Week 17: How To Cycle Your Aquarium. Beginner How To Guide For Saltwater Aquariums & Reef Tanks

[@lifebidesign]

I have had great luck with cycling my reef tanks in about 10 days. Used this method for years Love Dr. Tims

[@LuisRivera-bn9ts]

I just cycled my 75gal all-fish saltwater tank using Dr. Tim's one and only bacteria and Dr, Tim's ammonia method, and it was cycled within sixteen days. Thanks, Matthew

[@80gl_3]

I have to say. I am currently cycling my third reef tank, 60g cube. I have aligned with this series just in time. I am still learning tips still to this day. Thank you!!

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for commenting!

[@syndicatebettasaquatics5489]

I literally binge watched all of your beginner videos in less than a week. You are amazing! Keep doing what you do! I was so intimidated by starting a saltwater tank. Not anymore😊 Thank you so much.

[@mabryedwardsjr.168]

Fritz Fishless Fuel was omitted from the 3rd option presentation. Used in combination with Fritz Zyme Turbo Start 900, the nitrogen cycle most likely will be completed in the most efficient and effective manner. Some Algae Barn and Tropic Marin products are available as supplements to continue feeding the nutrifying bacteria and increasing the population before adding the first fish or two. Excellent points about removing filter socks and leaving lights, UVs and skimmers off.

[@RogueAquariums]

Excellent description of how to cycle your tank. My preferred method is also a fish 🐠 less cycle. It’s easier on your live stock & provides less stress.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Agreed my friend!

[@spicyreef]

U da man! first time I ever heard someone state outright the nitrifying bacteria is ubiquitous.... NICE!

[@MyFirstFishTank]

:-)

[@jamesorr1200]

I’m learning from a few key mistakes I made during my first fishless cycle. Dr. Tim’s recommends testing for ammonia before dosing ammonia bc live sand evidently has matter that also breaks down into ammonia. Even though I dosed for 2 ppm, my ammonia tested at 5 and likely stalled the process per Dr. Tim’s FAQ. Also, wait until the sand has settled before adding the bacteria. I poured my water and bacteria in on the same night and probably wound up with half the bottle under the substrate. 🤦‍♂️😀 I probably should have stopped fiddling with the rocks, too! My ammonia is finally down, and now I’m just waiting on that nitrate spike to fall.

[@89Johneboy]

If you are testing with API... do not trust it.

[@89Johneboy]

also... Nitrate spike wont just "fall" You have to do something to export that one... IE a refugium, skimmer... or Microbe Lift. Thank me later =)

[@89Johneboy]

15:11

[@BabsAllen]

I'm at a Nitrite spike in my new tank right now. This helped me understand why. Thank you!

[@Dd-760-]

I have used them all my favorite is Microbacter 7. Specially in the summer time in Phoenix. May be a bit slower but i don’t think any of the other products survive shipping in the summer. Thanks for the knowledge.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Totally agree!

[@madshepsreef282]

Well done, that explains every question anyone should have about cycling. Iv just finished cycling mine and I have the ugly stage right now. I cycled with dr Tim’s one and only 3 big bottles, 4 mollys and maxspect bio balls about 50 balls that were from my old aquarium and were cooking for a year.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

That's perfect. Using that already cycled media will help so much!

[@thesolidshadow]

Thanks alot for your clear way of explaning things; this is most helpfull!

[@michaelsloan930]

Nice refresher for me. I've been out of the hobby for 6 months due to moving. I've got a red sea that I'm about to set up, so thanks for this video!

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Thanks Michael!!! Glad it was helpful!

[@FamilyTanks]

Awesome as always! Our reef cycle was a wild ride, but we got there!

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Haha, totally get it!

[@maddib1723]

Thank god i found this channel 😂

[@ryandixon6428]

Fishless is best .dr.tims is best . Dont forget to raise youre temperature at 85 and have low salinity 1.015 even lower when complete cycle then slow raise salinity and slowly lower temperature

[@DEXTER-TV-series]

Excellent guide without any annoying idiotic sounds in background. 👍

[@skirtedfancy]

This was very helpful! So do you continue adding the two products each day until the cycle is complete?

