Can a tank be cycled using uncured rock directly from the ocean ...!?

The indian reefer · Nov 29, 2018

HI guys ...
i am starting a new tank which is my first proper saltwater tank and i am planing to keep a wide variety of live stock and
i was woundeding if i cud cycle my tank with uncured live rocks taken from the ocean and i live in india so corals are not an option(its illegal to keep corals here) so i am planing on fish and inverts for now
kindly educate...

cromag27 · Nov 29, 2018

cromag27 · Nov 29, 2018

The indian reefer said:
HI guys ...
i am starting a new tank which is my first proper saltwater tank and i am planing to keep a wide variety of live stock and
i was woundeding if i cud cycle my tank with uncured live rocks taken from the ocean and i live in india so corals are not an option(its illegal to keep corals here) so i am planing on fish and inverts for now
kindly educate...

sure, if it’s legal.

The indian reefer · Nov 29, 2018

how long will it take

mark vincent muriel · Nov 29, 2018

wow its illegal..? well thats kinda good knowing some stony coral are not captive grown.. but still.. that’s pretty sad.. anyway i think you might want to dip the rock or atleast inspect it for parasites and unwanted algae...

Crabs McJones · Nov 29, 2018

Welcome to R2R! As long as there are no laws against removing live rock from the wild you can use it to help cycle your tank. Itd be very interesting to see all the little hitchhikers you bring in with it

#WelcometoR2R

Crabs McJones · Nov 29, 2018

mark vincent muriel said:
wow its illegal..? well thats kinda good knowing some stony coral are not captive grown.. but still.. that’s pretty sad.. anyway i think you might want to dip the rock or atleast inspect it for parasites and unwanted algae...

I know right. I never knew that. I wonder why? ;Bookworm

The indian reefer · Nov 29, 2018

how long will it take to fully cycle the tank with those rocks and yes there are no laws against live rocks its only illegal for corals

The indian reefer · Nov 29, 2018

Crabs Mcjones said:
I know right. I never knew that. I wonder why? ;Bookworm

there are some who still keep them ...
bt still yu may go to prison

mike werner · Nov 29, 2018

WELCOME TO R2R!!YOUR IN GOOD HANDS

The indian reefer · Nov 29, 2018

mike werner said:
WELCOME TO R2R!!YOUR IN GOOD HANDS

thank you ...!!

mtfish · Nov 29, 2018

If you are taking the live rock straight from the ocean and starting a tank with natural salt water (which is what I would do if you are right on the ocean) then there will really not be a cycle as nothing will have time to die off. So, my guess is less than a week you could slowly start adding fish. If you have test kits available, do be sure to test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates to to make sure all is good to go before adding any livestock.

The indian reefer · Nov 29, 2018

mtfish said:
If you are taking the live rock straight from the ocean and starting a tank with natural salt water (which is what I would do if you are right on the ocean) then there will really not be a cycle as nothing will have time to die off. So, my guess is less than a week you could slowly start adding fish. If you have test kits available, do be sure to test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates to to make sure all is good to go before adding any livestock.

i am using salt mix and the live rock will take atleast two days to reach me

mike werner · Nov 30, 2018

So your going to have some die off.I would treat it like a regular cycling and test every few days.It may cycle a little faster than say a dry rock start but ya won't know with out doing regular testing.JMO.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 30, 2018

mike werner said:
So your going to have some die off.I would treat it like a regular cycling and test every few days.It may cycle a little faster than say a dry rock start but ya won't know with out doing regular testing.JMO.

Exactly this.

Expect to wait one month. After 30 days do a big water change.
In those days you’ll be allble to observe the tank. Make changes. Scrub alge , remove bad hikers and get the good bacteria back to life.

If you want to do it silly fast , wait for no ammonia , do a water change , and add fish.
Nature will set the time that way. Week to two? Maybe?

GoldeneyeRet · Nov 30, 2018

Welcome! You certainly can cycle with rock out of the ocean. Its called live rock and that's how it's always been done, until recently.

Check the laws in your area to see if it's legal first!

NY_Caveman · Nov 30, 2018

Welcome to R2R!

I would NOT dip the rocks. The dip chemicals will get trapped in the rocks pores. You will get some dieoff. Sponges probably will not make it. They may stink for a bit while curing after two days in transit, so you may want to cure in a bucket or vat and not in the tank.

maroun.c · Nov 30, 2018

If ur close to the sea and manage to keep the rocks in buckets of water, did off will be minimal and that will be good for a quick cycle. I'd be wary of the pests that could hitchhike on the rocks. If corals are not allowed then it'll be probablybillegal to take rocks as they also might have some corals on them?

Coralreefer1 · Nov 30, 2018

Take about a month or so, give or take a few days. Make sure you have no ammonia or nitritesa !!!!!

Retro Reefer · Nov 30, 2018

My current tank is set up with uncured ocean collected rock and it cycled in 10 days.. I have a few hitchhiker corals popping up that I didn’t see when rock was introduced to tank so you may want to keep a eye on that if they are not legal.