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Cycling Using the Read Sea Method

• Aug 21, 2023
• Anshika Mishra
•   223        0      0

When you are using this cycling method, you can expect three different things. This will

1. Establish aerobics nitrifying bacteria in the tank
2. Establish anoxic de-nitrifying and phosphate-harboring bacteria
3. Promote the growth of coralline algae and other microfauna

The entire cycling process will happen over 21 days, which is a little bit longer than some of the cycling methods in the market. But when you are done, you'll be ready for even SPS corals.

First, let's go over the list of things you'll need to get your tank cycled. You'll need:

Reef mature kit that will depend on the size of your tank. If you have a larger tank, you may need more than one of these kits. The reef mature kid will come with four different things:

• Nitro bac (blend of nitrifier and denitrifiers)
• Bacto-start (nitrogen and phosphorous content that stimulates waste and controls the bacteria growth)
• NO3.PO4-X (Its organically bonded elements that will be used by the anoxic bacteria and control phosphate and nitrate)
• KH-Caroline Grow (A concentrated marine buffer complex that has trace elements to stimulate the growth of microfauna and coralline algae)

Testing Equipment

Next, you'll need some testing equipment. You should already have your Red Sea refractometer that we used to make our saltwater, but you're also going to need a Red Sea test kit. So, go ahead and get yourself the following test kit:

• Alkalinity
• pH
• Ammonia
• Nitrite
• Nitrate

Water

You'll also need some water. Over the course of this 21-bit day period, you can expect to have some evaporation in your tank. So, make sure you have RO water to add to top off.

In addition to the RO water, you're also going to be doing some water changes. So, make sure you have enough salt to make additional saltwater for those water changes.

Adding Livestock

During this cycle, we'll also add livestock along the way, especially cleanup crew members. Now, in their information guide, they give you a list of different species that you can have. But, if you don't have a lot of options locally, you want to get those ordered so that they arrive in time on the appropriate day.

For the cleanup crew, you'll need herbivorous fish.

21-Day Red Sea Tank Cycling

Before starting the cycling, make you are running the tank with lights and a skimmer. Obviously, you want to ensure everything is turned on and ready to go, including the skimmer. 

Now, let's go with our first day's instructions:

Day 1

1. Make sure the tank with substrate, rock, and skimmer is running
2. Set the lighting period for 10 hours per day
3. Run the system for 24 hours

Day 2

• Check and adjust temperature and salinity
• Test and record the pH and KH/ Alkalinity
• If the KH is less than 8.4, add KH-caroline Gro buffer, calculate the dosage shown on the label
• Add 90 ml of Nitro Bac per 25gal of water
• Add 10 ml of Bacto-Start per 25 gals of water
• Add 3ml of Read Sea's NO3-PO4-X per 25 gals of water

Day 3

• Check and adjust temperature and salinity
• test and record the pH and KH/Alkalinity. Do not add KH-Caroline Gro
• Test and record the Ammonia, Nitrate, and Nitrite levels
• Add 10 ml of Nitro Bac per 25 gals of new water volume
• Add 3ml of Read Sea's NO3-PO4-X per 25 gals of water

Day 4-5

• Add 3ml of Read Sea's NO3-PO4-X per 25 gals of water

Day 6

• Check and adjust temperature and salinity
• test and record the pH and KH/Alkalinity. Do not add KH-Caroline Gro
• Add 3ml of Read Sea's NO3-PO4-X per 25 gals of water

Day 7

• Water change - replace 5% of the system water with new saltwater
• Check and adjust temperature and salinity
• Test and record the Ammonia and NItrite levels
• Add 5 ml of Nitro Bac per 25 gals of new water volume
• Add 10 ml of Bacto-Start per 25 gals of water
• Add 3ml of Read Sea's NO3-PO4-X per 25 gals of water
• Add and calculate the daily dosage of KH-Caroline Gro

Day 8-9

• Check and adjust temperature and salinity
• Add 3ml of Read Sea's NO3-PO4-X per 25 gals of water
• Add calculated daily dosage of KH-Caroline Gro

Day 10

• Check and adjust temperature and salinity
• Test and record the Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate levels
• Add 5 ml of Nitro Bac per 25 gals of new water volume
• Add 5 ml of Bacto-Start per 25 gals of water
• Add 3ml of Read Sea's NO3-PO4-X per 25 gals of water
• Add calculated daily dosage of KH-Caroline Gro

Day 11

• Add cleanup crew.

Day 11-13

• Check and adjust temperature and salinity
• Add 3ml of Read Sea's NO3-PO4-X per 25 gals of water
• Add calculated daily dosage of KH-Caroline Gro

Day 14

• Water change (5%)
• Check and adjust temperature and salinity
• Test and record the Nitrate (5ppm)
• Add 3ml of Read Sea's NO3-PO4-X per 25 gals of water
• Test and record the pH and KH/Alkalinity

Day 15-20

• Check and adjust temperature and salinity
• Add 3ml of Read Sea's NO3-PO4-X per 25 gals of water
• Add amended daily dosage of KH-Caroline Gro

Day 21

• Water change (5%)
• Check and adjust temperature and salinity
• Test and record the Nitrate (5ppm)
• Add 2ml of Read Sea's NO3-PO4-X per 25 gals of water
• Test and record the pH and KH/Alkalinity