Cycling with live rock

[danieljones8623]

Hi everyone,
I’ve about got my aquarium plumbed, so I’m about to start cycling my tank. I will be using dry rock to cycle it. My question is, even after the cycle is complete, does dry rock tend to leach nutrients into the system for a while? Do I need to wait a good while after it is cycled to add some fish?

 

[nereefpat]

even after the cycle is complete, does dry rock tend to leach nutrients into the system for a while?

Depending on where it came from, dry rock can leach phosphates. That's pretty common. No need to wait on fish, as they don't care about phosphates. GFO or phosguard or lanthanum chloride all work well to strip the water of P.

Nitrates aren't really absorbed or leached out of rock. If there is dead stuff on the rock, then sure, but usually with dry rock that isn't an issue.