Emerald525 Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 So as I am starting my tank up after a 3 year hiatus. I am going to try to add little tidbits of new information. I was going to go bare bottom but in order to get faster growth of the denitrifying bacteria Dr. Tim recommends using sand as they need substrate to grow. Key points Use Sand No lights Test kits for ammonia and nitrite (optional nitrate) No skimmer or filter socks Temp of 80 to 84 Salinity of 20 ppt add denitrifying bacteria (I use Dr. Tim’s) Keep ammonia at less than 5ppm Don’t use a shrimp use a pure form of ammonia like Dr. Tim’s . It’s cheap and low ammonia helps encourage the denitrifying bacteria. Here is the video that explains why? https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/macna-2019-dr-tim-hovanec 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 1 hour ago, Emerald525 said: So as I am starting my tank up after a 3 year hiatus. I am going to try to add little tidbits of new information. I was going to go bare bottom but in order to get faster growth of the denitrifying bacteria Dr. Tim recommends using sand as they need substrate to grow. Key points Use Sand No lights Test kits for ammonia and nitrite (optional nitrate) No skimmer or filter socks Temp of 80 to 84 Salinity of 20 ppt add denitrifying bacteria (I use Dr. Tim’s) Keep ammonia at less than 5ppm Here is the video that explains why? https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/macna-2019-dr-tim-hovanec The only way I do it anymore!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted March 26, 2021 Author Share Posted March 26, 2021 28 minutes ago, The ReefBox said: The only way I do it anymore!! Did you do the low salinity high heat approach? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocboat Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 Use real live rock (florida is about the only option left) and you will basically have an instant cycle. I realize that it is expensive and there are there are some unwanted hitch hikers but the bio diversity that you start out with makes the start up so much easier. I've started up many tanks over the last 25 years and I've used both live and dry rock and I would never start up another tank with dry rock again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaywood Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 (edited) Good point on sand. I think Randy at BRS has since added sand to his new system, as are others. Most complain of continued instability and long term troublesome algae. Edited March 26, 2021 by shaywood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Z Reef Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 I used this for ammonia instead of waiting for shrimp to decompose and all that jazz. Fritz PRO - Ammonium Chloride - 500gm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OTH5TAQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_PTQJE3QYG87YJ1KAQ3H9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted March 26, 2021 Author Share Posted March 26, 2021 4 minutes ago, Blue Z Reef said: I used this for ammonia instead of waiting for shrimp to decompose and all that jazz. Fritz PRO - Ammonium Chloride - 500gm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OTH5TAQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_PTQJE3QYG87YJ1KAQ3H9 I just use the 4 dollar bottle that Dr. Tim’s sells. Besides not a big fan of Fritz either lol. They ghosted me, Cuttlefish and Golden Basket when they had promised us a donation for the TFT Frag show .. not that I hold a grudge 😝 or anything but it was not a good first impression. Oh wait my first impression was the douchy sales guy Sean who repeatedly stepped in front of me and interrupted me when I was talking to MattV at the Seattle Frag show . See I don’t hold a grudge 🤪... Hijacking my own thread.. You make a good point Jeff it’s better to use a pure form of ammonia not a dead shrimp as it doesn’t smell and you have more control that way. I’m going to put that on my list. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Z Reef Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 Haha yeah gotta love that! My main point was just to use an additive instead so sounds like you are set. The Fritz stuff is so much powder you basically have a lifetime supply that you’ll never be able to use up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted March 26, 2021 Author Share Posted March 26, 2021 6 minutes ago, Blue Z Reef said: Haha yeah gotta love that! My main point was just to use an additive instead so sounds like you are set. The Fritz stuff is so much powder you basically have a lifetime supply that you’ll never be able to use up. No it’s definitely a better option for price but I always gravitate to premixed items even when they cost more. Unless the price is considerably higher. I just for some reason always make such a mess when I mix things and get powder all over the place. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted March 26, 2021 Author Share Posted March 26, 2021 1 hour ago, ocboat said: Use real live rock (florida is about the only option left) and you will basically have an instant cycle. I realize that it is expensive and there are there are some unwanted hitch hikers but the bio diversity that you start out with makes the start up so much easier. I've started up many tanks over the last 25 years and I've used both live and dry rock and I would never start up another tank with dry rock again. Real live rock for sure will minimize your cycle. Really didn’t have a cycle at all when I did that with a tank this size. I have lots of dried out rock to use. My plan is to give it all a bleach bath because I have dealt with all kinds of hitchhikers including this macroalgae. 1 hour ago, shaywood said: Good point on sand. I think Randy at BRS has since added sand to his new system, as are others. Most complain of continued instability and long term troublesome algae. Was it a bare bottom before? I was thinking of doing a bare bottom tank for my 120. I will have to look at that. I would think with a big system and a sump and fuge you would have enough surface area of substrate to maintain a population. On the video Dr. Tim’s mentions using sand but once you have a good colony of bacteria you can suck it out. He also made a point that if you use live sand and which I did to check your ammonia level as the bacteria can break down inorganics in the sand. Sure enough I had some ammonia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 3 hours ago, Emerald525 said: Did you do the low salinity high heat approach? I did higher heat but salinity I did not adhere too. I think I was 1.23 or so but 80 degrees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted March 26, 2021 Author Share Posted March 26, 2021 25 minutes ago, The ReefBox said: I did higher heat but salinity I did not adhere too. I think I was 1.23 or so but 80 degrees Do you feel like it made a difference ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 It def cuts the process down. You will still go through the ugly phases but I was fish in in about 1 week. I watched closely and went slow on fish to build the bacteria without overloading the system 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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