Cycling a nano tank?

Question

I have an Eclipse system 12 that I am setting up as a nano tank. It has 20lbs of live sand in it, along with 6lbs of live rock. I am planning on adding another 6lbs tomorrow. I added bio-zyme to it today (it is the first day that it has been running), and plan to continue every day for 7 days per the instructions. My question is how long till the tank is cycled? Also, when I can start adding invertebrates (like shrimp and hermit crabs)? How long after than can I add fish? I am wanting to have 2 false percula (sp?) clowns, a clown goby, a shrimp or two (depending on what kind I decide to go with), a few feather dusters, and hermit crabs. Is that too much? I know that I cannot add all of them a once, but that I should add the clowns at the same time. I have had experience with salt tanks in the past, but it has been a while and I have never had a tank that small. Thank you for your help.

I am not sure if it really matters yet, but my specific gravity is 1.022, the temp is 78, and the pH is 8.4

Answer 1

You shouldn't need to add the biozyme at all. What's "live" about the live sand and rock is the bacteria that cycles your tank, so adding all three isn't necessary. Just the live rock would probably have been enough, since the bacteria from it would have colonized your sand.

The tank is cycled when you can add an ammonia source and after a day or so you can only detect nitrates (all ammonia and nitrite have been converted). Since you still plan to add live rock, you'll probably get some die-off from that, so that would be a good point at which to start testing your water. The exact amount of time will vary (according to the number of bacteria you start with, amount of ammonia present, and temperature of the tank - this affects the reproduction rate). Once you've only got nitrates detectable, your okay to add a fish. I'd start with the goby, personally, as it would be the least territorial of the two species. Once he's added, wait for the nitrate to be the only detectable chemical again, then add both clowns - they work out better if they're added at the same time. Add the inverts a few at a time as well, because even though they may not contribute as much ammonia to your tank, they're living things and do contribute to the wastes produced. Some are less tolerant of poor water conditions than fish, so I would add these last to be sure your biological filtrations is working well.

Your tank will be pretty fully stocked with the pair of clowns, especially if they decide to spawn. The clowns will probably get to around 2-3 inches (with the female being the larger of the two), so make sure there are lots of openings through the rock the goby can duck into. If you plan to get more than one shrimp, go with peppermints - others tend to be territorial.

My smallest (at present) is a 10 gallon with no fish - just inverts, live rock, and macroalgae. It's great to watch at night to see what's crawling around. A few weeks ago I found a brittlestar I didn't even know I had! Here's hoping you find lots of interesting things in your nano tank!

Answer 2

4-6 weeks,then place inverts and fishes slowly