[@tekkersreefer8055]

Hey reefer from a cross the sea room looks wicked Another great video bud can’t wait see more ur vids 🙌🏻 have good weekend

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Thanks! You are too kind!

[@brandhark7935]

If you go with adding hardy fish just make sure you watch your levels and add in Seachem Prime so they’re not stressed.

[@robertedwards9961]

Don't waste your money on worthless voodoo products like Seachem Prime.

[@davidthao6935]

Why not just take a dirty filter pad from another fish tank and put it in the filter of the new tank? Why is this option not introduce? Does it not work? I mean it sounds like we are just trying to create waste.

[@skinnyllama420]

This is a beginning series so why would a beginner have a different tank?

[@georgeduncan8946]

Yes i do this..... it works 🫠🪸🐚🦐

[@jerrislittlereef4023]

Thanks for this video. You made things so much more clear and understandable.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Glad it was helpful!

[@georgeduncan8946]

Always used Seachem products 🤗5-8 days in varying size tanks 🖐🏽

[@hw534]

What a well done, great video. Thanks

[@delouise17]

Ok. All good for a new tank. What about when starting an old tank over again? Using old rock and new sand?

[@garrycole9187]

Great video and I have used different products because the start xlm didn't do anything and I couldn't get anymore so I use bio-flora and it worked fine. I also have subbed Fritz for Dr. Tim's and it also worked fine too. Also don't do a 100% water change after the cycle is done, if you have soft corals or LPS, they do really well with 25 ppm nitrates.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Yes, agreed all around. I've had faster results using Fritz as well, but it's so expensive! And good advice about the nitrate levels!

[@zzgremlin6223]

The shrimp method is strange in my opinion. I’ve been gearing up towards starting a 2nd tank my 1st went very well until I decided to take it down but I did the shrimp method and my tank cycled in like 6 days I didn’t leave the shrimp in the whole time I took it out as soon as ammonia showed up which was like 2-3 days then added my live bacteria or added it before the shrimp can’t remember as that was in 2017, and then another 3-4 days later I had no ammonia or nitrites and very low nitrates since I didn’t leave the shrimp in the entire time, but the first thing I added after the cycle was a fire shrimp and it was the only thing in the tank plus a clean up crew for like 3 weeks before adding a fish, maybe I got lucky but that worked for me

[@rodneychupp9297]

Great video, thanks for the detailed info.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

You bet!

[@Alex-ws1xm]

Hi! Really a great video. Just all the explanations I was looking for. And you are also very easy to understand for a non native speaker like me 👍😊. Just a question: I would like to cycle with the fish in using the bacteria starter but with caribsea reef rocks and not like rocks. My understanding is that they contain dormant bacteria but not pests. A beginner question 😊. Thanks!

[@user-jx5zk2jr5t]

Very informative 👏

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MACNTOSFAM]

i’ve used doc tim’s ammonium chloride and paired it with mb start

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Oh good, and I'm assuming that worked okay right?

[@knightmare2211]

All set with number three. Sounds like a paid sponsor ship

[@usmc187]

I successfully cycled and established my first saltwater tank 3 weeks ago (using Dr Tims One and Only/Amonia, with live rock and live sand). Have a couple of soft corals, 1 LPS and a few hermit crabs. Everything is looking great! Yesterday, I converted one of my other freshwater tanks to saltwater but didn't use Dr Tims One and Only/Amonia, but used live sand and live rock from my first saltwater tank. Do I still need to cycle my tank? Seems all the parameters today seem good. .

[@mohammadzamani2490]

Thanks at all

[@MyFirstFishTank]

:-)

[@josephrolling1979]

Awesome info

[@leem270]

Great Video

[@alexmejia5606]

I've heard of ppl using a freshwater feeder fish or using frozen fish food.

