Pre Cycling Advice

[fernalfer]

Ok i'm slowly moving forward in my 120 gallon build. I Bleached my Rock in a tub for 2 weeks, then gave my rock a muriatic Acid bath. I then put it in RODI water and tested for phosphates which were minimal after soaking for a week. I took the Rock out and Aquascaped. Now I'm going to put them back in a container with RODI saltwater and a heater and start my cycle in the bins.

Here's to my question: I dosed with pure ammonia, do I let the cycle begin normally on its own or would i benefit from adding a bottle of Beneficial Bacteria to speed the process along?

The rock is staying inside the container for at least 2 months before going into the tank.

 

[Ubergroover]

bacteria does not hurt...When you get zero ammonia throw in a chunk of table shrimp. it works. make sure you put a powerhead in the bin....

 

[exnisstech]

I am no expert for sure but when I cycle a tank I use liquid ammonia with no additives. I have never added bacteria unless it was in the form of a rock from another tank but it sounds like you are stating sterile so that is out. To make sure I am cycled I raise it to 1ppm (I think the measurement is correct) and it should be zero ammonia and zero Nitrite within 24 hours. I always did this with fresh water and continued with salt water. I am currently cycling a reefer 170 and tried the table shrimp thing but the smell was too bad so I went back to the ammonia method. I suppose in your case the shrimp would work to keep the cycle complete since the rock is in bins.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You don’t have to use bottled bacteria, no.

You can. Yes.

Love Reefing!


One caution. Bacteria is alive and keeps eating. With it in the tanks for so long , Do from time to time check Po4. As we all know too well now, bottoming out the phosphate can spell big trouble. Spelled DINO.

 

[fernalfer]

You don’t have to use bottled bacteria, no.

You can. Yes.

Love Reefing!


One caution. Bacteria is alive and keeps eating. With it in the tanks for so long , Do from time to time check Po4. As we all know too well now, bottoming out the phosphate can spell big trouble. Spelled DINO.

So you think I could get DINO while pre cycling my rock in Brute containers in the dark?

 

[fernalfer]

So my phosphates inside my brute where i'm pre-cycling my rock tested with the hanna at 0.20. What do you think the best method to use to get those down to about 0.03-0.04 before going into the main display?