Live rock question

[OceanDude]

So yesterday I just added two pieces of live rock from a great lfs about an hour away yesterday. There's some growth on it, nothing crazy spectacular. Some feather dusters, some coraline, etc. So now I was wondering if I should do anything more? My friend recently started a new nano as well and wasn't getting the results he wanted from his rock so he added a block of mysis shrimp in the water and then his cycle kickstarted. Should I do that as well? I don't want to rush things, but I know it worked for him.

 

[Mike J.]

There will be nitrifying bacteria in rocks like you describe. Ghost feeding like your friend is a good idea, id prefer to see elevated nitrates on a test before adding livestock. Are you testing for ammonia, nitrates and nitrites?

 

[OceanDude]

I'm doing a test today. API liquid kit. I know that it's not the most reliable but it will give me a pretty good idea where I'm at, right?

 

[Mike J.]

The API test kit is fine.

 

[Palting]

Just ghost feed the tank. Put enough food daily to feed 2 or 3 pretend small fish. Once the nitrates and nitrites go down to 0 and you have nitrates, your tank is cycled and you can add real fish and CUC. API test kit is fine for this purpose.