[@siriogavazzeni4375]

I got loads of abuse for cycling my reef in less than a week old school fish keepers don't seem to want to move on from a long cycle 🙁

[@oscarzepeda6682]

So, can I add my live rock in already? That way it starts getting all the beneficial bacteria or so i hold off till the tank is stable

[@rhianna2254]

Great really useful video!! Is it okay to leave the return pump going whilst doing the fishless cycle 03? Ive got turbostart ready to go!

[@charliebrookman4946]

Great video. I recently set up a brand new aquarium with a price of live rock in the sump and have been dosing Seachem stability every day. I have an ai prime light on the tank and have been fiddling around with it quite a bit. I have had the light on Ultra violet light alone a couple times just to see how it looked. Could someone please tell me if that would act the same as a UV steriliser??? I’m nervous it’s killing the good bacteria even though the uv has been on in very short amounts/times. Thanks

[@waddlesonjr6999]

I personally leave my lights off when cycling to make the ugly phase a little less harsh. I’m not not completely sure about the UV leds of an ai prime killing bacteria as most UV sterilizers use bulbs with higher wattage rather than leds. Sterilizers are also submerged.

[@charliebrookman4946]

@@waddlesonjr6999 ok thanks. I haven't really had the lights on anyway, just for an hour or so to look at the tank in the evenings.

[@Scott-cy6zv]

I have a canister filter (Fluval 207). I’ve been running it for the 5 days that my tanks been set up. The fish store sold me the Fritz turbo and Ammonia product like you described in this great video. I added them to the water after the tank was setup 5 days ago but I have my canister filter running and a wave maker. Should I shut my canister filter off for a couple weeks? I tested my water a few hours ago and here’s what my readings where. Ammonia 0.50ppm, Nitrate NO3 80ppm, Nitrite NO2 2.0ppm, High Range PH 7.8 By the way I used tap water with the Red Sea chlorine remover. I look forward to hearing back from you and I just subbed :)

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Hey scott, thanks for subbing. I would leave the canister filter on. If you dosed the ammonia chloride to 2.0, then the fritz is already doing a great job! Most of the time, without Fritz, it would take weeks to get ammonia that low. Your tank is almost ready for its first fish. The ammonia is at the borderline safe level, so if you did a large water change, think 50%, you could definitely add some hardy fish like clowns. Nitrite just isn't that toxic to fish, and nitrates are virtually harmless, but they will cause nuisance algae growth and levels that high are not good for corals. So a big water change, add a couple fish, and keep checking your parameters, and you're set! Congrats on setting up the new tank! Super exciting!

[@Scott-cy6zv]

@@MyFirstFishTank ALLS I CAN SAY SIR IS…. Wow!! And I truly mean this in a good way. I’ve watched so many of your videos and LOVE them. The way you explain things, and break the information down for us newbies is like no other! I was worried I was gonna get roasted for using tap water. But I have used Red Sea declorinator to treat it. I just wouldn’t know how to hook up a RO system note have a place to put it. But there is 2 stores in town that use tap water and have had no issues. My water is crystal clear and it’s because of the steps I again followed from your videos. I am very moved how a major channel like yours took the time to respond quickly and help me. That doesn’t exist anymore on KZbin for the most part. So for that sir thank you! Please stay safe and keep pumping out those videos. **Solid hand shake from Toronto Ontario**

[@ryanlindo7489]

Hi Mathew I need your help regarding my cycle procedure. I am cycling my saltwater tank for 6 weeks now with fish in method. I also used API quick starr and I have 6 fish in my tank However I did not recieve any ammonia and nitrite spike. Though I thoroughly followed the instruction in the test kit. I only got Nitrate reading which is at 10 ppm. Does my tank has already been cycled? Thank you in advance.

[@lindawilliams7264]

When you cycle are your rocks in the tank

[@pauldeacon8764]

Great video Matt! Can't u also use Prime to cycle a salt water tank??

