So how do you guys test your new tanks? What do you use to cycle them?
Personally, I add as much sand as I can get from a friend's tank, live rock from the store and fill with water. There will be plenty of die-off from the live rock alone to cycle the tank. When the ammonia drops to zero, I start to add livestock. And I add livestock slowly to allow bacteria colonies to catch up to the increased bioload.
The use of pure unscented ammonia ...
I find it incredulous that you'd suggest to an admitted Novice to add ammonia to their tank. Using ammonia to cycle or even test for nitrifying bacteria is best left up to the experienced hobbyist, imo. Even then, I'd suggest an ammonia salt over liquid ammonia.
The biggest draw back to using pure unscented ammonia over typical fish foods, or grocery store bought table shrimp is the method requires a large water change of 90%.
Help me out. Why does this method require such a large waterchange?
The pure unscented ammonia can reek havoic on the PH of a tank
You're adding enough ammonia to cause a pH increase? That's a lot. Another reason to use an ammonia salt.
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lewistonbaker wrote:
