Cycling dry rock outside display system

Mr_Stian · Dec 4, 2018

Hello everyone.

I am building a plywood tank that i am starting early next year. I have had some dry rock laying that i want to start the cycling on so that when i have the system up and running i would have as little delay as possible. I already have a system where i want to add fish, corals and rocks to, but i do not want to risk adding just dry rock. So i want to cycle it before adding.

I have a tank where the rock is now being cycled. It has a few pumps for movement, a skimmer and heaters. I was told that the Read Sea Mature kit would be good to use to start the bacteria. https://www.redseafish.com/reef-care-program/tank-maturation/reef-mature-pro-kit/

According to the manual this is to kickstart a system that is up and running with all the gadgets that you need. What i am lacking is light. As i am only cycling the rock, and do not have anything alive inside the tank, do i need the light to complete the cycling with this set?

Coastie Reefer · Dec 4, 2018

If you're just getting a head start on cycling rock you don't need a light. I would actually not recommend a light as it could promote algae. Honestly you don't need a skimmer either. You could use a bacteria in a bottle to get a jump on the cycle, but the bacteria will populate all on their own with time. I currently have 60 lbs of rock in a brute container in my garage that's been "cycling" for about 3 months now. Just rock, water, and a couple small pumps.

lapin · Dec 4, 2018

I cycled all my dry rock in 100 gallon tubs for 2 months. Pumps to circulate the salt water. Added heaters and a few bottles of bacteria to speed things along. Added a table shrimp and some ammonia in a bottle to 2ppm . Let er go at it. I did throw some water in there every few days. It was from my rodi cultures. Im sure that provided a good source of food for the bacteria. Once the rock was put into the tank and it filled with water I never really saw any cycle when I added coral and fish. I did it slowly which helps a lot.

Mr_Stian · Dec 4, 2018

Thanks everybody. Then i know i am on the correct path.

Coastie Reefer said:
If you're just getting a head start on cycling rock you don't need a light. I would actually not recommend a light as it could promote algae. Honestly you don't need a skimmer either. You could use a bacteria in a bottle to get a jump on the cycle, but the bacteria will populate all on their own with time. I currently have 60 lbs of rock in a brute container in my garage that's been "cycling" for about 3 months now. Just rock, water, and a couple small pumps.

Regarding the skimmer i mainly have this in there to add air to the water. It actually does skim out a small amount of debree so i will keep it in there.