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Yes you can! :-)

[@doublea6400]

How does live rock and live sand effect the cycling process?

[@MyFirstFishTank]

In a huge way. Live rock and sand provide surface area for nitrifying bacteria to colonize. Because it is porous, there is just a ton of surface area all over live rock and sand, thus providing more habitat for the nitrifying bacteria.

[@MrFranco702]

Fritz makes an ammonia solution. It's called Fishless Fuel.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

I did not know that! Thanks! :-)

[@DrewShafer66]

Yellow Tang - $79. Those days are gone.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Yeah. Maybe they'll come back... someday! Or we all just need to move to Hawai'i!

[@ReefAquariumHobbyist]

I’ve been cycling with dr Tim’s method for over 2 months not working like in the instructions that says 14 days in 24 hours 0 ammonia 2.0-5.0 ppm nitrite

[@ReefAquariumHobbyist]

Can I add the Fritz turbo start to boost the cycle?

[@zamonibryant6522]

Can you use any of the Options 2 or 3 in a newly setup tank with Live Rock and Sand?

[@kaeleyporter420]

If i take water from my established fresh water tank, say 40 gallons from the fresh water established tank, and put that in a brand new 60 gallon saltwater, add the other 20 gallons of new water to top it off. Is that basically cycled water? Or at least going to be a quicker cycle

[@germandelmo5710]

Sir I have a 30gal tank. What will be needed do I have to provide protein skimmer for my first cycle

[@IM14U2NV]

Is it possible for me to get my water from the Puget sound in Washington. Any ill effect by doing this. Im setting up a biocube

[@Harolddespui]

Leaving the lights off is debatable though. Nitrifying bacteria can't stand bright light and will grow on places where they normally - with the lights on - won't grow. As soon as you turn on the light you will kill those (which could explain a second ammonia/nitrite peak). I would opt for something in the middle: leave the lights on but at 50% brightness or something.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

This is super interesting, I've never heard this, but it makes sense. I'll have to do some more research into this. Thanks for this. Always learning something new in this hobby!

[@margheritasreef]

Hi. With the turbo start I added ammonia again. Was that a bad thing. Both ammonia and nitrites are at .2ppm

[@Howitzer43715]

Hi Mathew, i just started the cycling process. Initially, i put in a piece of beef and added 60% of a bottle of Bio Pronto. But 12 hours later, i took the beef out and added a shrimp and dosed 1 capful of Bio Pronto. The shrimp has been in there for 24 hours now. Do i turn my skimmer on? How long do you think the cycle will be be as i have added denitrifying bacteria as well. For bio filtration, i have added maxspect bio spheres (3 kg). Thanks

[@barbgutierrez2293]

can i use rock salt to my reef tank?

[@thereefergoddess89]

Quick question I have a 5 gallon tank should I turn the light on and turn on all the filters equipments during cycle somebody told me that when you put the bacteria in there you should let it sit for an hour or so and then turn it on what is the proper way of cycling a tank

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Sorry for the late reply. When you're performing a cycle it's probably best to leave your lights off so you don't get nuisance algae growth during the process. It's not gonna harm anything, but it will cause algae growth. Definitely have your pump on and you can have mechanical filtration in place, but you don't need to connect anything like a protein skimmer, because you actually want the fish food and fish ways to break down so that it can propel the cycle along.

[@84latinray]

What kinda zooanthids are those at 13:58green

[@artistic_spaz3724]

Sooooo I'm new to reefing and decided to set up a new bigger tank. Doing fishless cycle but got the number of ammonia drops wrong and have overdosed my new tank. What do I do? Will the nitrifying bacteria still be able to handle it and maybe it will just take longer?

[@Random_one_here]

Am I the only one that pee's in my tanks. Not a lot just like 50ml then around a week later it's ready. Never had issues with salt or fresh water tanks.

