So my tank has been up and running for two weeks. 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite, 20 Nitrate are the current readings with roughly #84 of pukani live rock in a 50g display with 30 gallon sump. Display tank also has #40 of live sand for a rough 1.5-2 inch sandbed. I'm wondering now that the tank has completed the nitrogen cycle, what is my next step? Most research says wait another 1-2 months before even attempting to put in livestock. This tank is Fowlr, and most of that advice is aimed towards putting in coral. Can I safely add a cuc to the tank within the next two weeks? Any advice is welcome!
Cycle/Curing Next Step?
- Thread starter ibob991
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sbash
Valuable Member
I am trying to picture how much 84 lbs of live rock is. Sounds like it probably filled up the 50 gallon display tank quite nicely?
Either way, did you see an ammonia spike?
If so, I would put a generous amount of food in (a cube of mysis/brine shrimp, or a couple large pinches of flakes for example), then test for ammonia and nitrites once a day for the following three or four days. If they are still zero, then you are good to go.
If you did not see an ammonia spike, I would throw two full (raw) shrimps in. Test every day until you see the ammonia spike, then remove the rotting shrimp. Continue to test every day. If the ammonia and nitrites drop to zero within a few days, then the tank is likely cycled. Then do what I mention above about the heavy feeding to confirm you are good to go.
With a full tank of live rock, your tank likely cycled right away (or skipped the cycle, there is a thread from earlier in the month about this phenomenon). Most of use would not start with 84 lbs of live rock, where I am from, that would cost almost $1000. This means, the nitrifying bacteria will take many weeks to establish on the dry rock.
Either way, did you see an ammonia spike?
If so, I would put a generous amount of food in (a cube of mysis/brine shrimp, or a couple large pinches of flakes for example), then test for ammonia and nitrites once a day for the following three or four days. If they are still zero, then you are good to go.
If you did not see an ammonia spike, I would throw two full (raw) shrimps in. Test every day until you see the ammonia spike, then remove the rotting shrimp. Continue to test every day. If the ammonia and nitrites drop to zero within a few days, then the tank is likely cycled. Then do what I mention above about the heavy feeding to confirm you are good to go.
With a full tank of live rock, your tank likely cycled right away (or skipped the cycle, there is a thread from earlier in the month about this phenomenon). Most of use would not start with 84 lbs of live rock, where I am from, that would cost almost $1000. This means, the nitrifying bacteria will take many weeks to establish on the dry rock.
Believe it or not one of my lfs sold me the pukani for 250, picked it up sealed in the box direct from delivery to the store. The tank went through a cycle as I saw ammonia spike and drop already from the die off from the fresh rock. I will try the Phantom feeding method and update.
deerhunter06
Valuable Member
you can also use pure ammonia from hardware store.... IF ammonia comes down within 24 hours you are cycled Upside to pure ammonia is it does not contain phospates like food does. However I wouldn't even bother, if you have nitrates then you had to have ammonia and nitrites which means your tank went through cycle. When you add fish do it slowly. I myself have never waiting another 1-2 months after a cycle.
glb
7500 Club Member
So live rock can be cured or uncured, right? Can uncured live rock be cured in the aquarium? I don't have a garage to cure the rock outside. Also, if it's dry live rock, can that be cured in the aquarium too? It will be a new tank with no livestock.
sbash
Valuable Member
Here is the way I use these terms:
Live rock - Rock with 'life', taken from the ocean. OR rock from a well established tank. This implies the rock is cured and full of life (hitch hikers).
Dry rock - Rock with no life, is dry. This could be mined or just old rock which was previously 'live' but has dried out.
Cured rock - Rock which has been through the full nitrogen cycle, has all the nitrifying bacteria on it and was once dry.
Uncured rock - implies there is no life, but could be wet I suppose (I would probably not use this term).
For example: I bought a few pieces of live rock from various sources. I also bought a lot of dry rock. I then put them together in a couple of tubs for a few months. I then took the live and cured rock out, and put them into my new tank.
With this in mind, to answer your questions in order:
I would not consider live rock cured or uncured. Live rock is live rock, cured rock really just has the nitrifying bacteria on it.
When you start a tank and go through the nitrogen cycle, you are curing everything in the tank, i.e. the dry rock and the sand/substrate.
I would not consider 'dry live rock' to be a thing, this is just dry rock. Yes, it would also be cured during the initial nitrogen cycle.
deerhunter06
Valuable Member
Washing the rock very good before putting in the tank should help a lot with any smells as long as the ammonia doesn't go through the roof there shouldn't be any serious smells. I've had dried Tonga shelf rock from brs give me a pretty massive ammonia spike. Dry Rock from a quarry should be fine though.
I'd just make sure to give it a real good rinse. If it does end up stinking 100% water changes will fix it. It'll just end up taking longer if you have to do large water changes.
sbash
Valuable Member
I suspect this is more of an aesthetic preference. I have a couple pieces of Pukani which I do not really care for. I prefer the way the marco style rock looks...
That said, perhaps the Pukani has more surface area? This would make it technically superior, but it would not really be advantageous...
