re: Saltwater aquarium enthusiasts help me with my new tank

quote:

---

Best way to cycle is to put a dead shrimp in it. It will take about a month. Why crushed coral? That's going to cause nutrient problems more than sand.

Don't attempt to put more than one pair of clowns in a tank that small.

---

This is the newer way and is effective. The old way was a damsel fish. They can take not having the bacteria colonies not being established. Downside is its cruel to the fish (some say) and unless its a green chromis damsel look for them to be very aggressive and impossible to catch (should you not want them after the cycle).


You could also, "seed" the bacteria. Get several pounds of sand or substrate from an established system. I would dig a trench across the bottom of the tank in the substrate and put the established substrate in the trench. It will speed the cycle process.