100% dry rock set up

TexasTyrone · Apr 7, 2015

So i recently have set up my 75 gal aquarium with rock that was originally "live" rock. It was in a tub in storage and is dead, dry now. I have done a fish less cycle with pure ammonia(5ppm) and have got the ammonia and nitrites to 0. Dosed up to 4ppm ammonia again and it came back to 0 in 24 hours. Nitrates at 10ppm. So my tank appears to have cycled even though it has only been 2 weeks.

My question is what do i need to add next? Not necessarily fish or corals, but should i add worms, phytoplankton, or copepods? I am not having an algae issue at all so i don't see how a clean up crew would survive. It seems my tank is almost sterile for lack of better term. I have thought about buying a "live" rock but i don't really need anymore rock. Plus i would like to know exactly what is in my tank, which is impossible with hitchhikers on live rock.

Just looking for some advice on the next step and why. Learning is half the fun.
Thanks!

Dalmatia · Apr 7, 2015

Get a qt tank (10-20....gallons) get some fish. Till then keep feeding your bacteria a source of ammonia and a regular water change,,,, when your nitrates get to high (5-20ppm)

TexasTyrone · Apr 8, 2015

Get some fish is the only answer? What if i want to get coral? Will they survive if i plunk them in and just begin feeding them? What is it about a "mature" system that coral thrive in and how do i mature my tank? Just with fish?

Dalmatia · Apr 9, 2015

No you can run a coral only. Just need good lighting and a source of bb to combat the waste cycle

Dalmatia · Apr 9, 2015

Your still better off qt-ing them so you don't have any unwanted pests

Dalmatia · Apr 9, 2015

You get just 1 coral with flat worms and they will devour you tank and you won't even know what has happened.
Aiptasia is bad too. You may get a small one attached to your coral that you'll never notice till they spread like a wild fire.... So much, patience is the key to having a successful reef