How to Cycle a Saltwater Tank: Tips To Help You Succeed with Your New Aquarium

[@indybop]

This was the best video I have seen about cycling a tank. For someone new in the hobby…it was very easy to follow. Having a hard time with the patience part but I now understand why.

[@MadeInGreatBritain]

Great to see you stuck your dry rock together with the purple resin. I too did this as I wasn’t sure if coralline algae would grow on the resin. I thought it was a big mistake until I saw this video.

[@titus4166]

I used Fritz and cycled my tank in five days. It's a really good jump starter. I it used ammonia chloride to start the cycle. My tank is 3 months old and has two fish, CUC, and 5 corals and is thus far super healthy.

[@Threedog1963]

5 days?

[@megadeth1763]

Usually takes weeks.

[@orbelgalvarado]

L 1 not when you use bacteria additives to just start the bacteria. So adding bacteria needed for nitrifying cycle it can be a quick cycle

[@titus4166]

Threedog yes, five days. Basically, you buy bacteria to jumpstart the cycle and advance it. That’s the best way to describe it. You don’t really need to wait weeks if you do it the way I explained it above.

[@Truth-Machine5000]

That graph is pure gold!

[@william7268]

i'm starting my first saltwater tank. great info and just in time. THANKS!!!

[@jr8688]

Love the graph. Super helpful (in my opinion) wish I seen one when I first started the hobby!

[@michaeldavid5454]

Rock solid info. And your graphics are first rate! Thanks!

[@BulkReefSupply]

Thanks for watching and we appreciate the compliments! -Robert @ MD

[@miketaylor4221]

Thanks big dawg!

[@tommyo321]

I'm a novice and found this video VERY helpful. Thanks sooo much!

[@TheDancing0wind]

Tip: You can start the cycling process before you have a tank (it's ordered - backlog 1-2 months :/ ). Just buy the amount of dry rock you will need for your tank (+heater and power head) and start cycling it in water container (barrel/bucket/bin/tub - you will need water containers for RODI/saltwater mixing anyway)

[@Reefloco]

Great video!! Helpful information for all and those who are starting the hobby as well!

[@BulkReefSupply]

Thanks for stopping by! -Robert @ MD

[@semerickson]

Informative video... thanks.. Please do a video about what to do once the tank is cycled Thanks

[@BulkReefSupply]

Thanks for watching and thanks for the suggestion. We appreciate it!

[@semerickson]

hope you’ll do the mentioned video Thanks

[@thestylesworld]

Best tutorial to explain Aquarium cycle, thanks

[@gersonsalcedo3227]

Great video, do you keep the skimmer off during cycling? thanks for your advice!

[@BulkReefSupply]

Yes

[@edwardcoviello3783]

Great informative advise on cycling a tank

[@Threedog1963]

I'm about 2 and a half weeks into a fishless cycle. I have seen the nitrite spike and drop and the nitrate build. Seems stalled at nitrate building though. I add some ammonia here and there to keep the bacteria alive, but the nitrate just keeps piling on.

[@Stephanbitterwolf]

Love your videos and the time you put into making them great. What do you guys think about making a new intro song? Something sophisticated, upbeat, and quick?

[@BulkReefSupply]

Thanks for watching! We are always working hard to improve our KZbin channel and a new version of the intro will be coming soon!

[@the1millionmen]

You can work with fauna marin ocean. And can jump the cycling

[@alfantekiddcholoa.2630]

Can we use rocksalt to make a saltwater?

[@dakoata121212]

Would it be beneficial to have water flowing/moving at this time? (Not filtration). I have live rock and sand. I see some hitchhikers including a crab.

[@gm8314]

What about lighting? I've seen numerous videos that say to leave the lights off, some channels as long as 4 months to skip the "ugly faze" but it's unclear if this method is advised for a tank with Live rock from the start.... Any advice?

[@BulkReefSupply]

We suggest leaving the lights off during the cycling process.

[@gm8314]

@@BulkReefSupply how long would you advise leaving the lights off during and after the cycle? Thanks

[@andretoles9505]

When do we turn on the lights?

[@BulkReefSupply]

Having the lights on for the cycling process is completely personal preference. That being said, we would recommend not exceeding eight hours of light to avoid algae outbreaks.

[@andretoles9505]

Perfect thanks 👍

[@philipwood8776]

Great vid

[@BulkReefSupply]

We are glad you enjoyed it!

[@kiergiray5960]

Very informative

[@ליהיימליך]

wow, that's a great video!

[@tigheclark6]

Would a clownfish be a good fish to produce the ammonia for the bacteria

[@nataliex909]

How often should you do a water change during the cycling process?

[@BulkReefSupply]

We would recommend testing nitrates. Once those start to spike, then you can do a water change. Also, if you are using anything to jumpstart the process, please read any insurrections as it should say.

