ok, now on my first setup I used live rock and after a bit some chromis and never even experienced a cycle. on my second I started by letting the water circulate and adding some sand from my first tank and after a week adding about 5 damsels, three and a half weeks later I was good to go.
Now I'm setting up my third of 50 gallons and it has only saltwater in it and I'm using a 430 gph aquaclear overhead filter ( by the time I get all the rock I will want there will probably be 35 -40 gals of water). 15 gals of this water is from my reef system which as of 2/1/06 tested really good. Also my overhead filter has been running on my reef aquarium for the last week and a half to help get it started early with beneficial bacteria. I am also cirulating the water with an aqua clear 50 powerhead (270 gph). I have the heat and temp set already. And last night I threw in two dried krill to help things along as well.
I would like to hear from some of you good people how you feel about my setup up to this point. I feel that using very good establish water and previously freshly mixed RO saltwater, and letting the filter prep on a well kept established aquarium, that this approach will work out well. Especially once I add some live rock and let that sit in there for a couple of weeks.
Tell me how you feel and if you have any suggestions please post. Neal in Grover Beach. CA............
cycling new 50 gal salt tank 
