Cycling

[Hugo]

After adding live rock and sand how long must the tank cycle (i think that's the word) before you can add corals and fish.

[SLOreefer]

it usually takes 4-6 weeks. then youcan slowly add corals and fish.

[Hugo]

Thanks,

 

Can you add the clean-up crew earlier?

Say after a week?

[Kapelakin]

Get ammonia and nitrite test kits.  When these both go to zero, you can start adding your cleanup crew.  Some people add them during the cycle, but I prefer not risking their lives and my money by doing that.

[Sahin]

I added a few critters right away.  BUT my Live Rock came cured.  And I have tested for Ammonia and Nitrites and Nitrates, and only got a high reading for Nitrates.

A few large pieces of my rock also came out of a main display tank, and many came from other display tanks, so my rock were cured.

 

If your rocks arent cured, I would wait until you get no readings for Ammo and Nitrite.  Then you can add the clean up crews.

 

Patience is a must with a reef setup-especially a nano reef.

Just wait the full 4 weeks until you add any coral or fish.

And then add 1 fish or coral every week or so at max.

 

I have learnt that being patient pays off while keeping many freshwater setups- including my 75G Lake Malawi Mbuna setup, which is going well.

 

HTH