Cycling a new tank with live sand and bio-accelerator?

[Gort]

I'm setting up a Solana 34. The Vida Rock scape piece won't be ready for a week or two. I had originally thought to seed the scape rock with live sand (about a 1" sand bed) plus a small bit of rubble live rock. With the main aquascape piece delayed I wanted to go ahead and start the cycling anyhow - then introduce it later.

Are any of the bio-accelerator products worth it? Could I introduce enough bacteria into the system using one of those instead of the live rock?

 

[mojoreef]

Hiya Gort!!

I dont know if its going to help that much. All your doing is building up your bacterial population when you are seeding the tank, and if you are going to use some live sand and rubble I dont see how it would make that much of a difference. Remember its going to take some time for the tank to find its balance between the ammount of bacteria and the ammount of food avalable to them to. SO I would go with your original plan and then just be patcient.

Mojo

 

[Krish]

I don't know of much out there you can use to jump start a cycle. I know there are stuff out there for freshwater tanks, but not sure about salt. With that said, I'd just be patient and wait on your show piece of rock then introduce everything at once. Usually this is the best option IMO so that everything could cycle together and be done with. Same piece of advice I offer with people wanting to start a tank with 20lbs of live rock and say they want to add another 20 in about two months. I believe in adding it all in there at once and being done with it. Nothing really happens fast in this hobby so just hold tight and take it slow. You won't regret it.

 

[ReefLogic]

I am going to have to agree with both of the above posts....I do know seed sand from an established tank well in a way "jump start" things but it will still take some time for your tank to level out. Read my sig when in doubt. Nothing good happens fast in this hobby.

 

[NC2WA]

IMHO bio acclerator products are just a mktg scheme and do not work. the only true method of acquiring good biology in the tank is TIME (and patient). Be patient, your tank will like you and reward you.

 

[Gort]

I obviously gave the wrong impression about wanting to "kick start" or move along faster than is prudent. What I really wanted to know is if I could - or should - begin the cycling with a small amount of live rock and the sand, then introduce the 'show piece' when it arrives. I apparently was in error that a product like Bio-Spira would help in the absence of a larger amount of live rock.

If I get the LR locally (LFS for example), could I go ahead and introduce it into the tank with just the sand to begin or would waiting for all components be better?

 

[ReefLogic]

Yes you can introduce LR at pretty much any time IME....I would get some seed sand from an established tank to get everything going.

 

[Krish]

If the piece you will be adding is nothing but dead rock (I'm thinking now it may be man made?) then if like you can start cycling your tank with whatever live rock and sand how have now if you like. This would be fine IMO as the rock you will be adding in later won't have anything in it to die-off which could prolong things so in this case I don't see an issue. It's when you add some live rock at one time and then at a later date you add in more live rock this typically prolongs things as it would be like you are basically starting all over again. Best bet is to add all your live rock in one time so that it can cycle out all one time and be done with.

 

[Gort]

Yes the Vida Rock is man-made porous ceramic. I hoped to get the live rock from an LFS or fellow reefer (when I buddy up with one) - same with the seed sand. For the substrate I will be using CaribSea Ocean Direct.

I may or may not wish to remove the small live rock pieces after a while depending on the aquascaping.

 

[NC2WA]

Gort,

How long will it be before you add your Vida Rock? If it is going to be 4-6 wks, then might want to use sand that is not live, as regular sand will eventually become live; it will also save you alot of $$ if you use regualr sand vs live sand.. ( a quick check online on a 40lb bag of caribsea direct vs carbisea aragamax is $43.99 vs $19.99, respectively.)

just something to think about...

 

[Gort]

The Vida Rock should arrive in 2 -3 weeks, the stand from DonW will be finished this week sometime. so the earliest I could even assemble the system and get it wet is next weekend. I've got a lot of gear to accumulate this week - buckets, heaters, salt, powerhead, hydrometer/spectrometer etc...

NC2WA - I scoped out some of your tank and creature pics on Flickr - awesome!!

 

[NC2WA]

Thank you...

FWIW, it took my 2 years to add the 18 fish that were in the tank..so I cannot stress that patience is key to make a sucessful tank that thrives.

 

[Gort]

Thank you...

FWIW, it took my 2 years to add the 18 fish that were in the tank..so I cannot stress that patience is key to make a sucessful tank that thrives.

The more I study the hobby - the more I realize how true that is. My "instant gratification jones" will have to go elsewhere!!

PM sent

 

[Krish]

Thank you...

FWIW, it took my 2 years to add the 18 fish that were in the tank..so I cannot stress that patience is key to make a sucessful tank that thrives.

On that same note it took me about 8 months before adding my first coral on an old setup of mine. Wouldn't take the chance till I got a zero nitrate reading.

 

[Gort]

Zen & the Art of Reefkeeping