Cycle question

I'm going to guess by dry rock he meant actual dry rock that doesn't have any organics and is completely white harvested inland. So all he really needed to do is just rinse it off with some ro/di, let it dry, add it to the tank and call it a day.


I used fish food to start my cycle and after it was going for two weeks I went and bought a single piece of live rock and added it to the tank and it finished the cycle out in about a week.

Mind you, I was also dosing bacterial supplements that last week also.

 

as i said be4 move slow ...

 

I was writing the same ;D;D;D

 

If you took live rock from an existing system and allowed it to dry for a few days before reusing, or if you put it outdoors where it could become populated with terrestrial critters, I could see that happening. However, I've started many tanks with dry rock from the LFS shelf, and I've even added it to existing tanks many times with no issues whatsoever.

Where did you get the rock, what problems are you having, and what evidence can you provide that it is, in fact, the rock that's causing your issues?

 

Hey Guys I got my dry live rock as they call it from BRS. It's there reef saver rock. I did rinse the rock, to get all the loose stuff off, let it dry and then set it up in the tank fill with saltwater and started the pumps.

I'm new at this so maybe the term is curing the rock. I currently have no lights on and the tank is pretty much dark. I do have a film forming in my sump but not in the DT. I have the sump and pumps running because I added rock to the sump as well.

Ammonia was at .05 today still no nitrate or nitrite but I added the raw shrimp. That will get things started. As I said I'm no rush and taking it slow.

I have a question regarding dumping the water is it necessary to dump all the water or the majority, say 80-90%

 

I used 50 lbs dry fiji rock from BRS, and had phosphates thru the roof after 2 months. BRS has a video that explains how to cure the rock.

 

Update and Question

Hey all I just thought I update on the cycle. Here are my readings

Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrite 5.0 ppm
Nitrate 20 ppm
Ph 7.5
Temp 79
Gravity 1.024

Does this sound right? It's only been 3 weeks.

Also I am not running any lights.I was planing on waiting unil after the cycle to complete because I wanted to do a massive water change so I can get most of the detritus out of the tank and then throw on the light for at least 14 hours and wait for the algae bloom. Would this be ok or should I just run them now?

Thanks for the feedback.;D

 

;D;D;D..lol..
this is so funny... our tanks have been running almost identical...

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrites 5.0ppm
Nitrates 20ppm
Ph 8.2
Temp 80.2
S.G. 1.024

what im understanding from reading & people on here everything sounds & looks great!!!!
My only worry is with those test readings i still have crystal clear water... not the first sign of algae... from my understanding im half way or better threw my cycle so i would have thought i would have some kind of breakout... keep up the good reefing...8)8)

 

Thanks Saltydogg I told you we were running neck in neck. Funny lol. Are you running your lights yet?

 

Although your ammonia is 0 you should still try to drop the nitrates and nitrates try some water change. Usually I use a product called Nite-Out which helps lower no2, no3, and ammonia and helps start up the cycle.