Adding dry rock to cycling tank

[Shannon216]

My new 60 gallon saltwater tank has live rock in it and has been cycling for a week and I would like to add dry rock to fill out the tank more...will it disrupt the cycle if I add the dry rock? & do I have to cure the dry rock or just rinse and add it?

 

[Ron Reefman]

If you are comfortable that the extra dry rock is clean, just rinse it and add it in. It will not disrupt the cycle that has already started. It will just add more room for the good bacteria to grow.

 

[AZMSGT]

First of all, welcome to R2R. The key is if it is free of an organic matter, living or dead. Your description of "dry rock" could mean several things in my mind.
1. that it has been used in an aquarium previously and it was dried. (Cure it separate)
2. it came from the ocean and was dried (cure it separate)
3. It's marco reef saver rock. (rinse thoroughly and drop in the new tank)

I guess looking at it the only thing is that a big deal is that if it has dead organic matter on it. And it's not that big of a deal I would cure it separate. Once it's cured though it can go straight in. The reason is any dead organics are going to create a bacteria bloom and it could be bad bacteria for your now new cycling tank.

 

[Shannon216]

Thank you! It will be a reef saver rock so you answered my question. I will just rinse it and drop it in!

 

[Shannon216]

Thanks!