LR Placement and Cycle

Ninja1 · 07/16/2011, 05:28 AM

I finally added live rock and live sand in the new tank. I haven't glued the pieces together but wanted to see what you guys think of the placement. I was going for the open look- or should I just add some more?

Last thing is the cycle, I was told that I should be able to add my CUC after 48 hours. The rock has been in the tank for about 10 hours now- here are two pics of it in the first 2 hours:

Denbf58 · 07/16/2011, 07:52 AM

there is no set time rule for a cycle you need test for ammonia then nitrite than nitrate, what size tank is it and it looks like you will need more rock.

4realestate · 07/16/2011, 08:25 AM

patience Ninjasan.....patience.

melonz · 07/16/2011, 10:54 AM

have your rocks been cured? where did you get them from?

papagimp · 07/16/2011, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denbf58

there is no set time rule for a cycle you need test for ammonia then nitrite than nitrate, what size tank is it and it looks like you will need more rock.

+1

"how much rock" is dependant on your personal prefernce for the look as well as weather it's supplying sufficient biological filtration for the livestock you are going to have. Lot's of variables. I prefer enough rock in my tanks that sufficient filtration is never an issue, I go well over the "general rule" which is more of just a starting point (1lb/gallon to start for my taste) as for whomever told you to add clean up crew after 48hours, I'd honestly avoid taking any advice from this person without verifying and reverifying and then triple checking just once more. And then educated them on what you discovered with your own research.
Some of that rock looks kinda dense to me (hard to tell from a picture but my porous rock, which more porous is better imo, is OBVIOUSLY porous from any photo of it) Denser, less porous rock has less surface area for biological filtration to occur and theirfore would require even more rock to do the job.

that all being said, with the rock you have, I like what you've done with it

Ninja1 · 07/17/2011, 08:56 AM

You are right- giving it a few more days and I will testing the water befor adding anything.

Yes this was cured live rock.

I have very newby question- how do you clean the live sand. The live sand was very white and right now it looks to have some debris or particles on the top- very little.

Quote:

Originally Posted by papagimp

+1

"how much rock" is dependant on your personal prefernce for the look as well as weather it's supplying sufficient biological filtration for the livestock you are going to have. Lot's of variables. I prefer enough rock in my tanks that sufficient filtration is never an issue, I go well over the "general rule" which is more of just a starting point (1lb/gallon to start for my taste) as for whomever told you to add clean up crew after 48hours, I'd honestly avoid taking any advice from this person without verifying and reverifying and then triple checking just once more. And then educated them on what you discovered with your own research.
Some of that rock looks kinda dense to me (hard to tell from a picture but my porous rock, which more porous is better imo, is OBVIOUSLY porous from any photo of it) Denser, less porous rock has less surface area for biological filtration to occur and theirfore would require even more rock to do the job.

that all being said, with the rock you have, I like what you've done with it

lordofthereef · 07/17/2011, 09:02 AM

From the pic, those debris look to be just small crumbles of rock that broke off as you were moving it. I would just recommend leaving it as-is. You might have a sall cyano or algae bloom still coming. No sense in overworking yourself cleaning this early.

graciesdad · 07/17/2011, 09:16 AM

If you are going to run the open look, you need to find a way to get more biological filtration somewhere else. Alot of people use the Marinepure blocks. They are so porous that a little goes a long way. Get a test kit and test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. When ammonia and nitrite are at 0, you have went through the initial cycle. Go slow. If done right, not much happens quickly in a reef tank. I like the open look. As far as the look, if it looks good to you keep it. I would personally suggest that the rock structure on the right have the highest peak in the tank. Good luck.

Ninja1 · 07/19/2011, 05:27 AM

Lordofthereef- great suggestion, I will prepare to battle the algae and cyan

Graciesdad- I will try to get one flat surfaced rock to place below the right structure. Now that I look at it, i don't want it to be the same height.

07/16/2011, 05:28 AM	#1
Ninja1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: LI Posts: 644	LR Placement and Cycle I finally added live rock and live sand in the new tank. I haven't glued the pieces together but wanted to see what you guys think of the placement. I was going for the open look- or should I just add some more? Last thing is the cycle, I was told that I should be able to add my CUC after 48 hours. The rock has been in the tank for about 10 hours now- here are two pics of it in the first 2 hours: __________________ Student by day, Ninja by night “In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back.” Visit NiNJA's Build Thread on Ninja1's Homepage

07/16/2011, 07:52 AM	#2
Denbf58 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: selden N.Y. Posts: 885	there is no set time rule for a cycle you need test for ammonia then nitrite than nitrate, what size tank is it and it looks like you will need more rock. __________________ Life is good Current Tank Info: 75gal reef ready koralia 3, 30g sump, 4b 48" t5s lighting, 29g reef with breeding pair clowns 55g reef 55g freshwater

07/17/2011, 09:02 AM	#7
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	From the pic, those debris look to be just small crumbles of rock that broke off as you were moving it. I would just recommend leaving it as-is. You might have a sall cyano or algae bloom still coming. No sense in overworking yourself cleaning this early. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

07/19/2011, 05:27 AM	#9
Ninja1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: LI Posts: 644	Lordofthereef- great suggestion, I will prepare to battle the algae and cyan Graciesdad- I will try to get one flat surfaced rock to place below the right structure. Now that I look at it, i don't want it to be the same height. __________________ Student by day, Ninja by night “In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back.” Visit NiNJA's Build Thread on Ninja1's Homepage

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07/16/2011, 08:25 AM	#3
4realestate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 65	patience Ninjasan.....patience.

07/16/2011, 10:54 AM	#4
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07/17/2011, 09:16 AM	#8
graciesdad Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 53	If you are going to run the open look, you need to find a way to get more biological filtration somewhere else. Alot of people use the Marinepure blocks. They are so porous that a little goes a long way. Get a test kit and test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. When ammonia and nitrite are at 0, you have went through the initial cycle. Go slow. If done right, not much happens quickly in a reef tank. I like the open look. As far as the look, if it looks good to you keep it. I would personally suggest that the rock structure on the right have the highest peak in the tank. Good luck.