Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey I have just set up my 120 gallon tank and have the live rock and sand in there. pH and Alkalinity are good, I have had it all running for 3 days the protein skimmer is beginning to pull stuff out. My question is how long should I let it cycle before I add some little fish? And then how long before I should add some beginner corals?

Generally, it takes 4-6 weeks for a tank to cycle (and then it will cycle again everytime you add a fish, and if you add too many your tank will crash). If you are new to keeping fish in general, I would not recommend getting coral. I know, they are totally awesome creatures, but they require a lot of specific care. I do wonder though, what kind of coral were you thinking of adding? As well as what type of fish?

Also, see the link below on an article on cycling.
Cycling

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Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

I have kept fresh water fish for years, mainly cichilds. Cycling for those tanks has never taken that long, and everything I have read tells me saltwater tanks take longer. I tried my hand at a salt tank a couple of years ago and didn't do it right. So I have a decent idea what goes into keeping certain corals, just never really gave full attention, so this round I want to do it right. Have a refugium, metal halides, decent protein skimmer enough rock calc reactor and other dosing pumps. When it is ready I am probably going to add 5 or so green chromies as I have seen them in other tanks and look pretty cool as they school. After that and when the tank is ready a sailfin, a jawfish, some sort of watchmen goby, a long nose hawk and a blenny of some kind. I am going to first start with soft corals, mushrooms, and polyps to start. Thanks for the help.

Oh ok. That's awesome. I thought you were new to the fish hobby, so I wanted to make sure you have some fish experience (since as you've seen there's a lot more involved with a saltwater tank). There's too much work for me currently, but I've always wondered what it's like to have one. Therefore, I can only go by the information I can find or have read already. You may also want to check on our fish chat (Tuesdays at 10 PM EST).

Typically cycling does take 4-6 weeks, and some folks on aquariumhobbyist say their tank has taken longer (and perhaps some take less time). Water testing is the key to knowing when your tank has completely cycled. Your SW tank may take less time because you have live rock and sand in there. Do you know what your ammonia levels are? Or what stage your cycling might be in?

Your tank will be stunning, so hopefully that will be enough motivation for you to keep up with all the work involved.
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Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

your live rock and sand are your fiolters they are encrusted with your anerobic or nitrifying bacteria if its good rock and sand it might not ake long at all thts why i always get "cured" live rock. once your ammonia and nitrite are reading zero it is then safe to add fish and corals but there are specific guidlines as far as lighting requirements and feeding for corals make sure u understand and can meet all the needs of your corals before purchasing and running the protien skimmer during the cycling period will also speed up the process by removing extra organics from the water that would turn into ammonia and nitrite.