Yet another cycling question.....

[triggerfinger]

I finally have all I need to begin the cycling of my tank.. My question is..... Which is the better and more economical way of doing this.. I have a 55 gal. I have 100 #'s of assorted Aragonite Sand. I am also going to put around 50 #'s of base rock in.. Should I put the sand and base rock in and use a piece of cocktail shrimp to start the cycle. Then add Cured LR on top of the base rock... Or should I put the sand in, put the base rock down, and use Uncured Live Rock to cycle the tank.. I am just trying to find out the most efficient way of cycling the tank.....
TIA

 

[karajay]

Originally posted by TriggerFinger
put the base rock down, and use Uncured Live Rock to cycle the tank..
That's what I'd do

 

[triggerfinger]

Is that where I am going to get the most out of my LR??? Off the Uncured I mean. Or will I get more out of the rock if I used Cured after a cycle????

 

[hirock]

Since it is a new system, (water in place) by placing the sand in first, then the base rock would seem logical. By placing uncured "live" rock into your system, you will be on your way to cycling your new aquarium. But note, placing uncured rock into a system WILL foul the air you breath :yes: The ammonia/gases produced through decomposing matter can get staggering in proportion to the size of the room which it is located. Not to mention, if the uncured rock is fresh from harvest (aquacultured in the wild) you will probably inherit a few undesirable hitchhikers stowed away inside the pores and crevasses. Personally, A new, clean rubber made trashcan, a 200+ watt heater, a strong power head and time is all you need to cure "uncured rock". An Extra protein skimmer would be advantageous in collecting the decayed material from the curing vat. If you do not have an extra lying around, water changes will be needed frequently and often within the first few weeks of curing. They’ll taper off as time progresses. About the shrimp method, 1 thumb-sized piece, cleaned and shelled, placed under or in between a few of the base rocks will start your cycling process.
Good Luck :holiday:

 

[fishrfriends]

Hi - total newbie here. myself, but I went the way of the Michael Paletta book, the New Marine Aquarium. He recommends adding the live rock first - cured or uncured - then the sand. Supposedly you don't add the sand first because (1) it creates dead spaces and problems with anoxia and (2) the live rock tips more easily if it isn't on a firm flat base.
I added partially curen live rock on the flat bottom, then added the live sand when the ammonia, etc dropped to zero. Paletta's book says the ammonia release from uncured rock or a cycling tank can kill off the organisms in the live sand - add them after the rock cycles, then inverts if you want, then fish.
That's what I'm doing and it seems to be going fine. Then again - what do I know?