jump start on cycle

ahud · 10/06/2010, 05:20 PM

I have 100 pounds of dry rock. Can I put put it in two tubberware containers, add some "live rock", a powerhead, heater and some pure ammonia and get started on my cycle while I am waiting to get my tank drilled,plumbed, ect.?

muttley000 · 10/06/2010, 06:00 PM

Sure can, and it sounds like a good plan to me!

ahud · 10/06/2010, 06:04 PM

Thanks! Do I need to be picky about salinity and temp?

hvacman250 · 10/06/2010, 06:09 PM

I am doing the same exact thing you are. 100 lbs dry Marco rock, 10 lbs live rock, powerhead, heater at 78, salinity is 1.024 (I just guessed by mixing instructions on the salt bag). I am on week 3. I used shrimp for an ammonia source.

For the record, today is exactly 3 weeks. Ammonia is almost at 0 (1.0 from 4.0 2 days ago)Nitrite is maxed on the color chart (from 0.25 4 days ago) Nitrate is 40 ppm. I am finally getting somewhere. My nitrite stalled at 0.25 for 10 days.

Palting · 10/06/2010, 06:12 PM

Yeah, you have to keep the salinity and temp as if it is your DT. No need for lights and water changes, just top-offs, unless you got premium live rock with lots of higher life forms.

ahud · 10/06/2010, 06:13 PM

Thanks for your experience Hvacman250!

Do you think its fair to say the cycle will go much much faster the more "live" rock you add? I was thinking about adding 20 pounds.

hvacman250 · 10/06/2010, 07:20 PM

It would depend on how "live" the live rock was. 100% cured, 50%, 75%, etc.

I actually didnt add live rock until about 2 weeks in. Then the process took off full speed x 10. I actually didnt care how long it took, because my tank is still 3 weeks from being completed (custom 100 gal) I finally got tired of staring at 0.25 nitrites, so I threw in 10 lbs of LR from the LFS.

ahud · 10/06/2010, 08:40 PM

This may be a stupid question, but is there any difference in having 40 pounds of cured live rock in the sump vs having it in the DT as far as water quality?

Reason I ask is I have around 100 pounds of dry rock, I highly doubt I will use that much. I don't know which pieces I will use in my aqua-scape, so I can I just cycle 40-50 pounds of rock and aqua-scape with it how I want and put the pieces that don't "fit" with my aqua-scape in my sump?

geaux xman · 10/06/2010, 10:34 PM

What happens if you spike it with Vodka during the cycle and not using a skimmer? Would that help accelerate bacterial growth?

muttley000 · 10/10/2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahud

This may be a stupid question, but is there any difference in having 40 pounds of cured live rock in the sump vs having it in the DT as far as water quality?

Reason I ask is I have around 100 pounds of dry rock, I highly doubt I will use that much. I don't know which pieces I will use in my aqua-scape, so I can I just cycle 40-50 pounds of rock and aqua-scape with it how I want and put the pieces that don't "fit" with my aqua-scape in my sump?

I do not know of any reason this wouldn't be fine as long as your water is circulating through the sump is shouldn't matter where it is.

sullyfish · 10/10/2010, 03:27 PM

The bacteria will consume oxygen so be sure and have an air stone, or some power heads have an airline attachment. Anything that will add air bubbles to the water column.This will help the bacteria to multiply and is usually overlooked. freshly made saltwater has little or no dissolved oxygen, and adding rock and a powerhead without an airstone will hinder bacteria growth.

10/06/2010, 05:20 PM	#1
ahud Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 519	jump start on cycle I have 100 pounds of dry rock. Can I put put it in two tubberware containers, add some "live rock", a powerhead, heater and some pure ammonia and get started on my cycle while I am waiting to get my tank drilled,plumbed, ect.?

10/06/2010, 06:00 PM	#2
muttley000 MTS Sufferer! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 1,926	Sure can, and it sounds like a good plan to me! __________________ Next step on the system is adding A 90 gallon! Current Tank Info: 475 multitank system is now running! Several hundred gallons of additions planned!

10/06/2010, 06:12 PM	#5
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Yeah, you have to keep the salinity and temp as if it is your DT. No need for lights and water changes, just top-offs, unless you got premium live rock with lots of higher life forms. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

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10/06/2010, 06:04 PM	#3
ahud Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 519	Thanks! Do I need to be picky about salinity and temp?

10/06/2010, 06:09 PM	#4
hvacman250 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 733	I am doing the same exact thing you are. 100 lbs dry Marco rock, 10 lbs live rock, powerhead, heater at 78, salinity is 1.024 (I just guessed by mixing instructions on the salt bag). I am on week 3. I used shrimp for an ammonia source. For the record, today is exactly 3 weeks. Ammonia is almost at 0 (1.0 from 4.0 2 days ago)Nitrite is maxed on the color chart (from 0.25 4 days ago) Nitrate is 40 ppm. I am finally getting somewhere. My nitrite stalled at 0.25 for 10 days.

10/06/2010, 06:13 PM	#6
ahud Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 519	Thanks for your experience Hvacman250! Do you think its fair to say the cycle will go much much faster the more "live" rock you add? I was thinking about adding 20 pounds.

10/06/2010, 07:20 PM	#7
hvacman250 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 733	It would depend on how "live" the live rock was. 100% cured, 50%, 75%, etc. I actually didnt add live rock until about 2 weeks in. Then the process took off full speed x 10. I actually didnt care how long it took, because my tank is still 3 weeks from being completed (custom 100 gal) I finally got tired of staring at 0.25 nitrites, so I threw in 10 lbs of LR from the LFS.

10/06/2010, 08:40 PM	#8
ahud Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 519	This may be a stupid question, but is there any difference in having 40 pounds of cured live rock in the sump vs having it in the DT as far as water quality? Reason I ask is I have around 100 pounds of dry rock, I highly doubt I will use that much. I don't know which pieces I will use in my aqua-scape, so I can I just cycle 40-50 pounds of rock and aqua-scape with it how I want and put the pieces that don't "fit" with my aqua-scape in my sump?

10/06/2010, 10:34 PM	#9
geaux xman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 3,279	What happens if you spike it with Vodka during the cycle and not using a skimmer? Would that help accelerate bacterial growth?

10/10/2010, 03:27 PM	#11
sullyfish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bellevue, Nebraska Posts: 481	The bacteria will consume oxygen so be sure and have an air stone, or some power heads have an airline attachment. Anything that will add air bubbles to the water column.This will help the bacteria to multiply and is usually overlooked. freshly made saltwater has little or no dissolved oxygen, and adding rock and a powerhead without an airstone will hinder bacteria growth.