How to properly cycle with Dry Rock?

[xilez]

Hey all,

Rapidly approaching the day when I finally get my tank wet.

This is the first time I am using dry rock (ReefCleaners man made) so I know the cycle can be a little different...

I plan to use fuji pink live sand as well.

I was told I need add a piece of raw shrimp to start the process? It was also recommended I add some Nitrifying Bacteria (this one was recommended to me by multiple people: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18390">http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18390</a>)

Any tips as far as when to do what would be much appreciated!

 

[danh]

I put all of the dry rock in my tank with a heater and a powerhead and tested ammonia after a week or so then every few days. Once the ammonia stopped I started testing nitrates waiting for it to level off. I didn't have a nitrite test so I skipped testing that middle step but didn't need to. Once nitrates stopped climbing for a bout a week or so I took all of the water out of the tank and replaced it. I used as little water as I needed to cover the rocks while they were cycling. No lights. I'd agree it's probably best done in an opaque container, but the tank worked fine for me. I didn't but I would recommend waiting for phosphates to level out too. I think I had a moderate spike in phosphate after I considered my rock cured and before I had much of a fish bio load in the tank.

Doing it like that, the rock was cured and the tank was cycled at the same time. The rock gave off enough waste from degrading, old, dead organisms to feed the cycle so I never added any other ammonia source. Because I had over a month of cure and cycle, I also didn't have a need to add any commercial bacteria. I just let it establish on its own.

 

[xilez]

I updated my original post, but I am using ReefCleaners rock so there would be no dead organic matter on it nor is there really a need to cure the rock. After a rinse, it's ready to go into the tank.

I just know I need something to spike the ammonia which helps kick start the cycle... Shrimp was what I've read a lot of people do (although idk how long I leave it etc..) or would it be faster to just dose pure ammonia?

 

[Adam]

If you're going to set everything up and cycle in the tank use a fine mesh bag for the piece of shrimp. After it decays a bit, a week 10 days, you can pull it out to keep the detritus mess down.

Once you start seeing Nitrites I'd use https://store.drtimsaquatics.com/One-Only-Live-Nitrifying-Bacteria-for-Saltwater-Aquaria_p_48.html">Dr. Tim's One and Only</a> with some of his [IMG]https://store.drtimsaquatics.com/Ammonium-Chloride-Solution-for-Fishless-Cycling_p_190.html">Ammonia</a> to help keep the level up. There's pretty good instructions on his site.

I've read that doing both the shrimp and Dr. Tim's help build a greater diversity of bacteria.

 

[enderg60]

If its actually just dry and not dead rock(was live) then yeah just rinse it and youre good to go.

 

[xilez]

Are there any stores in Atlanta that carry both of the Dr Tims One and Only and the Ammonia?

 

[Adam]

I've never looked. Amazon Prime.
I just linked Dr Tim's site because there's good info there.

 

[black reef]

Or u can use somebody filtered sock that is running on one establish tank. Much faster that way

 

[black reef]

Don't hesitate to ask me if u need one. Iam in norcross 30071

 

[xilez]

Going to just go with the Dr Tims method, just ordered off of amazon.

As long as the cycle is 3-4 weeks I'm fine.

Thanks for the input everyone!