Pre-cycling Rock, any ideas?

[kuora4]

Hey guys, I'm in the process of building a 200G system, and in the mean while I want to start cycling the rock in a container. I am using dead rock, that's the reason I wanna pre-cycle, to save some time. I read it can be done in a container with regular salt water, adding bacteria and a powerhead to keep water movement... Any thoughts on this?

 

[Tegridy Reef]

That's correct

 

[Salty1962]

All you have to do is place it in a good container w/saltwater, place fish food or shrimp in it, have good water flow and run a protein skimmer if you have it. Be sure to watch your levels to keep rocks submerged and forget it for a while. I did this with my current tank where I let my dry rock cure for @ 2-3 mths. Check your ammonia, and when it gets to @0, your good to go. JMHO

 

[cmcoker]

Thats about it. You could test for phosphates too and if it is leaching phosphate, use some lanthanum chloride to take care of that while your at it..
Doing this myself right now

 

[kuora4]

Awesome.. Thank you guys!

 

[TheEngineer]

I ran mine in a covered brute in my basement for 6 months. It was live rock, but after cooking it for so long there wasn't a spec of algae that came over to my tank.

 

[Retro Reefer]

I just did this with my new nano set up, stumbled on some nice live rock 3 weeks before my tank would be delivered so I just set up a container with premixed saltwater, the rocks, a heater and power head and let it cycle.. When my tank was set up I added live sand and transferred rock water and all right into my cube put a little food in and had a mini cycle, brown Dino's came and went in about 7 days, I introduced a few small cheap frags on day 10 and the tank is doing great.. Saved me a few weeks looking at a empty tank

 

[ndz98]

I've seen videos that BRS did saying you can use bio spira to speed it up.

 

[kuora4]

I'll start this afternoon and will post some pics!

 

[WetWhistle]

Also put heater in it and put it to 80 or so. The higher temp with keep it cycling quicker then a low temp will. Low temp slows the metabolic rates and the bacteria doesn't multiply as fast.

 

[Salty1962]

Also put heater in it and put it to 80 or so. The higher temp with keep it cycling quicker then a low temp will. Low temp slows the metabolic rates and the bacteria doesn't multiply as fast.

Yep, forgot that step

 

[WetWhistle]

It will still cycle just slower without the heater. I have done both ways I just prefer with the heater.