STEVIEG

What is the best way to cycle a new tank? everyone has there own way but really what is the best way in the end?[i prefer fishless for a start]

Peterpiper

Using Ammonia, the reason is simple. What are you trying to do by adding dead shrimp or fish food to the tank... A, you are trying to get ammonia to start the cycle, so why not start with ammonia and save some time and mess from dead things in your tank and phosphates from fish flakes that will lead to algaes? time for a beer

Lucy

I'd say ammonia also, plus used filter media from an established tank to give it a jump start.

GreenMan13

I would say ammonia too except this is a saltwater forum not freshwater...so I'm guessing that you are going to have live rock...live rock itself starts the cycle so IMO Live Rock would be the only way to really start the cycle for saltwater. This is because if you buy it live it will come with the bacteria already living on it, there will just be a small cycle to get rid of any die off from transport. As a plus, Live Rock has other beneficial organisms that do not grow by just adding ammonia.

Oil_Fan

I agree. For a SW tank, LR is the best and easiest way to cycle the tank.

Lucy

Oops, that will teach me see what forum a topic is posted in. Thanks guys

offminded

live sand would also be a way to help with the cycle as well...right?

STEVIEG

Thanks by the sounds of it LR is the best way to go when it comes to SW tank thats the way i will go its seems to be a more natural way to go and more benificial in the long run also used filter media sounds very benificial and that extra kick the cycle needs

GreenMan13

What kind of equipment are you going to be using? Like a sump, skimmer... For most people in saltwater the filter material is the Live Rock and sand. There really isn't any other filter material since power filters and canisters are not used that much.

STEVIEG

Will not have a sump have 12kg of LR to start with and i am going to invest in a skimmer the aqua c remora have to get it from the states hard to get here only seem to be able to get red sea prism which i believe are not very good was going to run an eheim canister filter but not decided yet on that i am aware not very popular in SW as LR and skimmer should be more then enough not sure of how to set up a sump new to SW tank is not predrilled for one

GreenMan13

If you cant get a skimmer easily and feel up to making a skimmer you can try one of these:

Snailman's
RandyStacye's

Peterpiper

Yes, But how much bacteria is on the LR will depend on how it was stored at the shop. If the LR was stored in a holding tank that is connected to the other tanks then you will have a lot more bacteria as it had the bio load from the fish in the other tanks.
Some LFS will cure the LR then place it in a holding tank that is not connected to the system,. This LR still has bacteria but in lower numbers as the bio load is only from the critters on and in the rock.

Once the LR is in your tank, you may or may not see ammonia, this will depend on how much die off you get. If you get reading for ammonia of 1ppm or more, then yes the cycle has started.
If you get cured LR and have no die off, you may not get a reading for ammonia, if this happens, add ammonia to give you a reading of 1-2ppm and check the reading again in 12hrs, if the reading for ammonia and nitrite is 0 then the tank is cycled.
If you still have a reading for ammonia or nitrite then you will need to cycle the tank