adding a refugium; trying to avoid cycle

saltwater2999 · 04/26/2013, 12:45 PM

in the next week or so im going to install an above display tank refugium. my plan is to set up all the plumbing and have it run for a couple of days to make sure all is good. then after everything checks out i want to add sand and rock to the refugium. now my display tank has been set up for about 6 months now and im trying to avoid a cycle from starting. my question is should i add dried out sand and dried out live rock or should i add curred live rock and live sand that you buy at LFS

saltwater2999 · 04/26/2013, 12:48 PM

also i have so call live rock that has been sitting in a bucket in my basement for the past 6 months with saltwater in the bucket. i have never done a water change or controlled the temperature of that bucket of rock. could i just let all that rock sit out in the sun for a couple of days and rinse it off to make sure its clean, then use that rock for the refugium or will that somehow cause a cylce.

SicknessRising · 04/26/2013, 02:54 PM

IMO, if you are adverse to any cycling in DT, then just go with dry rock and sand. Last time I added an HOB fuge to an existing FOWLR, dumped in live mud and chaeto, no detectable mini-cycle took place. That was a DT to fuge ratio of 11:1.

On reusing rock. I would scrub them, rinse and dry.

thegrun · 04/26/2013, 11:27 PM

I would play it safe and cycle the new rock (either your basement rock or dry rock) before adding it to your refugium. Even dry rock can start a new cycle if it has enough dried on organics.

04/26/2013, 12:45 PM	#1
saltwater2999 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: illinios Posts: 170	adding a refugium; trying to avoid cycle in the next week or so im going to install an above display tank refugium. my plan is to set up all the plumbing and have it run for a couple of days to make sure all is good. then after everything checks out i want to add sand and rock to the refugium. now my display tank has been set up for about 6 months now and im trying to avoid a cycle from starting. my question is should i add dried out sand and dried out live rock or should i add curred live rock and live sand that you buy at LFS

04/26/2013, 02:54 PM	#3
SicknessRising Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: NoVa Posts: 16	IMO, if you are adverse to any cycling in DT, then just go with dry rock and sand. Last time I added an HOB fuge to an existing FOWLR, dumped in live mud and chaeto, no detectable mini-cycle took place. That was a DT to fuge ratio of 11:1. On reusing rock. I would scrub them, rinse and dry. __________________ John Current Tank Info: 29G reef-to-be

04/26/2013, 12:48 PM	#2
saltwater2999 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: illinios Posts: 170	also i have so call live rock that has been sitting in a bucket in my basement for the past 6 months with saltwater in the bucket. i have never done a water change or controlled the temperature of that bucket of rock. could i just let all that rock sit out in the sun for a couple of days and rinse it off to make sure its clean, then use that rock for the refugium or will that somehow cause a cylce.

04/26/2013, 11:27 PM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I would play it safe and cycle the new rock (either your basement rock or dry rock) before adding it to your refugium. Even dry rock can start a new cycle if it has enough dried on organics.