Cycling a Brackish Tank

[rykitten]

I have already started cycling my 80 gal. soon to be brackish tank. I've read on some sites that you should add the salt before you cycle and on others I've read add it after. Something about the salt harming the benficial bacteria while it's growing.

How did you do it? Does it really make a difference?

 

[CFC]

You should add the salt to the water before you start the cycle, saltwater bacteria are different to those in FW once the SG gets over 1.006 and there will be ammounts of both at levels between 1.001 and 1.005. If you start the cycle with FW bacteria you will send the tank into a mini cycle once you add the salt.

 

[rykitten]

Thanks CFC.

I just added the salt halfway into the cycle. It should only take a bit longer I hope.

 

[tashanbrown]

when you have brackish water aqaurium you will need marine salt,hydrometer,ro water,plants

then you will have to add the salt in a bucket and add water to it the add a heater into the bucket to bring the water up to tempreture and the leave it for 1 hour and then you can pour it into the fish tank.

i hope that i have helped you find what you are looking for!!!!!!!!!!!

anything eles don't hesistate to ask..

B)

 

[AlexsDaddy]

Why do you need ro water for brackish? I'm thinking of starting one up, and am trying to glean all the info from this site that I can. Thanks!

 

[CFC]

You dont need R/O water for brackish water and you certainly dont need live plants. Also you dont have to heat the water up to temperature or wait a hour before you can use the water, as long as all the salt has disolved and the ammount of cooler water you are adding to the tank wont drop the temperature by more than 2 degrees then its all good.

The trouble with forums is that everyone is entitled to give what advice they "think" is right, it is up to you to sort out the rubbish from the quallity and decide which advice to take.

 

[Zombies]

I wish the Brackish forum was around when I started my tank. I took an aquaclear sponge from my friends established freshwater aquarium and put it into my aquaclear, then added salt and fish. My tank went through a mini cycle. I ended up doing a water change every second day to keep the ammonia as low as possible.

 

[Discomafia]

I ended up doing a water change every second day to keep the ammonia as low as possible.

OUCH! How much water did you have to change?

 

[Zombies]

About 15% I'm lucky I didn't experience a fish loss during the mini-cycle.