Using Old Rock

[Devin6871]

Hi everyone!

I'm about to aquascape my tank and some of this rock was in use as recently as a year ago. I was going to go through the process of using the rock dry and pitching a shrimp in the tank to get some stuff in there. Then just let the tank sit running for a few months.

Was wondering if I could just leave some of the old gunk on the rock instead of cleaning and bleaching it all and skip the shrimp step.

Would that be basically the same process?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

[andrewey]

Absolutely! If you put that rock in saltwater right now and leave it for a few months, you will have started the cycle as you have an ammonia source (decaying organics), and nitrifying bacteria (in the air). It will take a bit of time, but if you have months, it will likely be cycled as long as you monitor the salinity and temperature!

However, you will likely want to perform some large water changes along the way. The decaying matter will release phosphate/nitrate. Instead of starting a new tank with high nitrate or phosphate levels, many choose to cure their rock. If you look into rock curing, you can make the decision if you want to go that route or not (I suggest doing so).

 

[Devin6871]

Absolutely! If you put that rock in saltwater right now and leave it for a few months, you will have started the cycle as you have an ammonia source (decaying organics), and nitrifying bacteria (in the air). It will take a bit of time, but if you have months, it will likely be cycled as long as you monitor the salinity and temperature!

However, you will likely want to perform some large water changes along the way. The decaying matter will release phosphate/nitrate. Instead of starting a new tank with high nitrate or phosphate levels, many choose to cure their rock. If you look into rock curing, you can make the decision if you want to go that route or not (I suggest doing so).

That was sort of the idea I guess. Just curing it in the tank instead of a separate area.

I don't have a problem doing water changes during the process as I am installing an RO system in my basement currently.

I was also toying around with the idea of tossing some macro algae in isolation boxes and letting it sit in the main display to eat up some of the nitrites and phosphates, as well as dosing the tank with a bottle of bacteria.