live rock question

[GMguy496]

so i will be acid washing some rock i have i was wondering when it comes to cycling it after i was gunna add bacteria and feed with vodka will the vodka work. i was gunna put some brine shrimp in with it but if vodka will owrk id rather just dose

 

[Reefing Madness]

Vodka Dosing is for reducing Nitrates, and some Phosphate control, not for cycling a tank. Your better off waiting for your tank to cycle then Dose if thats how you want to go about it.
Whats the bacteria for? Whats your plan for an ammonia source?
If you want to kick start the cycle, throw a cocktail shrimp into a net and lay the net into the tank. The net will keep the shrimp in one spot once it start to deteriorate.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Yes, cocktail shrimp is all you need. I wait until it is completely dissolved to even do a first test.

 

[GMguy496]

Vodka Dosing is for reducing Nitrates, and some Phosphate control, not for cycling a tank. Your better off waiting for your tank to cycle then Dose if thats how you want to go about it.
Whats the bacteria for? Whats your plan for an ammonia source?
If you want to kick start the cycle, throw a cocktail shrimp into a net and lay the net into the tank. The net will keep the shrimp in one spot once it start to deteriorate.

i already have my tank running i just got some more dry rock that i was gunna clean with acid to get the algae spots and other stuff off then i was goin to cycle it in a bucket but i want to make sure its good to good before i add it to the tank so i dont have any problems

 

[Reefing Madness]

You'll just need to take water readings like you would a tank set up. Once the ammonia and Nitrites are 0, the rock has Cured.

 

[LOVETHISHOBBY]

In my experience, you can seed dry rock with established live rock. If it were me, I would mix the dry rock with some tank water and a few pieces of your established live rock.

 

[joeyhatch11]

Dry rock in a new tank with new live sand will also seed it. It doesnt take much for the new rock to become "live rock" but depending on the route you take will determine how long of a cycle you'll go through. Always best to add some nice live rock to help seed dry rock.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Yeah definitely make some Rock. Its a ton of fun too. The only concern with the stuff is that being cement, they don't buffer the water. A mix of half diy and half live would be great. My entire sump is DIY live rock. Its all purple now, but it took a little while longer than regular rock for some reason.