Tank Cycling Questions

[KLR]

I have an oceanic cube that I plan on making a strictly display tank only,no frags at ALL! Only colonies and they don't have to be colonies that are $600. I just want a little display!
It will be bare bottom.

I would like to use dry rock so...
1.I can avoid pest-fw's,urchins,mantis shrimps,aptasias,crazy algaes, etc.
2.So I can create my work out of the tank and just place it in the tank
3.Because it is over all easier to work with

BUT I want to be able to put corals and fish in the tank soon after the rocks are in the tank.

How long would it take,approx, if I used brand new everything-water and dry rocks?
What about 50 established water-50 new and dry rocks?
What about LIVE rock and new water?
Live rock and 50/50?



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Next item of buisness.

I have a 75 gal and it has to many rocks,and the scape isnt quite how I like.

If I take out 50 percent of the rocks and add back new saltwater will there be a cycle? Or will it be like a major wc?

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

I started my tank with dead rock and it cycled in 2 weeks. If the rock hasnt been live for years like marco rocks, that is a little different, as they dont have dead corals, sponges, etc. Just use dry rock and add some shrimp, phyto, and pods.

 

[Saltgator]

IMO, i would go with dry rocks and new water. I would cycle with sechem stability. I cycled dry rocks and new water in a week (125 mixed). Again, just my .02

 

[KLR]

Ok I planned on picking rock from my lfs,they have 2 tubs of dry rock/dead coral to pick out of.

So it shouldn't take any longer than 2 weeks if everything goes as planned?

 

[Saltgator]

IMO.. no. 2 weeks. The cycling process takes a bit longer because things are usually dead on live rock when they are shipped. Usng dry rock and seeding it with the above product I stated will promote bacteria and cycle the tank in a week. You could also use a shrimp (kinda like a shrimp from the grocery store) or frozen silversides. Once you put this in, bateria will form within a day or two and cycle your tank. I just prefer the bacteria in a bottle.

 

[Saltgator]

. The cycling process takes a bit longer because things are usually dead on live rock when they are shipped. Usng dry rock and seeding it with the above product I stated will promote bacteria and cycle the tank in a week. You could also use a shrimp (kinda like a shrimp from the grocery store) or frozen silversides. Once you put this in, bateria will form within a day or two and cycle your tank. I just prefer the bacteria in a bottle.

Sorry. I can't spell or write tonight. 2 weeks should be enough. ????(IMO.. no. 2 weeks)????

 

[KLR]

Lol no problem. I use live bacteria products on my tanks anyways. So if I dose those during the cycle it shouldnt take to long

 

[Saltgator]

You should be good by the second week. Using these, I've never seen spikes that you usually see in live rock cycling.

 

[Lynnmw1208]

I used 90% dry rock in my tank with only 2 live rocks to seed it and it took 18 days exactly to cycle my tank. I didn't add anything, just the rocks. I did get pests with only 2 live rocks though.

 

[KLR]

Ok and yea that is what I HATE about live rock,you ALWAYS get something you dont want,lol!

 

[KLR]

Anyone have any suggestions on my 2nd original question?

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

Yes, I know a guy who glued his rock together using pond foam, then put them in his tank.

 

[nater]

just started my 220 with all dry rock. using seachem stability like salt stated. only been two days , but all good so far. levels are all right where they should be. i almost added live sand from my lfs , but at the last second so forget it. i didn't want to risk any pests. i think i am going to seed with trigger pods or have my friend sell me some pest free cheato. so far i really like the stability. we will see. i put a royal gramma in the same day i started the stability. fish is happy and eating. i'm hoping to get some coral moved over at around two weeks. i may throw in a small frag to see how it does before hand.

 

[clowns101]

Yes, I know a guy who glued his rock together using pond foam, then put them in his tank.

You really need to use pond foam and not Great stuff, it will cause alot of foaming issues and I have noticed the same with the real pond foam, if he does this he needs to use AquaScape pond foam as it has the least foaming abilities.

 

[Bandomo]

Check out the videos of Dr. Tims Aquatics on his website. I believe that the Georgia Aquarium used his products to cycle their tanks in 6 days prior to adding live stock.

 

[armani4o3]

I may be wrong but just because your tank cycles in two weeks doesn't mean you have enough to handle a huge bio load right off the bat. I'm sure you won't have the food in the water to surport any Sps in two weeks either. I would take it slow.

 

[KLR]

Ok I wouldnt COMPLETLY stock the tank at 2 weeks. I would add my fish ,maybe, and a few corals. Probably some LPS will be in the tank 1st.

This tank will only have 1 clown pair and 1 or 2 mandarin gobies(pair)-to keep pest that may get in the tank OUT!

 

[armani4o3]

Mandarins won't eat pest they eat pods. If your talking about Sps pest your best bet is getting a wrasse

 

[KLR]

Mine eat flatworms(Red Planaria) aswell,and I consider those a pest.

Although I do agree a wrasse is 10 times better.

 

[btkrausen]

Great read. Interested in the people using the Seachem Stability. Thinking about going that route to get my 220 going....although I might be cycled by then, haha