seeding dry rock

curt boswell · 03/07/2012, 07:32 PM

if i buy 65 lbs of dry rock and use 10 lbs of live rock how long should it take to seed the dry rock. and cycle a 75 gallon tank?

LennyD4 · 03/07/2012, 08:55 PM

I seeded about 45 lbs of dry rock with only 7 lbs of live rock and it took less then 2 months for the dry rock to start getting green and looking good. As far as cycling goes, I found that my cycling really starting getting going once I added that live rock in. From there it took about a solid 6 weeks as it should have. Be patient and goodluck!

tkeracer619 · 03/07/2012, 08:56 PM

It takes a while. There is no rush. Put it all in a bin or the tank and let it run for a few weeks. It can take a couple months. Feed the tank some flake food every once in a while.

Test for Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. When ammonia and nitrites are zero do a large water change and you should be good to go.

I would also test phosphates and make sure your rock isn't a source. It is a lot easier to tackle phosphates when you aren't feeding a bunch of fish. It can also help the early tank algae stages go smoother.

curt boswell · 03/07/2012, 09:02 PM

thanks!!! so like if i didnt have the money for a cleaning crew at that time could i just let my tank run and not have to test it?

sporto0 · 03/07/2012, 09:07 PM

The cycle is the cycle, it takes 4-6 weeks for a normal cycle, it has nothing to do with the dry becoming "live", the dry rock will still provide surface area for your nitrifying bacteria to colonize. I would guess that it will take a good 6 months for 65lbs to become what we consider live rock, critters in, on & around it. One more thing worthy of noting, if you are putting in 10lbs of cured live rock, that has not been exposed to the air for more than 8 hours, you could see less time on your cycle depending on how much bacteria is already on that rock.

tkeracer619 · 03/07/2012, 10:09 PM

Yeah no need for clean up crew. Leave the lights off.

03/07/2012, 07:32 PM	#1
curt boswell Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 49	seeding dry rock if i buy 65 lbs of dry rock and use 10 lbs of live rock how long should it take to seed the dry rock. and cycle a 75 gallon tank?

03/07/2012, 08:56 PM	#3
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	It takes a while. There is no rush. Put it all in a bin or the tank and let it run for a few weeks. It can take a couple months. Feed the tank some flake food every once in a while. Test for Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. When ammonia and nitrites are zero do a large water change and you should be good to go. I would also test phosphates and make sure your rock isn't a source. It is a lot easier to tackle phosphates when you aren't feeding a bunch of fish. It can also help the early tank algae stages go smoother. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/07/2012, 10:09 PM	#6
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Yeah no need for clean up crew. Leave the lights off. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/07/2012, 08:55 PM	#2
LennyD4 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 633	I seeded about 45 lbs of dry rock with only 7 lbs of live rock and it took less then 2 months for the dry rock to start getting green and looking good. As far as cycling goes, I found that my cycling really starting getting going once I added that live rock in. From there it took about a solid 6 weeks as it should have. Be patient and goodluck!

03/07/2012, 09:02 PM	#4
curt boswell Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 49	thanks!!! so like if i didnt have the money for a cleaning crew at that time could i just let my tank run and not have to test it?

03/07/2012, 09:07 PM	#5
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	The cycle is the cycle, it takes 4-6 weeks for a normal cycle, it has nothing to do with the dry becoming "live", the dry rock will still provide surface area for your nitrifying bacteria to colonize. I would guess that it will take a good 6 months for 65lbs to become what we consider live rock, critters in, on & around it. One more thing worthy of noting, if you are putting in 10lbs of cured live rock, that has not been exposed to the air for more than 8 hours, you could see less time on your cycle depending on how much bacteria is already on that rock.