Used Real Reef Rock

[Biznizface]

You mean scoop it with a small container not adding a protein skimmer I presume ?

I'm hopeful this rock isn't gonna have much die off thus won't take long to have no ammonia or phos my fingers are crossed anyway

 

[Brew12]

You mean scoop it with a small container not adding a protein skimmer I presume ?

I'm hopeful this rock isn't gonna have much die off thus won't take long to have no ammonia or phos my fingers are crossed anyway

We can hope!

I think a protein skimmer is way overkill for cycling rock. If you have an extra one you can use it. Otherwise, yes, just use a small container. I don't run a skimmer on my frag QT, I just skim it manually with a container and it works. Just like skimming fat off a good soup! Doesn't need to be fancy. If you are worried about conserving water you can lay a paper towel across the surface and lift it back up immediately. Surprisingly effective.

 

[Biznizface]

Good tips .

So I will add water from my DT, the rock , then power head, heat to around 20c but probably more like 30c with the over rated heater, then add half a bottle of bacteria and also bag of rowa then have a test for ammonia in a few days if above 5ppm change all the water if not just leave it circulating yeah ?

 

[Brew12]

Good tips .

So I will add water from my DT, the rock , then power head, heat to around 20c but probably more like 30c with the over rated heater, then add half a bottle of bacteria and also bag of rowa then have a test for ammonia in a few days if above 5ppm change all the water if not just leave it circulating yeah ?

Yup, sounds good with everything but the temperature. The size of the heater won't determine the final temperature, only how fast it will heat up or maintain heat. You should be able to keep it at around 22C-24C which I think would be tank temp, right? (don't have my F to C converter handy).

 

[Biznizface]

Ok hopefully as you say can maintain that heat.

It says on my bottle of micro bacter 7 use within one year of purchase and I've had for approx two year although never used it ?

And surely if I have to change all the water that would take out the bacteria culture or would it have already have done its thing ?

 

[Brew12]

Ok hopefully as you say can maintain that heat.

It says on my bottle of micro bacter 7 use within one year of purchase and I've had for approx two year although never used it ?

And surely if I have to change all the water that would take out the bacteria culture or would it have already have done its thing ?

Just dump the entire bottle in. If it is alive the bacteria will cling to the rock if you need to do a water change so you won't lose much. If I remember right the MicroBacter is bacteria in a cystic form so it may take a day or two to start working but the extra time shouldn't matter too much.

 

[Biznizface]

Just hope it hasn't expired and does work have had it a long time

 

[Bruce Burnett]

If you let the rock completely cycle in the container then you will not have any spikes in the display tank. This is how many people are able to set a new system up and add corals and fish in just days. You could also use lanthanum chloride to remove phosphates from the rock as it is much cheaper than GFO.

 

[Biznizface]

Hi,

I already have rowaphos though so buying for example ATM agent green would cost me £20.

I was going to add a media bag of rowa to the container once I have the saltwater circulating and up to temp with the bacteria added also ?

 

[Bruce Burnett]

That's fine, here in the US, lanthanum is used in pool and can be had pretty cheap.

 

[Biznizface]

So I've had the tub with the rocks running about a week now don't think there was an ammonia spike and no smell at all.

I have about 5ppm nitrate and 0.05 phosphate.

Would you say they are pretty much done ?