Cycling rocks in bin question

[katsreef]

So I have an established reef but I am redoing all the rocks at once. I am putting them in a bin with a heater and pump to cycle them. Was thinking of using turbo start 900 and ammonium chloride to cycle quicker. Will this work in a bin?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

So I have an established reef but I am redoing all the rocks at once. I am putting them in a bin with a heater and pump to cycle them. Was thinking of using turbo start 900 and ammonium chloride to cycle quicker. Will this work in a bin?

Yeah, it should work just fine

 

[exnisstech]

Are you replacing all of the rock or reusing some?

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I have an established reef but I am redoing all the rocks at once. I am putting them in a bin with a heater and pump to cycle them. Was thinking of using turbo start 900 and ammonium chloride to cycle quicker. Will this work in a bin?

Bacteria acceptable. No need for ammonia chloride which is mainly for cycling in aquarium to get the bacteria cultures working for denitrification, not so much to cure rock.

 

[katsreef]

Are you replacing all of the rock or reusing some?

Replacing all rock

 

[ScottB]

That will work fine. After a few weeks, run a phosphate test on the bin water. If you get a (Hanna) 0.0 I would suggest adding some. Aragonite can bind an enormous amount of phosphate if it is not present in the rock already. It will strip your tank and cause real problems. Ask me how I know.

Also, just set your expectations now, that this full swap is going to leave you with a very noisy biome for 6 months or more. Not suggesting it isn't worth doing, just moderating your near term expectations.

 

[katsreef]

Bacteria acceptable. No need for ammonia chloride which is mainly for cycling in aquarium to get the bacteria cultures working for denitrification, not so much to cure rock.

I’m going to be using the two little fishies stax rocks. I’m replacing all my rock in the tank with the new rock so wouldn’t I need the ammonia chloride to cycle it to replace every rock in my tank?

 

[katsreef]

That will work fine. After a few weeks, run a phosphate test on the bin water. If you get a (Hanna) 0.0 I would suggest adding some. Aragonite can bind an enormous amount of phosphate if it is not present in the rock already. It will strip your tank and cause real problems. Ask me how I know.

Also, just set your expectations now, that this full swap is going to leave you with a very noisy biome for 6 months or more. Not suggesting it isn't worth doing, just moderating your near term expectations.

I definitely expect going through another ugly phase so my expectations are low. I think it will be much easier to deal with with the new scape I am doing. My corals and fish should still be okay after the cycle is done and I replace the rock though?

 

[GatorGreg]

Are you just tired of the scape? If you have an “established” reef tank. You’re about to un establish it very quickly lol

 

[katsreef]

Are you just tired of the scape? If you have an “established” reef tank. You’re about to un establish it very quickly lol

My tank is about 5 months old. The rocks are bad, not enough space, about to fall, and covered in algae.

 

[GatorGreg]

Your fish will be ok if everything goes off without a hitch. But I wouldn’t expect all your corals to survive. You’re taking them from a stable “established” to use your words, environment and putting them in a not stable and non established environment that’s going to go through all the hard times your tank went through to get “established”.

 

[GatorGreg]

5 months isn’t very old at all. Carry on. You’re good. Forget what I said lol. Your tank is still in its infancy to begin with

 

[katsreef]

5 months isn’t very old at all. Carry on. You’re good. Forget what I said lol. Your tank is still in its infancy to begin with

Well that’s good haha. I’m just hoping that cycling in a bin will minimize damage and stress. I expect to see some ugly stages again but I just want everything to survive

 

[ScottB]

I definitely expect going through another ugly phase so my expectations are low. I think it will be much easier to deal with with the new scape I am doing. My corals and fish should still be okay after the cycle is done and I replace the rock though?

As @GatorGreg said your fish will be fine and your corals may/may not be fine depending on species and weather or not their nutritional needs are met and the biome doesn't go to haywire.

Do you any SPS in the tank? Those are the least tolerant of biome changes.

 

[katsreef]

As @GatorGreg said your fish will be fine and your corals may/may not be fine depending on species and weather or not their nutritional needs are met and the biome doesn't go to haywire.

Do you any SPS in the tank? Those are the least tolerant of biome changes.

No. I have hammers, torch, acan, zoas, trachy. It’s a 20g tank. I have a decently deep sand bed so I’m hoping since I’m not disturbing the sand, it will hopefully be able to make up for the new bacteria on the rocks - at least a bit

 

[mjw011689]

I’m going to be using the two little fishies stax rocks. I’m replacing all my rock in the tank with the new rock so wouldn’t I need the ammonia chloride to cycle it to replace every rock in my tank?

Technically you will need some sort of ammonia spike to feed the bacteria. And since it seems like you have time on your side, there’s no reason not to.

As scottb said, keep an eye on the phosphates during that time. Make sure they don’t bottom out, and if they do, dose over a couple weeks till they come up to a normal range. Once everything ammonia and nitrite come back to zero you’re technically cycled and can swap everything then. That being said, I used fritz turbo start and everything stalled about day 8. I went ahead and swapped my fish over anyways, and everything has been perfectly fine. My ammonia and nitrite didn’t zero until I put fish in, and after a day or so they dropped off altogether.

 

[killer2001]

I put a bunch of dry rock in a large bin with 35 ppt saltwater at room temp. I seeded it with some biomedia and sand from my established tank. I also added a small splash of turbo start 900. I then put a lid on it, drilled a small hole in the side for an airline to aerate the water and every 2 weeks I'll add a pinch of pellet food.

 

[katsreef]

Technically you will need some sort of ammonia spike to feed the bacteria. And since it seems like you have time on your side, there’s no reason not to.

As scottb said, keep an eye on the phosphates during that time. Make sure they don’t bottom out, and if they do, dose over a couple weeks till they come up to a normal range. Once everything ammonia and nitrite come back to zero you’re technically cycled and can swap everything then. That being said, I used fritz turbo start and everything stalled about day 8. I went ahead and swapped my fish over anyways, and everything has been perfectly fine. My ammonia and nitrite didn’t zero until I put fish in, and after a day or so they dropped off altogether.

Thanks, I’ll keep an eye on the phosphates! I’ve never used turbo start so this will be the first. I plan to just buy the 1oz and use the whole thing. Hopefully no stalling but thanks for the heads up!

 

[katsreef]

I put a bunch of dry rock in a large bin with 35 ppt saltwater at room temp. I seeded it with some biomedia and sand from my established tank. I also added a small splash of turbo start 900. I then put a lid on it, drilled a small hole in the side for an airline to aerate the water and every 2 weeks I'll add a pinch of pellet food.

Thanks for the insight!

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Be sure to post pics of your new scape!