Curing Rock, when should I change the water

[NY_Caveman]

LOL. And to the OPs original, specific question, I will check Phosphates often and Nitrates occasionally. I change the water when Phosphates level out as mentioned earlier.

 

[K. Steven]

Nitrifying bacteria = ammonia (NH3) ---> nitrate (NO3)

Denitrifying bacteria = nitrate (NO3) ---> nitrogen gas (N2)

 

[NY_Caveman]

Right. Thanks! Corrected my post.

 

[KJoFan]

I've had my dry live rock (most all from previous tanks but has been dry for 1-3 years depending on the piece) sitting in tubs with saltwater, heated to 78 and with a powerhead in each for...6 weeks?

I didn't do any acid washing or bleaching as I didn't care if the organics mucked up the water. In fact, I wanted the organics in order to get some bacteria going. Last weekend I did a 90% water change on both tubs and refilled with saltwater. I haven't ghost fed the tubs or anything as I figured the dissolving organics would provide enough food for the bacteria to get going.

I haven't tested for nitrates/phosphates yet as I'm not ready to move the rock into the tank anyway. I have used a little Lanthanum Chloride in my top off water a couple times to try to draw out some phosphates. I probably need to do a little more of it and see where I'm at.

I'm hoping to be livestock ready in a short amount of time once I get the tank filled and rock in there.

 

[cr2jones]

I think I am curing as I am not feeding the bacteria and have no source of ammonia. I have circulation, saltwater and heat.

 

[Rakie]

Everyone likes to follow the rules when doing things, but nobody likes to think outside the box. Here's what I did, which gave me a very good and quick cycle/cure.

- Dose Bacteria
- Dose Carbon
- Do a Water Change or two
- Use a small skimmer

Dosing bacteria made the process happen more quickly, dosing carbon allowed the bacteria to flourish even faster, water changes removed lots of foul water and organics, and the skimmer removed the worst of the gunk.

All in all, I did my water in a 30 gallon trash can with a strong powerhead and heater. I made sure my rock was cooking a good long while -- 2 months in the can, did one 75% water change 2-3 weeks in, and a final one (well after cure / cycle was done) for good measure a few weeks before use.

I'll tell you in my tank, my biofiltration with just the rock I cycled and the sand is enough to make my tank almost ULNS. The only way I can keep nutrients is by dosing them, AND overfeeding. People tell me "OH, yeah I met a few people that couldn't keep nutrients up. I wonder why, there's not many of you guys" -- I think it has to do with having good rocks from the get go. Because with nothing in my tank but rock and dead sand I was dosing no3 and po4 like crazy and couldn't get anything to register for months.

 

[Rakie]

I am not feeding the bacteria and have no source of ammonia

Why not? The more robust your rocks bacteria the easier time you'll have with the tank. Feed it steadily to let the bacteria build and saturate the rock. It'll only make it better.

 

[cr2jones]

Because the tank will be set up in April. Come March I will start the cycle process. As I said before right now I am just watching the phosphates.

 

[KJoFan]

Everyone likes to follow the rules when doing things, but nobody likes to think outside the box. Here's what I did, which gave me a very good and quick cycle/cure.

- Dose Bacteria
- Dose Carbon
- Do a Water Change or two
- Use a small skimmer

Dosing bacteria made the process happen more quickly, dosing carbon allowed the bacteria to flourish even faster, water changes removed lots of foul water and organics, and the skimmer removed the worst of the gunk.

All in all, I did my water in a 30 gallon trash can with a strong powerhead and heater. I made sure my rock was cooking a good long while -- 2 months in the can, did one 75% water change 2-3 weeks in, and a final one (well after cure / cycle was done) for good measure a few weeks before use.

I'll tell you in my tank, my biofiltration with just the rock I cycled and the sand is enough to make my tank almost ULNS. The only way I can keep nutrients is by dosing them, AND overfeeding. People tell me "OH, yeah I met a few people that couldn't keep nutrients up. I wonder why, there's not many of you guys" -- I think it has to do with having good rocks from the get go. Because with nothing in my tank but rock and dead sand I was dosing no3 and po4 like crazy and couldn't get anything to register for months.

This is...sort of? my thought process. I didn't dose carbon because I figured the dead material on the rocks was providing enough, at least to start. I also haven't dosed bacteria but do have some of that bacteria in a bottle.

My thought was to cure the rock for 6-8 weeks or however long it takes me to get the tank plumbed and ready to go. Once I'm getting close to actually filling the tank I was thinking of dosing the bacteria (and possibly some source to feed the bacteria) in order to "jump start" the cycle before the rock goes in the tank and the livestock goes in.

What I haven't done is use a skimmer because I just don't have one to use in this instance. I did a large water change on both of my tubs of rock and can/will probably do another one yet before I consider it tank ready.

I should probably test nitrates/phosphates once just to see where I'm at, if anywhere. Does this seem sort of similar to what you did?

I want to be as ready as possible as this is a tank transfer and I have several fish that will be ready/need to go in the tank in fairly short order.

 

[KJoFan]

After 4-5 weeks of curing, I tested PO4 and NO3 this morning and got .03 and 50 respectively. I could and may do a water change, but...I am supposing I should start adding a bit of ammonia now to keep and beef up the nitrifying bacteria?

I also have some Dr. Tim's One and Only bacteria in a bottle, should I be using that now, or wait until I've got the tank going and use it then?