Hi. I have had a 120 litre reef tank for about a year and am about to go upto a 300 litre. I've had issues along the way with live rock and was thinking about using dry rock for my next tank. How do you cycle with dry rock, what are your thoughts on using dry rock (with maybe a small piece of live rock from my original tank)?
Using dry rock
- Thread starter Hely'sreef1
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SaltySteve
Active Member
Depends on the dry rock and where you get it from. Some are known for having more issues with leaching phosphates and can take a while to treat (the more porous kinds/ more trapped organic material, like pukani). It took me about 3 weeks of flushing 40lbs of pukani with tap water, and a final two phases of having it sit in fresh DI water for another week before it was ok. I still have phosphates but it is manageable with weekly water changes.
Mandrew
Well-Known Member
Also how I cycle it is by using pure ammonia and bio spira. If you go with ammonia it has to be pure ammonia. Shake the bottle and if it's foamy it's a no go, or if it's scented it's a no go. Pure janitorial ammonia is what I used last.
I've used the Dry/Live Rock from BRS, and couldn't be happier, but cure first. There's a video from BRS explaining, but in short, get a clean garbage pail, add your rock, add a circulation pump, heater, and saltwater( I used old water from WC), and cover with a towel. You need to keep rock in total darkness to avoid any algae problems. In 6 weeks your rock is cured and ready for your DT. Be sure to do at least one full WC, and look over your rock for any loose debris that must be removed. Wait the full 6 weeks! Once in the DT, within 3 weeks my new rock was covered in Coraline. Good Luck, but it's very easy
glb
7500 Club Member
I used Marco Rocks which are dry quarried and cleaned so you don't have to cure them. I cycled with pure ammonia and dr tims bacteria. After a while they become live. I'm very happy with the results!
beaslbob
2500 Club Member
I just cycle with macro algae. In that way I get no ammonia spikes and can use any old (hopefully limestone) rocks.
After a week or so I add a male molly and don't add food for a week.
then I feed a single flake per day.
Finally (after I insure the macros are protected in a refugium (a simple in tank partition)), I add a single and more expensive marine only fish.
After some time I start stocking up the tank.
BTW that firs molly suffers no stress of any kind. The ammonia and co2 are being converted to macros and oxygen and the molly is feeding off pods, algae and so on from the macros.
After a week or so I add a male molly and don't add food for a week.
then I feed a single flake per day.
Finally (after I insure the macros are protected in a refugium (a simple in tank partition)), I add a single and more expensive marine only fish.
After some time I start stocking up the tank.
BTW that firs molly suffers no stress of any kind. The ammonia and co2 are being converted to macros and oxygen and the molly is feeding off pods, algae and so on from the macros.
I just have to laugh at all these posts whether to use LR or not for the fear of all the pests. Well, I did use LR, had a few pests, but the cool stuff that came out of the rock like a Strawberry crab and multated starfish were fine. The biggest of my problems came later, after 2 years of happy reeling. It's the stuff you don't pay for that really hurts my system. I dip everything, always have, but I'm still fighting Apitasia, and now Monti eating nudibranchs. Doesn't anyone sell just what I'm willing to buy? I always wait 3-6 months before buying to check the stability of new purchases, then if there's a problem, I know where not to buy. I'll never trade for a frag ever again!!! Only buy from the best vendors!
Reef2zach
Active Member
Agreed you can take every possible step to keep those nasty little aptasia out of your system but I one is eventually gonna slip by. personally didn't use live rock cause I couldn't afford to throw 200 pounds of it in my tank.
Big G
captain dunsel
I used this rock I found on Amazon: "Nature's Ocean 12-Inch Coral Base Rocks for Aquarium, 40-Pound" it was 52.00 delivered in about 10 days. Rock was very clean, just a bit of dust from shipping process. I cycled it with Bio Spira and Ace Hardware's "Janitorial Strength" ammonia. If you look at my avatar, you will see the rock. That was 2 boxes worth in my 48" 90 gallon tank. In each box you get 3 pieces about football size and a few smalls. Nice clean rock. Cheers!
