cycle as BW or FW?

[racer]

So i have a 75 gallon tank ready to cycle that will house f8's. I have 2 stores close by one keeps them in FW. The other in BW. So do i cycle it as BW or as FW and raise my salinity?

[J-P]

essentially it is the same thing. But I would cycle as FW and save $$ on the salt and then during the last water change add the salt and raise it to the correct SG level.

[hadla]

yeah, like j-p said id cycle as freshwater then raise the salinity gradually... luckily i was able to raise mine kinda fast, but then my tanks have been running for over 3 years.

[bertie 83]

What they said lol. Raise the sg by 0.002 pw to the desired level once cycled. If you buy the f8 from freshwater source you could raise the sg nice and slow once your tank is stable with the bio load so you don't knock out too much bacteria.

[racer]

So i seen this stuff at petland that claimed to cycle tank instanty. Im guessing snake oil?

[Darielm]

So i seen this stuff at petland that claimed to cycle tank instanty. Im guessing snake oil?

Depends what it is. If is Tetra's SafeStart then it DOES work. I would go with that or order Dr. Tim's One and Only.

[bertie 83]

Yes one of our members fully tested safestart and it does work. I havealso heard good stuff about dr timms.

[sgtmyers88]

+1 on SafeStart Used it on my 150 gallon tank.

[RTR]

If the tank is set as FW, you raise the specific gravity to the desired light brackish water (1.003 - 1.005) most safely in two steps, but should allow at least three or four day between increases. You also need to keep the bacteria fed during that time.

The fish can be drip-acclimated in a couple of hours maximum with no issues.

You might get away with going from S.G 1.000 to light BW in one step, but if the water is soft and acid (KH less than 3, pH less than 7.0), you may osmotic shock the osmotic shock the bacteria. Two steps is much safer.

HTH

[racer]

So if i use a safe sfart should i still feed it with ammonia? And do testin to make sure its working

[bertie 83]

Yes you must feed the bacteria and definately test regularly

[Pufferpunk]

Safestart is only bacteria. It still needs to eat.

[racer]

Ok so i added safe start then added ammonia to get it at 5. Just tested water and ammonia is still a t with nitrite 0. This sound ok?

[bertie 83]

What are the full test results amm nitra nitri

[racer]

A4 trite0 trate5