[@AquariumKrib]

Bro

[@rm-photography3289]

😂😂 no I gotta know if that works hahaha

[@milkspotscausemetospazzout6813]

It crossed my mind a few months ago when I started a new tank.... I couldn't do it though..😢

[@simon247sa]

You serious. I'll piss in this tank right now if it works.

[@Random_one_here]

It works it’s ammonia. I’ve been doing it forever haha.

[@kitha9729]

Hi, I’m currently cycle my max nano peninsula. I have my light off, skimmer off, filter sock remove. remove sponge on bubble trap, except on return side because hard to put back in. Am I still adding bacteria turbo start and dr. Tim fishless duricycle? Is it ok for me put in carbon on return side? Thnx

[@michaelross5674]

With the turbo start can I use live sand?????... What about the fluval stuff u can cycle with

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Absolutely! Live sand helps the cycle along, but takes a long time by itself!

[@mohammedriyazm8131]

Please make a video on ugly state

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Coming up in a few weeks for the Friday beginner video.

[@leolhiny]

awsome

[@khairulunm8041]

Thats mean i dont need any filter, protein skimmer and light during the cycle period? So i just need sand, live rock n saltwater?

[@MyFirstFishTank]

You got it!

[@khairulunm8041]

No water flow? Like wavemaker or empty hang on filter.

[@felixhickman7845]

Question - I have multiple cycled freshwater tanks, can I use the biological media from those to instantly cycle the tank?

[@Sean-wu9ve]

It’s been a couple months, so it’s probably too late to help.. But, maybe somebody else will see this. Sorry, but nope, saltwater has different types of bacteria than freshwater. (Source - Dr. Tim’s MACNA 2019 Cycling video on the BRS channel.)

[@proudamerican4345]

Damn I left my sponge in what should I do?

[@jadonduncan3212]

Name of the zoa @4:50??

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Well, I'm no help. Anybody else?

[@don0219]

does the ammonia chloride expires? i used this 3 yrs ago and now i want to cycle another tank. i still have it, can i still use it?

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Don, that is a fantastic question! I have no idea but I have had ammonia chloride for many years and I still use it. Maybe that's a bad idea but it's worked fine for me.

[@freakygoblin3068]

With the bottled nitrifying bacteria people should remember that they can be heat sensitive. You need to bear that in mind if shipping them although I don't know the details about temp ranges off hand. You are not going to overdose either. I personally used a fish cycle with bottled bacteria/live sand and never had any ammonia or nitrites showing up in testing. Live rock (not carib sea life rock) could be used instead of bottled nitrifying bacteria but wouldn't use fish with that method as it would take time for bacteria levels to rise enough to avoid ammonia. Fish levels were built up over months however. Slow and steady is the name of the game.

[@RogueAquariums]

With the MB Start XLM it can take temperature swings that Fritz turbo start cannot.

[@brianredban9393]

Brightwell is dormant can with stand high and low temp

[@RogueAquariums]

@@brianredban9393 this is true about the temperature swings..

[@BALD8BIL]

Great video I tried Dr tim one and only and I will not buy dr. Tims products again ever since I started my cycle ammonia has been a 8.0 try to reach out to dr.tim several times with no response back I feel like dr. Tims would help you to buy something something goes wrong we have a question can I get ahold of them basically taking your money yesterday Wednesday 9 with my cycling according to dr. Tim I should be adding a fish I've heard so much good stuff about Dr tim one and only I figured I would give it a try on my first Dream build I can't explain how disappointed I am

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Oh man, sorry to hear that. That is super annoying! Customer service is so important! Super sorry to hear that. Feel free to send me an email contact (@) myfirstfishtank (.com). I'll be glad to help in any way I can!

[@BALD8BIL]

I sent you a screenshot by email from [e-mail]

[@lowellbentley]

One day cycle. 5.5 gallon, added fish fast.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

;-)

[@lowellbentley]

@@MyFirstFishTank Stil running strong friend. Bio-spira is kind of amazing, or the bio sponge is I think maybe a combination of both, and the super cheap Aqueon quietflow10 is super quiet and has built it bioplastics that house bacteria as well. Other products maybe purchased to create more filtration.

