Live Rock Help

[adam & jeanne]

I am tired of waiting on my tank to cycle and Im considering ordering some lr off of swf.com to finish the cycling. Is there any tips or hints or things I need to know before adding the lr. Also is there any specific type I need to order?
55 gal FOWCC
6 damsels
2 penguin 330 biowheels
2 penguin powerheads
running for about 3 and-a-half to 4 months

 

[tacks]

If your gonna use the rock to cycle the tank, than rinse it off with fresh saltwater and put it in. Keep in mind this will cause a definate ammonia spike followed by a nitrite spike so if you have fish in there now, they may perish.

 

[dathem]

Hello,
Instead of lr I would recommend using a package of Nature's Ocean ls. This product will completely cycle your tank within hours as long as you use it at the rate of one pound per gallon of water and only add a few hardy fish. I have personally used this product 7 times and never had a cycle to deal with. You can use it by itself or on top of other sand or substrate. I am sure you will be pleased. I t will not cloud your water so you could use it even if you had a fish or invert in the tank already.

 

[therock0861]

No cycle? If this is the case I am gonna go get some is it live sand?

 

[dathem]

Hello,
It is live in that it has all the bacteria types in a dormant state. It doesn't have any other live things in it, but considering how well it works you can start to add fish and snails, hermit crabs right away. I can't think of any reason why anyone would not want to use it, since it puts and end to the old fashioned cycle routine.

 

[adam & jeanne]

thanks guys, so if i put live sand in, should i just simply funnel it to the bottom on top of the cc?? bear in mind i still have grates from a disconnected undergravel filter below the cc!!

 

[dathem]

Hello,
Sorry to take so long to respond, but you can just pour it in as it doesn't cloud the water. You could also fill a cup with the ls and slowly lower it to the cc and then dump it out.

 

[chadillac]

adam, I see you mentioned an under gravel filter is this a previous fresh water tank? after 4 months your tank should have cycled by now. What are your water parameters? If it was a freshwater tank did yoou ever treat it with any chemicals ata all? copper or anything like that?