now.

i didnt have the $ for the salt mix and i was already at the Lfs 6g of oceans (yes from the ocean) water was only 2.00$ so why not? i just wanted water in the tank since i promised you all pics on my other post.
i have some LR rubble in my HOB filter thats is!
but i mean the water i crystal clear........
you think since the water was natural, pouring it into a tank with dead rock caused a mini cycle? and is good?? lol
i honestly dont know!
this is only the 2nd SW tank iv ever set up the 1st was torn down within 1.5months

I really don't know the answer to that. I would test the water for nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, pH, salinity and go from there. If you don't have a test kit take a sample to your LFS.

Just so ya know...you paid $12 for 6 gallon of water. I pay $19.95 for salt mix for 55 gallon.

6gallons total was only 2 bucks not 2$ a gallon hehe i would pay that much for water!!!;)
i have a test kit its just that im at work and cant test anything...
and last time i checked everything was at 0
and my SG was like 1.025 i think those are the right #'s

Hmm hopefully more ppl will chime in...thanks beanerz!

Do you have any living creatures in this tank? if not of course no ammonia your just holding a tank of saltwater.

"you think since the water was natural, pouring it into a tank with dead rock caused a mini cycle? and is good??"

no.

^...ok so any thoughts? help?

read 08can-am's thread its all there way too much to keep repeating.

is there anything in the tank to create ammonia?

^ nope! im thinkin of getting somthin but its WAY to soon to throw anything in the tank right now. all i have is LR rubble in the filter and thats it!

My tank just came to life with diatoms this last week. Like said above follow my thread. You are goin to need some sand or rock out of an established tank. I doubt you're ready

throw a piece of raw cocktail shrimp in there. That'll get it movin

^ thats exactly what i was going to mention but didnt want to sound dumb Ha!
ill do that once i get home to day!
but how long should i leave it in the tank?
thanks pope!

I'd change it out when it stinks, and test for standard cycle parameters. ammonia > nitrite > nitrate.

about 3 months until it dissapears lol I did my 1st tank with the decaying shrimp method until I found a better way.
LR
LS
dirty cheato
seed water
stability
you could still do the last 3.

lol yeah or until it stinks:)

^ great advice thanks:)
i will post updates when done.

dirty chaeto... funny concept. You'll be cycling AND overrun with pods in no time.

thats actually a pretty kool idea!
im looking into that whole mandarin thing....
and will need a ish load of pods.......wont be for a cpl mnths though

I had dirty chaeto in my tank when I started. Emerald crabs ate it all up when I had them though. Little ba$tards!

theyll take that down but not your GHA huh?.......

alkomist wrote:

thats actually a pretty kool idea!
im looking into that whole mandarin thing....
and will need a ish load of pods.......wont be for a cpl mnths though

From what I been reading, some of the ORA ones won't eat pods at all.

you have a link the the "buy" page?
i wanna see how much they really are
or how much a pair would be not that i want a pair in a 5.5g just wondering

you gotta find a local distributor to order for you. I was told 80 for a pair

not bad.....were the hell can i find a local distributor?
i wouldnt even know were to look......the lfs?