[@abuanwp]

When I was a newbie I had 10-Tangs, 5-Oscillaris, 2-Damsels, 1-Tomato Clown and 1-Pajama Cardinal. All the rest died in just 3days except the Pajama Cardinal and Tomato clown even if I changed 90% of water. It turned out that there is a dead Damsel inside the rock hole that is making the Ammonia mess. So heart breaking to not detecting the cause.

[@dobermanguy9437]

I've been in saltwater since 1986 my opinion you cannot speed up mother nature !!!!! sure you can seed the tank and it may take about a week off of your cycle I do not believe in rushing things I've seen guys trying to speed up the cycle and to end up having dead fish in their tank due to ammonia or nitrite poisoning but then again to each its own can you take an established wet dry filter and switch it on another tank with some of the old saltwater sure you can do stuff like that I personally believe in letting nature take its course and not trying to speed up things I remember back in the day my buddy set up a new tank and he bought a product called Fritz it was basically a bottle of bacteria did it work no it did not he had dead fish about a week after he put it in I told him he should just do it the natural way to a couple of damsels in there and just let it go and wait till all the ammonia and nitrite drop but hey people can do what they want it's their tank personally I like taking established bio balls or substrate out of an established tank that is disease-free and it will speed up the cycle I just don't believe it's a good idea to try and cycle your tank in 5 days because I guarantee you will probably run into some type of problem cycling a brand-new system in 5 days no thank you I would not even think about it some of these products are way overrated they can help speed up the cycle but a tank cycled in 5 days not my cup of tea remember people nothing good happens fast in saltwater have patience and let nature take its course lots of these products promise results that they cannot keep basically snake oil in a bottle they really want your money I like I said they can help speed things up but cycling a tank and 5 days I wouldn't even want to go there

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Thanks for taking the time to write all of this Stan. The funny thing is, in the first draft of my video I actually had four ways to cycle your tank, the 4th being taking already cycled media, either rock or ceramic, from another tank. I ended up cutting that one out just because I didn't want to have to go into making sure it was clean, what kind of pests and hitchhikers there might be, etc. But you are absolutely right. It's so challenging because, as you know, that hobby not only requires patience, but teaches you patience. And beginners just don't yet have that patience to wait months like we do. But I can't disagree with you. I do think using nitrifying bacteria in a cycle can work well and can speed things up, but your point is well taken.

[@reefmagick446]

All you gata do is add alot of nitrifying bacteria then add 2 small fish then watch

[@christopherbraxton7289]

Hey Matthew let me start by saying love you videos watch them all I kind of disagree with you on the fish in cycle I know for a fact do clown fish and a bacteria there'll be no effect on that fish it usually cycles in less than a week and you're ready to goHey Matthew let me start by saying love you videos watch them all I kind of disagree with you on the fish in cycle I know for a fact do clown fish and a bacteria there'll be no effect on that fish it usually cycles in less than a week and you're ready to go This is how I've done it all my life and I've never lost a fish

[@robertedwards9961]

My version: put half a dead shrimp into your tank and wait for a couple of weeks. See, I just saved you 16 minutes of this guy blathering on, and the followup.

[@darrylchase3688]

I have to disagree completely. Anybody who says you can fully cycle a tank in 5 days has been watching too many episodes of Tanked. Cycling isn't just about ammonia. Most experienced reefers wouldn't cycle for any less than four months before considering the tank stable enough for corals. I suggest you watch the KZbin video from Dr. Tim Hovanec: How to harness bacteria to cycle your saltwater tank quickly!

[@robertedwards9961]

Or you could add ammonium chloride ($11 a bottle, little of which you'll ever use) and another bottle, again you'll never use it all for $9. Terrible info from a guy who doesn't understand basic reef chemistry.