I have a few questions

I am getting ready to buy my live rock. I am looking for a discriptive explanation on how to cure the rock. Also sould i get my protein skimmer before i add my live rock? Thank you

 

If you are just starting, you can simply put the rock into your tank with a couple cocktail shrimp or some fish food. Wait a few weeks until your nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia stablize(Nitrites and ammonia should be 0, or very very close to it), and you can try adding some hermit crabs and some snails. Some of the other reefers can give you much more detailed explanations, but that is the basic part of curing/cycling your rock.

You can also do this in a storage bin with a heater and a power head. But I would say just do it in your tank if you have nothing in it as it will help fill the tank with essential bacteria your tank will need to help remove nitrates and nitrites.

 

ok so i dont need to change the water or clean the rock while its going through this prosses? I just let it do it thing?

 

also should i have a protien skimmer before i start with the live rock?

 

Alright. You can change the water if you want to. Just don't do too much in short periods of time. And you do not need a skimmer during cycling.

 

Why waste the money on L/rock ? coralline algae ? Its your money and tank But I'd apply the loot to some really needed item.

 

ok like what?
Also i have been cycling my water for about 4 days now and i noticed today that there was a white film on the inside of my tank is this a bad thing or is it normal?

 

Okay to start I would buy your liverock, when you bring it home rinse it a bit in ro water or saltwater, then put it in your tank. I would run a skimmer while cycling but some would say it's not necessary. If you put the LR in the tank and you get a skimmer in a few days, that's okay too. While cycling the tank blow the rock off every couple of days with a new turkey baster (having a turkey baster for your tank is beneficial) Remember to get your powerheads in there a s well to get the water cirulating and getting all the detritus from the rock into your skimmer/filter. Test your water for Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates frequently so you can see your cycle happen. I would keep this written somewhere. For powerheads I would recommend the new hydor koralia's, I just replaced 2 maxijets with 2 of these. I love them, it's flow is a stream line flow so it's much more gentle on your corals without taking away from the flow they also are held by magnets not nuisence suction cups.
Don't do water changes during the cycle process, this will cause another cylce and you will never complete the full cycle. While cycling I would take this time to do your research, think of aquascaping, and getting what you need.

 

The white film is natural and will go away with a simple swipe of a sponge!
As for the live rock! IMO. I would use uncured rock to cycle your tank! With this option, you don't need to add fish to the tank for the cycling process! Also I would use a skimmer during the cycling process but would not do a water change during the cycling process!
IMO also, I think it is better to spend some money on good live rock that is porous in nature! It offers you some much needed surface area and a diverse bioload of diverse bacteria and other organisms indicative to the area it was found in! You don't have to go over board with this but it will offer you some interesting and beneficial organisms to help with your tank!!!!!
To cure your rock, just add the rock to your tank and let nature take its course! Skimmer is good to run but don't do a water change during the cycling process! I would also continue to test your water periodically to allow you to be informed as to the status and where abouts of your water chemistry!

 

When did you add the water? It could be dust from your substrate or some calcium precipitation. Did you mix the salt in buckets or in the tank?
Any way, I wouldnt worry about it.