Cycling a tank with Live Rock?
- Thread starter yourpalcm
- Start date
poniegirl
Active Member
I just cycled a 20 with about 8 lbs and it took one week. The levels didn't go very high. If the LR is well established, it's a huge difference. The rock I used had been in my 55 for at least three years.
The sand was brand new.
With the rock, of course, went the bristle worms, tiny seastars, pods and the odd stomatella.
I didn't really do anything off the beaten path. There's an Auqua Clear 30 and a 220 PH in the 20 gal. Othere than that it was a basic start-up.
The sand was brand new.
With the rock, of course, went the bristle worms, tiny seastars, pods and the odd stomatella.
S
saltfreak4
Guest
there is a site that says to "dip" your rock in a high salt bucket for one minute and all of the living stuff comes out of the rock an into the bucket, then you just pick up what you would like to put back in the tank and destroy what you don't. You can definately cycle with cured LR. It's faster, just more expensive (normally). The beneficial bacteria are already growing, they just adapt to the new tank and you are ready to go.
dogstar
Active Member
Imo, its best to set up the system with all the equipment your going to use/need, then put in ALL the rock and sand your going to want and let it rip......
May need to add a shrimp or other form of protein to start the ammonia and test to see how the levels change and do water changes to keep the levels from spikeing too high that could kill hitchhickers...
May need to add a shrimp or other form of protein to start the ammonia and test to see how the levels change and do water changes to keep the levels from spikeing too high that could kill hitchhickers...
S
saltfreak4
Guest
Don't change the water during a cycle. This will only postpone the completion of the cycle. This happens because the nitrifying bacteria grow to the ammonia level of the tank. So if you remove ammonia from the system, while it's cycling then you have less bacteria to carry the load later. JMO, GL
But I do agree about the placing the amount of rock in that you want to keep. Every time you add ANYTHING to the tank that places a bioload on the sytem, you have a potential for a cycle to start again. This is why it is so important not to do the water changes also, very delicate balance in there.
But I do agree about the placing the amount of rock in that you want to keep. Every time you add ANYTHING to the tank that places a bioload on the sytem, you have a potential for a cycle to start again. This is why it is so important not to do the water changes also, very delicate balance in there.