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Unread 09/18/2021, 12:27 PM   #1
knoxtnreef
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back again, question

i've been out of the hobby for about 5 years. i picked up a 20g nano with non-live sand and non-live rock. what is the best cycling/bio/bacteria solution on the market today to get things rolling?


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Unread 09/18/2021, 05:05 PM   #2
Vinny Kreyling
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A piece of frozen shrimp or flakes will start you off.


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Unread 09/19/2021, 08:22 AM   #3
Dan.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling View Post
A piece of frozen shrimp or flakes will start you off.
The best way, by far!


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Unread 09/19/2021, 10:04 AM   #4
billdogg
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling View Post
A piece of frozen shrimp or flakes will start you off.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan. View Post
The best way, by far!
What they said. If yo would like to add a small piece of live rock from a trusted source, that will help things along. I am not a fan of bacteria in a bottle or "live sand" that's been on a shelf in a warehouse for who knows how long.


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Unread 09/19/2021, 12:20 PM   #5
VWD
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I agree on seeding the tank with live rock from an friends tank or LFS and shrimp, you can also use a cup of sand from another tank. In the early day we used sand to seed before live rock came into play.


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Unread 09/20/2021, 08:57 AM   #6
Ntvper
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I agree on seeding the tank with live rock from an friends tank or LFS and shrimp, you can also use a cup of sand from another tank. In the early day we used sand to seed before live rock came into play.

Adding MicroBacter7 or dr Tim’s one n done is a great start definitely use if no live rock or sand is avail or with is a good boost


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Unread 09/21/2021, 10:19 AM   #7
knoxtnreef
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thanks for everyone's responses. I exchanged some non-live sand for some live sand, pink fiji and am going to my LFS to buy a small piece of LR. I was also looking at TurboStart but it sounds like between the LS/LR/and a piece of shrimp as the above suggested, buying supplements in a bottle may not be needed. I'm in no hurry to stock anything, in fact, if the cycle takes over 30 days I'm totally fine with it.


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Unread 09/21/2021, 10:20 AM   #8
knoxtnreef
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thanks for everyone's responses. I exchanged some non-live sand for some live sand, pink fiji and am going to my LFS to buy a small piece of LR. I was also looking at TurboStart but it sounds like between the LS/LR/and a piece of shrimp as the above suggested, buying supplements in a bottle may not be needed. I'm in no hurry to stock anything, in fact, if the cycle takes over 30 days I'm totally fine with it. If I was to get totally desperate I can also visit the ocean haha...i'm literally 5 minutes away from it.


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Unread 09/21/2021, 10:24 AM   #9
Vinny Kreyling
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Now I will throw you the CURVE BALL --
The longer you can wait without lighting the better.
I think 3 months is what they say.
This is important for bacteria & helps avoid algae blooms.
@ least that's what they say.


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Unread 09/21/2021, 10:26 AM   #10
knoxtnreef
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling View Post
Now I will throw you the CURVE BALL --
The longer you can wait without lighting the better.
I think 3 months is what they say.
This is important for bacteria & helps avoid algae blooms.
@ least that's what they say.
Good you say that, I knew lighting wasnt needed for the cycling process and I currently havent decided what I'm getting..most likely AI Prime 16HD but since it's pretty expensive no lights for at least 2 months would work fine for my budget I believe


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Unread 09/22/2021, 06:59 AM   #11
Timfish
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The guy who mentored me back in the early 90s was a huge fan of wild live rock for getting a reef systems started. Since only a tiny fraction of the microbial stuff in a reef ssytem can be cultured it's still the best source for the microbial stuff and sponges essential for a healthy reef ecosystem.

here's an article and some videos:

"Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R2BMEfQGjU

Changing Seas - Mysterious Microbes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7hsp0dENEA

Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont
https://youtu.be/DWItFGRQJL4

BActeria and Sponges
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oLDclO7UcM

Maintenance of Coral Reef Health (refferences at the end)
https://youtu.be/dGIPveFJ_0Q

Optical Feedback Loop in Colorful Coral Bleaching
https://youtu.be/oadKezUYkJE

Richard Ross What's up with phosphate"
https://youtu.be/ZRIKW-9d2xI


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Unread 09/22/2021, 08:39 AM   #12
knoxtnreef
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Timfish View Post
The guy who mentored me back in the early 90s was a huge fan of wild live rock for getting a reef systems started. Since only a tiny fraction of the microbial stuff in a reef ssytem can be cultured it's still the best source for the microbial stuff and sponges essential for a healthy reef ecosystem.

here's an article and some videos:

"Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R2BMEfQGjU

Changing Seas - Mysterious Microbes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7hsp0dENEA

Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont
https://youtu.be/DWItFGRQJL4

BActeria and Sponges
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oLDclO7UcM

Maintenance of Coral Reef Health (refferences at the end)
https://youtu.be/dGIPveFJ_0Q

Optical Feedback Loop in Colorful Coral Bleaching
https://youtu.be/oadKezUYkJE

Richard Ross What's up with phosphate"
https://youtu.be/ZRIKW-9d2xI
awesome thank you


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