New tank cycle with live rocks

[Dlassiter]

I am currently setting up a new FluvalFlex 32 gallon tank and starting the cycle process. I went to my LFS and purchased some live rock to help the cycle. I was curious as to what is actually growing on this rock and if I need to do anything special to maintain the life in it while it cycles. Total newbie at salt tanks I have always done fresh water before this. I have included pictures and video.

 

[Llyod276]

Those two tentacle things are aptasia. Many consider them pests especially if you have corals or plan on getting them later. Pull those rocks and dry em out then stick em back in. Don't try to manually remove, just literally dry them for a week. It's easier at this stage then when corals and fish are in the tank. Don't feel bad, have not been in a fish store that does not have em. Hell I thought I got rid of mine. And dang near a year later I spotted one in my rocks!!!. Yeah they're that hard to get rid of.

looks like a couple of zoas, a type of coral, in the last pic. But hard to tell.

At this point in the game everything can die. And it's a good time to intentionally kill pests.

 

[G Santana]

1st pic looks like Halimeda macro algae or something in that family.

Pics 2 and 3 are aiptasia. Some folks either inject a kalk paste or cover in superglue in order to kill them.

You paid for live rock, don't pull the rock to dry them out, you will have rendered the rock dead by doing that.

They are pests, not a deal breaker though.

Good luck with your tank.

 

[brandon429]

This is a skip cycle it’s already done it’s not a beginning cycle the whole tank is done cycling