Cycled rock

ArmyReefer · May 26, 2020

So I was in the process of cycling new dry rock in a trash can using dr Tim’s method. At the very end I had to leave and that rock in that can and it’s been sitting in there for 60 days now. How to I check to make sure that rock is properly cycled?
should I just put in in new saltwater and add a food source to see if get ammonia on the test kit?

andrewey · May 26, 2020

If you added bacteria from a bottle and the rock has been heated and the salinity is reef appropriate, it's cycled after 60 days. No need to test anything.

If the water evaporated enough that the salinity is out of whack or it wasn't heated, then you'll need to check as it's possible to kill off (or more likely, reduce the population of) nitrifying bacteria in EXTREME cases- however, they're really tolerant organisms and can survive quite the range of temperatures and salinity before perishing

ArmyReefer · May 26, 2020

andrewey said:
If you added bacteria from a bottle and the rock has been heated and the salinity is reef appropriate, it's cycled after 60 days. No need to test anything.

If the water evaporated enough that the salinity is out of whack or it wasn't heated, then you'll need to check as it's possible to kill off (or more likely, reduce the population of) nitrifying bacteria in EXTREME cases- however, they're really tolerant organisms and can survive quite the range of temperatures and salinity before perishing

Salinity and temperature has been good, just was not sure without a fuel source for the bacteria over 60 days if it would die off

Gablami · May 26, 2020

Like @andrewey said, you should be good to go. If you want to know for sure, dose ammonia to 2-4, confirm with test kit, and check again 24 hours. It should have cleared it all to nitrate.

andrewey · May 26, 2020

There won't be any die off from the bacteria. You could leave a tank running for 5 years with heat, and salinity and your bacteria will be happy as clams. They will eventually reach a carrying capacity where they stop growing due to lack of new nitrogen, carbon, etc, however any that naturally die will provide the fuel for new bacteria to incorporate and grow to replace.