Lost

[Clueless22]

My mother bought a biocube 32 for my nephew . She bought 230.00 of live rock and live sand and saltwater. My nephew had to leave out of town for work. So the live rock was left out of water for about 25 hours. There is nothing in the tank but the dead live rock the sand and water just sitting there and my mom was wanting to know is there any way to get this going or should we just take the loss and forget it.

 

[Uncle99]

On Wednesday you posted Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, and Nitrate 5.
So you were cycled on Wednesday.
Time for your first friends.

 

[Clueless22]

You can't literally see the helpful bacteria: you can, metaphorically, "see" if the bacteria are present by 1) testing, 2) adding a drop of ammonium chloride, and 3) testing again a few hours later to determine if ammonia levels have changed. If ammonia has disappeared by that time, chances are that bacteria is present in sufficient numbers that the tank is considered to by "cycled".

Okay great. Thanks so much!