Short answer
With cured live rock: 2-3 weeks at most. With dry rock + bottled bacteria starter: 4-6 weeks. Process: set up tank, add rock and sand, dose ammonia to 2 ppm, add Dr. Tim's One and Only or Fritz Turbo Start 900, wait for ammonia and nitrite to read 0 within 24 hours of dosing 2 ppm.
In depth
Saltwater cycling is essentially identical to freshwater cycling but with a few twists: the bacterial colonies that establish on live rock and live sand are different from freshwater bacteria, the salt water itself doesn't cycle (only the bacterial habitat does), and live rock can dramatically shortcut the process.
Three cycle approaches
- Cured live rock (fastest): 2-3 weeks. Buy rock from a vendor that has cycled it for you (LiveAquaria, Tampa Bay Saltwater, KP Aquatics). Add to tank, monitor for re-cycle as the rock acclimates, complete in 14-21 days.
- Dry rock + bottled bacteria (safer): 4-6 weeks. Use dry/dead rock (Marco Rocks, BRS Reef Saver) to avoid pest hitchhikers, add Dr. Tim's One and Only or Fritz Turbo Start 900 nitrifying bacteria, dose ammonia to 2 ppm. Cycle completes when ammonia and nitrite both read 0 within 24 hours of dosing 2 ppm.
- Dry rock alone (slowest): 8-12 weeks. No bacterial starter, just patience. Not recommended unless you have time and prefer minimal hitchhikers.
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