curing & cycling

[DBUK]

hi i'm curing my dry 20kg and 10kg of live rock together. and things seem to going ok, i'm doing water changes etc. the amonia lvls in both buckets one 0.0 and the other is 0.8 and i'm in my 3rd week of curing.

i was just wondering if i could put sand in and the rocks in the tank and finish the curing process while the cycling process starts. or should i wait. i don't want to cut corners ive taken my time get everything for the tank and want to make sure i do it right.

for the cycling process i was going to use the shrimp or does anyone have any other ways. it just this shrimp idea seems to work for people.

thanks

 

[Retro Reefer]

Did you use fresh ocean collected live rock with the dry? If so your cycle may have happened in the buckets, I would put everything in your tank along with your sand so it can get it populated with bacteria while you complete the cycle

 

[Luno]

I think your a little confused, it's ok though it happens.

Curing rock and cycling a tank can be virtually one and the same thing. Usually most people wouldn't cure rock to start a tank from scratch unless it was more served as live rock storage or wanted to remove bound up phosphate before in tank or to cure dead rock to be live rock to add to an established system. You would put the tank through the nitrogen cycle most commonly referred to as cycling in a new tank, in which you add your rock sand everything and the rock will go through the same process as curing but in the tank.

Now to answer your question, you can most definitely add your rock with your sand to the tank. If your sand is new it will in turn generate bacteria however you wouldn't expect it to need its own cycle unless it had something to die off, and even then your rock already cycled should handle it.

Long story short you've sort of gone a long way to start the tank but non of it is detrimental. So continue as you planned just don't be concerned if your don't really experience an in tank "cycle" because your rock has already been through the curing process.

 

[DBUK]

oh ok i did not know, yes what your saying it does seem like i've gone the long way round, but then its all good experience LOL.

thank you for your advise.

 

[Retro Reefer]

It’s so refreshing to see a beginner going slowly and doing some in-depth planning and research, it will pay you big dividends in this hobby.. slow and steady wins the race

 

[DBUK]

thanks Retro, well taken me like 8 months to get to the curing rock stage, took time with tank build and sump, plumbing etc. and i read so many people say take ya time and don't rush, and people do ..LOL so i thought i do it the right way

 

[DBUK]

oh and answer to your question, i got 20kg dry pukai rock and 10 kg of live fugi rock and the live rock was in a massive tank and i just got some out which i thought looked good

 

[lzrlvr]

Hi I like adding pe mysis to help cycle the system and to feed my corals

 

[DBUK]

Yes I'm got aquavitro Seed.

 

[DBUK]

I've just done the tests and how high should the Alkalinity be? I've worked mine out 10.5 dkh.

No3 is 50ppm
No2 is 0.02ppm
Phos 2.0
Ammonia is 0
Ph is 7.6

Is the Alkalinity to low ? I'm struggling with the kh tests. To long winded lol

 

[Retro Reefer]

Your right in the ballpark for alkalinity, the most important thing is long term stability.. I really wouldn’t worry about it until your tank has ran for a while and stabilizes.

 

[DBUK]

Ok great thanks Retro

 

[Luno]

I've just done the tests and how high should the Alkalinity be? I've worked mine out 10.5 dkh.

No3 is 50ppm
No2 is 0.02ppm
Phos 2.0
Ammonia is 0
Ph is 7.6

Is the Alkalinity to low ? I'm struggling with the kh tests. To long winded lol

Sorry champion didn't get a notification so a bit late.

Alkalinity can vary a lot the key is more so stability. And seen as your a new reefer stick with stability as your key goal as long as your numbers are in range.

10 is a little high for my liking but that's my preference. I tend to use natural salt water a lot so my alk is around 7.7, and interesting thing for you to look at is alkalinity and nutrient levels. This I feel is a key factor most people overlook. If your nutrient levels are high than you can safely run a higher alk, if your nutrient levels are lower a higher alk may be detrimental. I use a low to ultra low nutrient method so my low alk suits how I hold my tanks.

 

[DBUK]

hey Luno no thanks for replying. yes ive noticed that some reefers preferences differ. with alkalinity im trying to keep around the 8.5 mark. but last week had problem with my RODI which i got a new one now so that sort out my nitrate problem due to bad membrain. im going to do a 80% water change with new RODI unit and then test again and see were im at. but i think its more about finding a balance between seasoned reeffers preferences and go from there. till i learn alot more on nutrients and understanding how everything roughtly should work togerther.

 

[hotashes]

We are awaiting a tank build thread from you Mr, can we all know how your journey has been up till now. Wait let me find you the link to tank journals

Member Tanks
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?sh...f2reef.com/index.php?forums/52/&share_type=sf

A.

 

[DBUK]

hey Ash im loading my pics now the set up a thread

 

[DBUK]

Ash i've done a tank thread on here!