Cycle question

I just started up my 90 gal with dry rock, dead as a door nail. Lol ;D

I have a question regarding the cycle. Its day 4 and i tested today for ammonia but got 0. Is that normal for dry rock? Will the cycle be shorter because the rock is dead? Should I do anything to jump start the cycle? I'm not in a hurry, I'm just asking a newbie question

 

I would say it will take longer and may never cycle. If there isn't anything biologic in your tank to start the cycle, it will never start. What did you add besides dry rock? live sand? Fish?

 

^^Yup. The cycle will take even longer with dry rock because you have no live bacteria. Live sand at least? You need to add a fish or some kind of ammonia source for the bacteria to begin growing. Are you're nitrites and nitrates 0 as well?

 

PLEASE DO NOT ADD A LIVE FISH TO START YOUR CYCLE!!!

That was the 'old way'. There are to many humane ways available today. There are bottled bacteria products, such as Dr Tim's One and Only, and Microbacter7 that work quite well. You could also just drop a raw cocktail shrimp into your tank and let it decay until your ammonia and nitrite spike and drop back to zero. You do not need to cause anything to suffer for your benefit.

 

add a dead fish or some fish food and let it dissolve.. by time ammonia will rise and other chemical forms as well
add some bacteria product to accelerate the process when the ammonia rise
good luck..and move slow

 

This is what I did.

 

Important point ...Thanx sir

 

Nitrate and nitrites at zero. I have live sand in the tank but that it. I've heard of using a raw cocktail shrimp but I wasn't sure. I'll get one tomorrow and put it in. Like I said I'm in no rush I want to take it so. As you all know there is a lot invested in starting up and then stocking. The last thing I want is to see it go down the drain nthanksnfornthe advice. By the way I would never put another living thing in harms way for my benefit. That's just cruel.

Thanks
Ed;D

 

Thank you, and you are correct.

"Back in the day", we didn't even know about the nitrogen cycle. It was normal practice to add a couple of cheap fish to test and "mature" the water. We have known better for a long, long time now, but occasionally, I do still hear of a LFS suggesting to a newbie that they need to put live fish in their sterile tank to boost the cycle... It's sad how so many myths in this hobby just refuse to die.

 

If all your rock was dead, did you cure your rock? Because if you didn't you are going to have massive undisolved organics and phosphate problems as it cures during your cycle period. If you didn't cure your rock I suggest you let the tank run for 4 weeks at higher temp, no lights, maybe a cover or tarp over the thank. Then empty completely, refill and then start with the cycle period. I did the mistake of not curing my dead rock and am paying for it now.

Playb4work