[@nataliex909]

Marine Depot Aquarium Supplies thanks!

[@coxyjmz]

Can ypu use a bio block from another tank?

[@BulkReefSupply]

Yes! Just be sure it's a tank you trust as any pests from that tank are likely to make the trip with the bio block too.

[@nicholassoong1981]

Needed some clarification. I recently was debating with my LFS, he mentioned that the cycling is complete only when the nitrates spike and drop near to Zero which u will need to wait patiencely. He only run a skimmer by the way. But I told him the cycling is over when ammonia and nitrite are Zero, with certain amount of nitrate with first water change. Please help

[@haithamkittana5411]

can i use biological media (ceramic rings) and substrate from 2 years old successful freshwater aquarium with new saltwater aquarium?

[@BulkReefSupply]

No, FW bacteria and SW bacteria are different. Bio media from a freshwater tank will not work inside a SW tank. -Robert @ MD

[@tijs2094]

Euhm I have A question, I am going to buy A tank, and the shop wil give me already cylcled water, but I first want ot quarantine my fish, can i have A tank with just cycled water for 4 weeks without anything in it? Kind regards Tijs!

[@jairocampos2584]

Should I be doing water changes after adding the live bacteria and ammonia?

[@EarthWasHere]

Jairo Campos No

[@EarthWasHere]

Jairo Campos you only do water changes when nitrates are high. If you add bacteria you’re wanting your tank to cycle. If you do a water you’ll remove what you just added.

[@MichaelHolmgaard]

So should you go with Fritz or Dr Timm??

[@BulkReefSupply]

Both are excellent and do the same exact thing. Feel free to share your experience! -Robert @ MD

[@freemansaquatics5326]

Give it 10 to 30 more years id bet everything changes like it has in the past 30 ;) thank you for the video this will help alot of people CHEERS yall :)

[@matys82]

Great video I'm started my 400l reef tank on 40kg dry rock and dry sand, adding 70ml 10% ammonia solution and Microbe-lift SPECIAL BLEND bacteria. Adding 1kg MAXSPECT BioSpheres to sump. After 5 weeks NH3 = 0 / NO2=0 / and my NO3 is maxout on Salifert test scale >100ppm. Today i addet 250ml of Chaetomorpha to sump and start lightning it for 12h. How can i reduce NO3? Should I wait? Wat is the NO3 safe level to clown fish? 200l water cheange is the last thing I would like to do. (time to produce water and buying new salt)

[@ericlambert7193]

I tried a different way to get my cycle to start. I pooped and peed in my tank. I was told us a poop decays it will start beneficial bacteria and the pee will bring the ammonia level up. I will keep you posted on how it works.

[@haydenwegner675]

Can someone please tell me A step by step how to start the cycle

[@atombomb232610]

Live rock, some live sand, instant ocean bio-spira and aquavitro alpha to keep the ammonia low enough for the fish(ammonia test every 2-3 days). 1-2 months until it is relatively stable and then in with the coral. Saltwater is easier than freshwater but not as plug and play as most consumers would like with their use it and get rid of it buying habits.

[@kamilkazmierczak2842]

Saltwater is NOT easier than freshwater period.

[@atombomb232610]

@@kamilkazmierczak2842 i have done both. and a properly started saltwater tank is more stable and easier to take care of. At least for me it is.

[@kamilkazmierczak2842]

@@atombomb232610 u r full of s

[@atombomb232610]

@@kamilkazmierczak2842 I'm sorry your life sucks. It will get better one day. Maybe then you wont have to waste your time making pointless remarks that do not help anyone but your false sense of accomplishment you just felt by typing a random ignorant comment. I will happily show pictures of my tank that has been easy to start, maintain and see decent growth in. So how am i full of s?

[@reeferstatus2781]

Awesome video I still want Robert back 🤪🤪

[@BulkReefSupply]

I am still here and thanks for watching. We are increasing our production here on KZbin which means more videos for you guys and more fun projects for me! -Robert @ MD

[@christopherwetzel2260]

Take the few weeks of cycling to read up and research up on this awesome hobby! You'll be happy you did rather than jump the gun and struggle.

[@camron4255]

oh yea yea

[@manstayearth5541]

Not clear enough for new people. I feel you emphasize more on benefits of cycle tank than how to do it. Sorry I’m new

[@realreefing9162]

I’m getting ready to give up this stupid hobby. I’m tired of tryna to figure out why my coral dies. Just a fucken waste of money . I’m done with this bullshit

[@BulkReefSupply]

Sorry to hear my man and hopefully the wonderful world of aquariums will inspire you to come back again. Best of luck in your ventures! -Robert @ MD

[@realreefing9162]

Marine Depot Aquarium Supplies hey thanks man. That what I just needed. I had a horrible day when I posted this .