cichlidlover

Ok, someone I know said she used a percula clown tho cycle her tank. I thought the tank raised ocellaris clowns are the ones you should use. Am I wrong? are they the same? are they both good for cycling? can I keep either type in a group?

travie

No fish is good for cycling a tank. Fishless cycle the tank. If you buy fully cured LR, then a fishless cycle shouldn't take that long. Usually can go with one pair of clowns in a group after a tank has cycled.

pinkfloydpuffer

I agree, it's far too stressful for the fish.
And with the LR, it's just too easy to cycle fishless for even the consideration of fish-cycling.

sgould

live rock works great for cycling a tank, and doesn't jeopardize any fish's health.

Matt

Live rock is a good cycling item. It is also a great biological filter

-Matt

cichlidlover

well I didn't mean through the whole cycle. In other words, the first fish. yeah, I wouldn't risk putting fish through the cycling proccess. another thing, it's now been 1 week after i set it up. how long should it take by using a bacterial culture solution. I'm thinking another week or two. then I can maybe put a few fish in.

Angela_96

The bacteria culture solution will only cause you problems in the long run w/ SW.
The live rock/live sand will be what cycles your tank. I would wait at least 2 weeks after having -0- ammonia -0- nitrites and less than 10 on nitrates.
The SW fish are a lot more paticular on their water quality.

cichlidlover

oh well, I'll just see how it goes. how would the bacterial cultures mess it up, and how hard is it to keep live rock?

Angela_96

Not letting the live rock cycle on its own would cause problems, maybe even kill stuff on the live rock.
Live rock isn't hard to keep. If you buy cured premium rock it will cycle your tank fast.

cichlidlover

I might have to look at live rock. how much would it cost?

Angela_96

It really depends on where you plan to buy from.
I see it average about 8.00/lb here in east tn.

cichlidlover

ooooo... OUCH!!! I think I'll just wait a month!

Angela_96

lol, you can find it cheaper. Like looking on craigslist for someone, liveaquaria has live rock "bundles" that are good priced. I think I am going to get my next bunch for my 36g from live aquaria. I paid 12.99lb for mine in the 14g never again will I pay that much for live rock.

travie

In my area I can get base rock, which is the same as live rock just not as good looking, for 3.99/pound.

Mike

I wouldn't run a saltwater tank anymore without at least some live rock in it, the sump, attached refugium, etc. Is this for your 55 gallon? Liveaquaria has a 45 lb box of the good stuff for $149 which is like $3 (if I did the math right) per pound plus shipping.

Here's a link to it: http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_...pcatid=397&N=0

I've bought from them and they sent some really good rock.

cichlidlover

hmmmmmm... I'll have to think about that. It is a pretty good price. what are the other benefits?

Mike

Here ya go: http://www.fishlore.com/live_rock.htm

Matt

Mike is correct. They have numerous benefits


-Matt

cichlidlover

hmmmmmm... well, I don't plan on getting very delicate fish. and besides, my tank will be cycled before I get enough money too buy it. I could wait until like my birthday or something(july) I thought all those little inverts would be hard to take care of. I know someone who added one shrimp to hers and it threw the whole thing off. does live rock do that? because remember, I really don't know what I'm doing.would some golbies and cardinalfish need live rock?

Angela_96

Keeping the little inverts is not hard, do wait until the tank is matured though. Live rock will not cause that to happen. Gobies, and cardinal fish love the rocks so they have something to hide in.

cichlidlover

hmmm... well, I'll think about it. luckily, my tank has today started the cycling process(visibly). The ammonia has started to rise! anyway, are there any fish ( that are reasonably hardy) that would bother live rock. Do myou need any special filters for it 'cause I only have a protein skimmer and a power filter. I might be getting a UV Sterilizer sometime

Angela_96

For a 55g tank you have a lot of choices, clownfish are hardy little guys. They are peaceful unless put w/ another clownfish that they weren't raised with. There are a lot of clownies to choose from, maroon, picaso, false perucla, true perucla, tomato, sadlle, black, there are all kinds of colors. Just search for reef safe fish they are the ones who will not bother your live rock.

W/ a 55g I would look into a refugium, which you can build yourself. The live rock is a bio filter all in its own.

cichlidlover

yes, I was thinking about upgrading to one sometime. (when I get money) lol one more thing, Is the freshwater bacteria(the stuff that cycles your tank) the same as the saltwater bacteria? I was just wondering 'cause I just noticed that the bio foam from my cichlid tank was covered in it. could I just put that bio foam in my SW tank?( only say yes if you know FOR SURE. I don't want to screw this up!) and what's the difference between true and false percula? is one the ocellaris?

Angela_96

I def am unsure about using FW bacteria for a sw tank. I would say that the bacteria would be different with a higher salinity level. Hopefully someone will chime in about that that knows for sure.

The false percula clownfish are the oscellaris, they don't get as large as the true percula.
Heres a link that describes the difference:
http://www.geocities.com/capecanaver...Ocellaris.html

cichlidlover

do you think trying would mess something up?