rock not cycling?

[GHOSTLY]

So I put 11 pounds of my tank rock into a bucket. No ammonia or nitrite but there is 100+ nitrate. its been like this for a week. Any Idea how to lower this or if its normal? Also will Adding rock in at this stage alter the cycle

 

[Azedenkae]

So I put 11 pounds of my tank rock into a bucket. No ammonia or nitrite but there is 100+ nitrate. its been like this for a week. Any Idea how to lower this or if its normal? Also will Adding rock in at this stage alter the cycle

What makes you think it is not cycling?

 

[GHOSTLY]

What makes you think it is not cycling?

I phrased that wrong. I think its cycling but I think my cycle is stuck. My nitrate is stuck at 100 +

 

[Brady4000]

I phrased that wrong. I think its cycling but I think my cycle is stuck. My nitrate is stuck at 100 +

Eh?

Do a very big water change. Boom unstuck!

 

[Brady4000]

Adding rock in at this stage alter the cycle

Live or dead?

live rock with no die off… no it won’t do anything.

Dry rock with no dead stuff on it, will eventually become live.

Live or dead rock with die off. Will spike ammonia - nitrite - then into nitrate.

 

[Brady4000]

or if its normal?

Yes it’s normal with a heavy bio load, and no way for the nitrate to be extracted, ie water change, macro algae etc.

 

[Jekyl]

I phrased that wrong. I think its cycling but I think my cycle is stuck. My nitrate is stuck at 100 +

Rock doesn't remove nitrate.

 

[GHOSTLY]

Im cycling rock for my tank. Caribsea life rock

 

[mrlavalamp]

If you are cycling the rock, say in a brute can or other container, then the way to lower nitrate is a water change.

The nitrate reduction process is export, be it skimmer, refugium or water change.

 

[Brady4000]

If it’s only live rock in a trash bin waiting to be put in a tank, I don’t think high nitrates matters. I don’t think high nitrates will harm beneficial bacteria. No matter how high it gets.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Dkmoo]

It it cycling. The "end product" of the "cycle" is nitrate.

The removal of nitrate is another process whT you are doing with live rock in a bucket does not decrease nitrate and will only increase nitrate the more ammonia you add

 

[GHOSTLY]

if i do a 100 percent water change and get it down to 0 or 2 it will be good for my tank and ready, right?

 

[Brady4000]

if i do a 100 percent water change and get it down to 0 or 2 it will be good for my tank and ready, right?

You don’t need to drop the nitrates in the rock bin. Just transfer them over to the tank. The nitrates are not in the rock, it’s in the water.

 

[dirtyxducks19]

Nitrate won’t break down anymore. Once it’s nitrate it is less toxic for the fish in small amounts. You have to remove it (nutrient export). You can remove by water changes, skimmers, and macro algae’s like cheato

 

[shred5]

Liverock can certainly can remove nitrates through Anaerobic bacteria.
Deep inside the rock grows Anaerobic bacteria (lives without oxygen) that consumes nitrates and then converts it into nitrogen gas.

This can happen deep in live rock or deep sandbad. Really depends on how porous and size of the rock.

 

[GHOSTLY]

so if I just put it in the tank should I be worried about nitrite or ammonia? This rock ctcling is confusing

 

[Brady4000]

Your rock is done cycling… just put it in the tank with new water. Ghost feed the tank like if you already have fish in it. Test for ammonia in a few days, if none shows up only nitrate, add your livestock.

 

[Brady4000]

 

[GHOSTLY]

Your rock is done cycling… just put it in the tank with new water. Ghost feed the tank like if you already have fish in it. Test for ammonia in a few days, if none shows up only nitrate, add your livestock.

problem, My tank is Fully cycled with fish, coral, SPS, and inverts. im just switching rock

 

[Brady4000]

problem, My tank is Fully cycled with fish, coral, SPS, and inverts. im just switching rock

Ok going to need more info, story is getting deeper lol.

Why are you doing this?
How long has your tank been set up?
What’s your current parameters?
Do you have a sand bed?
How do you plan on removed the old and putting in the new?
How big is your tank?
How much rock are you taking out and how much rock are you putting in?
How much fish do you have in your tank?
Can you take a full tank shot, and a shot of your cycled rock?

To answer your question short and sweet, yes you can switch rock. As long as you do it right, and don’t have any die off, which I doubt you will, since it the rock isn’t going to go very far. You’ll just be instant cycling the tank, since your adding live rock.

Please answer the questions to avoid anything unforeseen.

Example: Like if your current tank has had years of biodiversity and a large amount of beneficial bacteria, and your switching it out with younger live rock, it might pose an issue if it can’t handle the bioload.

Or if your going to take out a large amount of rock and only add a small amount back.

so much comes to mind.