Cycling - Determining if rock is alive or not

[Pete H.]

So, I was looking to set up my 20 gallon tank and was given two large pieces of rock. enough that I immagine my tank won't need more live rock. However, the pieces were taken out of his tank and sat in a tub for 2 days. Then, when I got home, I used hot water and a tooth brush to scrub off some of the algae before it went in my tank. In all the rock sat for 4 days before being put in the saltwater tank. There has definitely been die off. (Ammonia was up to ~0.5 in 3 days) I added some nitrafying bacteria to help start the tank.

Do I need to add more live rock? with the good coraline? or will some of the rock still be alive after being out for 4 days? How to I make sure the cycle is off to a good start?

[thor109]

What did you do with rock for 2 days after you scrubbed it? Why did you feel need to scrub it? If was coraline algae it was good if it was a nuisance algae why put that in a new tank? How hot was water?

[bnumair]

ok i am not sure if the guy had heat and movement in the water for 2 yrs. if he did then rock was alive till u left it out and used hot water, either way rock dead or alive it will come back to life when the cycle ends. u can add a frozen shrimp in the tank or ghost feed ur tank every 3 days and it will start the cycle. ammonia will sky rocket then come down then nirtites will do the same and when both are zero nitrates will be high. at that point do a good amount water change and ur tank will be ready to go.
regarding how much rock u have or if needed more. i am sure if u have more thank 10 lbs in a 20 gal tank u will be just fine. u can always add live rock later without any cycle as long as u buy it locally and put it in ur tank immedietly.

[Pete H.]

What did you do with rock for 2 days after you scrubbed it? Why did you feel need to scrub it? If was coraline algae it was good if it was a nuisance algae why put that in a new tank? How hot was water?

Well, I let it sit out for 2 days to dry out. I was trying to kill most of the nuance algae. Like I said, it had already sat out for 2 days so it needed the dead bubble and hair algae cleaned off. The water was hot tap water, hot, but not boiling. As for why I used it, beggars can't be choosers. Lol

So, it is starting to cycle, ammonia was at 1 ppm. Today, it is 0.5 and nitrites are almost 2. So, with the die off, do I need to still ghost feed? Or will the die off supply the tank? Do I need to scape some coralline from a different tank in order to get the coralline in the new tank?

[Jocko]

Definitely no need to ghost feed or anything like that. The die off will supply PLENTY of stuff for the bacteria to eat for a while. I'm almost certain that some bacteria would remain alive in the deep recesses of the rock, so you should be seeded from that. Plus you added a bacteria culture, so yeah. I would still recommend adding at least one or two little pieces of live rock from a trusted, well established tank after the cycle starts getting into balance and you start closing in on zero readings. This will ensure you have other helpful micro-fauna like worms, pods, sponges, etc.

[Pete H.]

I would still recommend adding at least one or two little pieces of live rock from a trusted, well established tank after the cycle starts getting into balance and you start closing in on zero readings. This will ensure you have other helpful micro-fauna like worms, pods, sponges, etc.

Thanks! That helps out alot. I was not certain how to get all the other live in the tank. Will the established rock need to be in the tank for a while? Or, is a week or two enough time to transfer the life to the tank.

Just trying to determine if I need to find some more rock of if my 55 gallon can supply the live rock for a few weeks.

Thanks!