Cycling new setup

[JurisHP]

I recently tore-down my old 180G reef tank to upgrade to a new rimless 180G.

The DT has been up and running for a week, but is still cycling.

All of my live rock has been in a trashcan with a heater and power head, and I have been changing the water in that trashcan with fresh RO/DI every few days.

The parameters in the trashcan show the following levels:

pH: 7.8
Ammonia: 3.0
Nitrite-0

Should I keep curing the live risk in the trashcan until the water reaches normal parameters, or is it OK to put this rock into my still cycling DT to speed-up the cycling in the DT?

 

[LiveWire]

If it were me I would place it all in the display and let the cycle do its thing in the DT. It should speed up the cycle process as well if your LR has been in the can the entire time from the time you tore down the first 180.

 

[JurisHP]

If it were me I would place it all in the display and let the cycle do its thing in the DT. It should speed up the cycle process as well if your LR has been in the can the entire time from the time you tore down the first 180.

OK. Should the lights be off or on while cycling?

 

[IslandLifeReef]

My question is why are you using only RO/DI water instead of salt water? I would imagine that the ammonia you are seeing is from die off from the live rock. IMO, your live rock really should be in salt water.

 

[arturoo1977]

OK. Should the lights be off or on while cycling?

During nitrogen cycle you don’t need lights. After that is better to star with some hours of light to promote algae.
After stocking, you lights should gonon a regular program.

 

[JurisHP]

My question is why are you using only RO/DI water instead of salt water? I would imagine that the ammonia you are seeing is from die off from the live rock. IMO, your live rock really should be in salt water.

I meant saltwater

 

[IslandLifeReef]

I meant saltwater

Ok, then I would wonder why live rock from your previous tank is giving off so much ammonia. Also, what do you have in your new tank if the rock from your old tank that was the same size is in a brute can.

 

[JurisHP]

Ok, then I would wonder why live rock from your previous tank is giving off so much ammonia. Also, what do you have in your new tank if the rock from your old tank that was the same size is in a brute can.

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