I aquascaped my Waterbox 220.6 with dry rock and dry sand. I cycled using Microbacter XLM. Tank has finished its ammonia cycle about 7 weeks ago. I know it takes a couple years to really consider dry rock "established". I was wondering what I can do along the way to help the process. I am going to be getting a small piece or two of established rock from my friend's tank that has been running for over 2 years. What else can I do? My goal is to prevent or reduce the amount of algae blooms that are more aggressive after dry rock cycles.
Establishing Dry Rock
- Thread starter sanzz18
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Fish Think Pink
5000 Club Member
leery of speeding up process with friend's rock - any problem anything he has now in his tank you will have also. 7 weeks from finishing cycle seems to indicate you are moving cautiously already. Sometimes good things happen slow, bad things happen fast.
If algae is such a concern then use Vibrant when it happens, but not all algae is bad. Would not dose Vibrant unless problem algae.
zukihara
Well-Known Member
There is a good, recent brstv video about bacteria diversity that you should watch. It speaks to this very issue.
Spoiler: there is no perfect answer.
For me, I opted to bring in rock from a very old, well run system. I will likely get aptasia or something from it but I can't get the bacteria diversity any other way. You'll see in the video some tests done on a system started like yours vs. other systems.
Spoiler: there is no perfect answer.
For me, I opted to bring in rock from a very old, well run system. I will likely get aptasia or something from it but I can't get the bacteria diversity any other way. You'll see in the video some tests done on a system started like yours vs. other systems.
fishhead1973
Active Member
there's really nothing u can do. you can drop a bunch of chemicals in. its not going to help. nature will take its course its a waiting game. sorry
Seminoles76
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Get some live rock (10-20lbs) either from a well run tank or from a distributor. Set up a little 10 gallon tank with a heater and throw it in. Watch if for a couple days and eradicate any unwanted pests. You can also do hypo/hyper salinity dips to kill unwanted pests during this time without harming the bacteria.
OutLawX77
Community Member
Yes and No all at the same time Yes mother nature will do it fore you eventually... But you can give a big boost also
you can seed a tank with all kinds of bacteria and good alages.. and wala
