Question for experienced reefers

Yates273 · Sep 17, 2019

So I am currently in the process of building a 40 gallon breeder reef tank with an internal overflow. I have yet to drill the tank but am very close. I have about 50-60 lbs of dry rock in a 30 gallon tub of salt water which was after a week of being in bleach and a few days of freshwater with a powerhead and heater going. After 24 hours I tested water and there was no ammonia which leads me to believe the rock is clean and completely dead. I have Dr. Tim’s One and Only. The question is do I wait to get the tank going before I utilize the Dr. Tim’s or can I dump a small bottle of this into the tub of circulating dry rock to start the cycle. And hopefully by the time my tank is drilled and set up I will be that much closer to a cycle and can just put the rock in the tank. I know if this is the preferred method I will have to feed ammonia to keep bacteria alive. Or should I wait until the tank is ready and set up with the sand and rock and dump a bottle of the Dr Tim’s in the new tank and cycle from there. TYIA Sorry for the long post but i want to do this the right way and you are my go to guys.

aqua_code · Sep 17, 2019

I don't see any problems dumping it in now if you are maintaining the salinity at 35ppt within the rock tub. Might want also add some food or nitrates to encourage bio filter growth.

Also maybe do it in a few days of doses incase there's any chlorine left over from the bleach.

lpsouth1978 · Sep 17, 2019

I agree with aqua-code. Go ahead and add the Dr tims to the rock now and get the cycle going. Once the cycle is complete, you will be able to add the rock the aquarium and start adding livestock. There will be little to no need to cycle the tank at that point since you will already have live rock.

Yates273 · Sep 17, 2019

As far as food should I put pinches of reef flakes in or use pure ammonia for the source.

Biokabe · Sep 17, 2019

Either way is fine. Last time I set up an aquarium I used a single unshelled raw shrimp as my ammonia source. Pure ammonia gives you more control, flakes are easy... it's all what you prefer.