Cycle day 1

[apex_everything]

Im confused. I am doing Microbactor Start XLM and did I just cycle the tank in one day? I'm assuming i need to restart because it shouldn't have happened in one day right? I am new and learning. Do I need to restart the cycle or put a clown fish in? I have live sand and used the bottles instructions to get started.

 

[apex_everything]

oops

 

[aSaltyKlown]

Did you add an ammonia source?

 

[ElementReefer]

Congrats on getting this far, your tank looks sweet!

Put in the bottled bacteria and a little clownfish. He’s not gonna choke himself out in 40 gallons of water. You could even get a couple of soft coral frags to keep him company.

Then wait a couple weeks, and add another fish every two weeks.

You could do bottled ammonia instead of a fish, but don’t do both lol.

 

[apex_everything]

Did you add an ammonia source?

Well I didnt think about that. I thought it was in the kit. So go grab a pair of clownfish? I feel dumb lol

 

[apex_everything]

SOOOO I thought the other bottle in the kit was the dechlorinator... It actually the ammonia i was suppose to add... lol oops. Cycle is starting!!!! Thanks yall

 

[Fish Fan]

SOOOO I thought the other bottle in the kit was the dechlorinator... It actually the ammonia i was suppose to add... lol oops. Cycle is starting!!!! Thanks yall

I'm not familiar with a Microbacter "kit" that includes the ammonia, typically you need to purchase ammonia separately (or use fish food or a piece of shrimp from the grocery store). To my knowledge, and I could well be wrong, the Microbacter product only has the beneficial bacteria you need, you would still need to add an ammonia source to get your cycle started.

Are you sure you added ammonia and not something else? Just double checking ;-)

You can add a Clownfish at this time, that's literally how everyone cycled tanks 30 years ago. The fish will likely pull through just fine. But, most reefers today would argue that it's cruel to the fish. Best practice is to establish your biofilter first, then slowly add livestock.

The initial nitrogen cycle can be confusing for new reefers. Here's some videos that may help. Please post again if you have any questions:

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

Setting up a new aquarium is an exciting project. If you’re like us, we can’t wait to start building up the reef by adding fish, corals, and other invertebrates. But, a newly set up aquarium is not biologically mature enough to handle a full load of reef livestock. In this episode, we’ll share...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Cycle your saltwater aquarium. Step 1: A new reefer's guide to ammonia and the nitrogen cycle

This is the first of our two episodes created to show you how to successfully cycle your new reef aquarium. You will not only learn how to make the water safe for fish but also get valuable advice to avoid a slew of challenges new aquarists often run into. We split this up because there are two

www.bulkreefsupply.com

This one is about a product called Dr. Tim's One and Only, which is very, very similar to the Micrbacter product you have:

How To Fishless Cycle Your Aquarium Using Dr. Tim's One and Only Bacteria Additive

Learn to perform a fishless cycle in your new aquarium using Dr. Tim's One and Only Live Nitrifying Bacteria.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Good luck!