How soon????????
- Thread starter wayway
- Start date
viper_930
Active Member
Anytime.
If you are getting rock from online, you'd need to cure it before putting anything live in there. The die-off will start another cycle, if it hasn't already. Once the ammonia and nitrites are 0, and the nitrates are close then you can add livestock.
If getting fully cured LR from a LFS, you can just put the rock in and the fish in IF you have cycled the water already.
If you are getting rock from online, you'd need to cure it before putting anything live in there. The die-off will start another cycle, if it hasn't already. Once the ammonia and nitrites are 0, and the nitrates are close then you can add livestock.
If getting fully cured LR from a LFS, you can just put the rock in and the fish in IF you have cycled the water already.
C
crm13
Guest
I think that if you just filled the tank, with nothing else in there but the equipment, you could actually just cure the live rock right in the tank. I mean, you'll get a lot of die off, initially, but it will help to cycle your tank as well. In fact, the live sand and live rock dying off will complement each other in achieving your cycle. I always thought that curing uncured live rock in an external container of water with a heater and a powerhead was a method that was used if you were going to use uncured live rock in an already established tank. Then the die off would cause another cycle, endangering your live stock. But, if the tank is freshly filled, I think you could just do it right in there. Then, like Viper said, you would watch your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels real close. When the first two reach zero, and you have a relatively significant amount of nitrate, you do a water change. Your nitrates will mellow out, and you can start to add fish.
belothsurf
Member
what crm 13 said.....
aidos
Member
i have a question that is to do with adding LR to a freshly filled tank but is a bit off topic
is there a limit to the amount of uncured live rock to the gallon you can't over step when adding the rock initially.
my thinking behind this is that if there is to much die off and the ammonia and nitrite levels become high, could it end up killing the live bacteria on the LR?
i am getting a 76 Gallon tank, and once the base rock is down would like to order a 15 kilo box of LR, as it save bout $2-3 a kilo.
is there a limit to the amount of uncured live rock to the gallon you can't over step when adding the rock initially.
my thinking behind this is that if there is to much die off and the ammonia and nitrite levels become high, could it end up killing the live bacteria on the LR?
i am getting a 76 Gallon tank, and once the base rock is down would like to order a 15 kilo box of LR, as it save bout $2-3 a kilo.
C
crm13
Guest
I don't think that you can really overdo it, within reason, but the more that you put in the tank, the funkier it's gonna get in there. But, all in all for a 76 gallon tank, you want to eventually have at least 120 lbs. I'd say, for a good base for bacterial colonization( I think the general rule of thumb is 1.5-2 lbs. per gallon but i may be wrong - but I'm close.) Nonetheless, to answer your question about the ammonia and nitrite levels escalating, your ammonia will peak out at a certain point. Depending on how much rock you put in there, the die off and eventual ammonia levels will be proportionate. But, the bacteria that break down the ammonia to nitrite will bloom also relative to the ammonia level, and where it peaks out, the population of that certain bacteria has caught up... then it will start to come down. At that point, as your nitrite levels escalate with the blooming of the bacteria, a different bacteria will break down the nitrite into nitrate in much the same fashion as the ammonia. So all in all, your ammonia and nitrite levels actually won't kill your bacteria, but will actually allow it to increase in population because the fuel is there for growth (bacteria grows in geometric progression so it can grow pretty damn quick.) Whewww!!! With all of that said, I hope that I answered your questions.
Just remember, when your ammonia and nitrites read zero, you have sufficient bacterial colonization to support a gradual increase in your bioload (You can add fish:cheer: ) But, I'm sure you know, take it real slow. Good luck. HTH
Just remember, when your ammonia and nitrites read zero, you have sufficient bacterial colonization to support a gradual increase in your bioload (You can add fish:cheer: ) But, I'm sure you know, take it real slow. Good luck. HTH