LR question

[arf]

I'm new to SWF and using LR. I bought 20 lbs for my 29 gal Biocube from a LFS. I was told it was cured and ready to go directly into the tank. My levels are fine and indicate that it has finished cycling but I do notice a lot of dead (green and brown colored) material still attached to the LR. Should I have cleaned it up a bit before adding it? Should I do so now? The tank has been running for 10 days, everything is at 0 except nitrates which are at 10. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[coraljunky]

Your cycle is not complete with nitrates at 10ppm. Adding llive rock may cause a recycle due to added nutrients. I like to r/o dip any rock that enters my tanks to rid of any unwanted pests and scrub as needed.

 

[arf]

Thanks for the info. I continue to check levels and they still are exactly the same. I am trying the shrimp method to push the cycle forward. I will stay patient but I have two clowns that are anxious to move into their new tank.

 

[emtguy]

Im new also but i was under the impression that with my 29g biocube i was supossed to set it up fill with DI water and salt mixture and once that was correct add LR and wait till the tank cycled before adding anything else. I would like to know if the LR needs to be rinsed in a tub of RO or DI. Are you not supposed to put LR in after your salt levels a 1.025 for 24 hrs?

 

[earlybird]

Chances are you will see little to no cycle with cured LR. Just keep testing and ghost feed the tank. Nitrates are the end result of a cycling tank after ammonia is converted to nitrites and then to nitrates.

 

[waterlogged]

While we're on the subject of live rock: If you stack live rock against back glass of dt you can make it look really cool but I was told do not do that because then you can't clean tank as well.

 

[sambasam]

yeah just scrub it down a little.

 

[waterlogged]

They said it was because you can't clean glass or behind rock.

 

[ophiura]

If you have 0 ammonia, and 0 nitrites, but do have nitrates, your tank has cycled. It is very unlikely that your nitrates will go down on their own (meaning without water changes).
However, before you add fish, I would feed the tank for a week as if you had fish, to make sure there is no ammonia spike from that.

 

[arf]

I will do a water change today and monitor all levels. I will continue to wait before adding anything to the tank. All comments have been helpful. Thanks to everyone.