Minimum requirements for cycling/coralline growth.

KindCorals · 10/05/2014, 07:27 PM

I am in the planning stages of a large reef tank and just finished cooking about 250lbs of base rock. I will not be setting up the tank for another 8-10 months so my plan is to cycle the base rock now and have it covered in coralline by the time I can setup the tank. I want to do this as energy efficiently as possible. I am wondering what is the minimum water temperature and salinity that I can use for this base rock tub to get a good cycle and good coralline growth over the next 8-10 months. I have some old LED fixtures that I will use for lighting and will dose 2 part to keep alk and ca up.

whosurcaddie · 10/05/2014, 08:51 PM

80 degrees 1.025 - 1.026 magnesium will help as well. You need something with coraline on it a frag plug a piece of rubble rock etc. I take it this was dry rock? I wouldn't run the lights very bright you really don't need much light at all and you don't want nuisance algae to start growing.

KindCorals · 10/05/2014, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whosurcaddie

80 degrees 1.025 - 1.026 magnesium will help as well. You need something with coraline on it a frag plug a piece of rubble rock etc. I take it this was dry rock? I wouldn't run the lights very bright you really don't need much light at all and you don't want nuisance algae to start growing.

Why do you recommend 80 degrees when most fish have a range down to about 72 degrees and salinity down to 1.020? I would like to keep them below that if its possible to keep costs down.

I do have some coralline chips and it was dry rock. Agreed about the lights and will keep them at the minimum brightness I can.

whosurcaddie · 10/06/2014, 12:18 AM

Your probably right about the temp. I was thinking more of tank parameters. My tank stays at 80 year round. I suppose keeping it at a lower temp wouldn't hurt the rock. I would still keep salinity at NSW levels.

10/05/2014, 07:27 PM	#1
KindCorals Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Surfers Paradise, Australia Posts: 568	Minimum requirements for cycling/coralline growth. I am in the planning stages of a large reef tank and just finished cooking about 250lbs of base rock. I will not be setting up the tank for another 8-10 months so my plan is to cycle the base rock now and have it covered in coralline by the time I can setup the tank. I want to do this as energy efficiently as possible. I am wondering what is the minimum water temperature and salinity that I can use for this base rock tub to get a good cycle and good coralline growth over the next 8-10 months. I have some old LED fixtures that I will use for lighting and will dose 2 part to keep alk and ca up.

10/05/2014, 08:51 PM	#2
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	80 degrees 1.025 - 1.026 magnesium will help as well. You need something with coraline on it a frag plug a piece of rubble rock etc. I take it this was dry rock? I wouldn't run the lights very bright you really don't need much light at all and you don't want nuisance algae to start growing.

10/06/2014, 12:18 AM	#4
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	Your probably right about the temp. I was thinking more of tank parameters. My tank stays at 80 year round. I suppose keeping it at a lower temp wouldn't hurt the rock. I would still keep salinity at NSW levels.