Live Rock ?

Discussion in 'Live Rock' started by stevenbaker21, Jan 28, 2009.

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  1. stevenbaker21

    stevenbaker21 Astrea Snail

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    I just recieved my cured LR today. I have a protein skimmer and am wondering if I should keep it off until my tank is cycled? Is the die off from the LR going to be enough to cycle my 46 gallon? Any other strategies to cycling besides patience? Thanks!
     
    stevenbaker21, Jan 28, 2009
    stevenbaker21, Jan 28, 2009
    #1

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  2. Otty

    Otty Giant Squid

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    Unless it is some nasty LR then I would leave the skimmer off until about month 6.
     
    Otty, Jan 28, 2009
    Otty, Jan 28, 2009
    #2
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  3. suckafish

    suckafish Montipora Capricornis

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    no need at all for the skimmer, just leave it off. and i wouldnt rush the cycling, let things happen. You can add some food to start off the cycle
     
    suckafish, Jan 28, 2009
    suckafish, Jan 28, 2009
    #3
  4. m_hsiao

    m_hsiao Purple Spiny Lobster

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    month 6? I think it would really depend on how fast you are going with your tank. If you start stocking with CUC and then with some hardier fish like clowns, then moving on to a few other species (most people do end up being a little bit on the impatient side and start stocking 2-3 months into the initial cycle, and if that's the case, I would have the skimmer running a few months in. My tank as a good example, I was a little bit on the impatient side and my 75G is almost fully stocked with the hardier fish at 6 months.. I've been running my skimmer for the last 4 months with no problems with some dosing of calcium, strongtium, controlled dosing of iodine and phytoplex. Basically, it depends on the bioload versus the corals you have in your tank. Few months in, you can start keeping some hardier corals, and if that's the case with bioload, then you need the skimmer to be running. Happy reefing!
     
    m_hsiao, Jan 28, 2009
    m_hsiao, Jan 28, 2009
    #4
  5. coral reefer

    coral reefer Giant Squid

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    How much live rock?

    Any Live sand?

    I have always had success with using some species of Damsel.
     
    coral reefer, Jan 28, 2009
    coral reefer, Jan 28, 2009
    #5
  6. m_hsiao

    m_hsiao Purple Spiny Lobster

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    A proper start to a cycle shouldn't really take longer than a month and a half to end.. and for the water to stablize, it didn't take my 2 tanks longer than 1 month. so by 2.5 months, my tank was ready to add the hardier fish and the hardier corals.. I did however, cycle with a few damsels, live sand, and live rock.. for a 46 gallon, it shoudln't really take longer than a month if you have something to spike the ammonia and start the cycle.. of course, everyone has their ways of going about things. But I would buy some live sand to seed the sand you have in your tank to seed the the dead sand and help trigger the ammonia
     
    m_hsiao, Jan 28, 2009
    m_hsiao, Jan 28, 2009
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  7. stevenbaker21

    stevenbaker21 Astrea Snail

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    45 lbs of live rock (premium aquatics) and around 35 lbs of aragonite (not live).

    Thanks!
     
    stevenbaker21, Jan 28, 2009
    stevenbaker21, Jan 28, 2009
    #7
  8. m_hsiao

    m_hsiao Purple Spiny Lobster

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    buy some live sand to seed your sandbed and help trigger a cycle, maybe about 5-10 pounds of it will do
     
    m_hsiao, Jan 28, 2009
    m_hsiao, Jan 28, 2009
    #8