Tyler Fear
Community Member
So I got the sand in and rock in and now I wait but the rock I got local and was only out of water for 2 hours so will that shorten the cycle time?
Cycling question
- Thread starter Tyler Fear
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sbash
Valuable Member
Just to be clear, you got that rock 'live' from your local store? If so, did they give you any details on it? (where it is from, if it was cured from dry or straight out the ocean from another part of the world, etc)...
It also does not look like very mature live rock. However, let's suppose it is: If all that rock was live (fully cycled rock) and only out of the water for two hours then you should have a very fast cycle, because the rock is already cycled.
BUT, if it was not fully cycled rock (let's say it has only been curing for a couple weeks), then I would assume you are starting from scratch.
NOW, all that being said, it is irrelevant. You still need to do your due diligence and ensure your system is cycled when you start adding livestock. The only way to do that is to feed the tank (literally with food, fresh shrimp, or straight up ammonia for example) and test test test! Once the tank can properly process the ammonia source into nitrates, you are good to go...
It also does not look like very mature live rock. However, let's suppose it is: If all that rock was live (fully cycled rock) and only out of the water for two hours then you should have a very fast cycle, because the rock is already cycled.
BUT, if it was not fully cycled rock (let's say it has only been curing for a couple weeks), then I would assume you are starting from scratch.
NOW, all that being said, it is irrelevant. You still need to do your due diligence and ensure your system is cycled when you start adding livestock. The only way to do that is to feed the tank (literally with food, fresh shrimp, or straight up ammonia for example) and test test test! Once the tank can properly process the ammonia source into nitrates, you are good to go...
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OP
Tyler Fear
Community Member
I bought the rock from someone local that had it in with powerheads and heaters. I guess I’m not sure how long they had it in there but they advertised it as cured.
I still planned on waiting the 30ish days and testing, just more curious on cycle time since last time I got rock shipped in with obvious die off compared to this.
mjlash22
Well-Known Member
Testing your water parameters will show you whether it was fully cured or not. If it was, your cycle could go by fairly quick. If you see a huge spike in nitrite/nitrate, it was more than likely not fully cured.
