Cycling with dry rock and maybe fritzzyme

I MD · 04/25/2015, 10:19 PM

Newbie starting a 55 gallon FOWLR. Have had the tank filled with RODI water and CaribSea Live Sand for a week with heater, 600/hr powerhead, and Eheim eco cannister filter, and awaiting my 50 pounds od Marco Key Largo dry rock to come in any day. Some questions:

(1) I was thinking of using Fritzzyme bacteria in a bottle after adding the dry rock. My LFS said to just start adding a damsel 48 hrs after adding the Fritzzyme, but is my tank really going to be cycled. I want to do a fishless cycle, and am in no hurry and could even not use the Fritzzyme. What are my best options - shrimp or flake food, use the Frtizzyme or not? When to add the shrimp or flake food?

(2) Will coralline algae still grow if I don't seed with live rock?

(3) Was going to get the API master kit but also the Red Sea Ca/Mg/Alk kit and Hanna Phos tester because I want that coralline and was told to monitor these parameters as well.

Thanks for all the help.

jminick2 · 04/25/2015, 10:30 PM

don't add fish within 48 hours tank will not be cycled

step 1. Add ammonia source, shrimp or pure ammonia from hardware store

step 2. wait patiently monitoring your ammonia levels when you so please, ghost feed once a week will be plenty.

step 3. wait some more.

step 4. When ammonia and nitrites are 0 do a 20-50% water change to reduces nitrates

Step 5. You are done. Add live stock slowly.

Coralline will not grow with out being seeded

I MD · 04/26/2015, 04:30 AM

Thanks jminick. Should I still use the Fritzzyme or just forget about it all together? Also, to seed for coralline, do I need to add a piece of live rock or just scrapings of coralline from live rock?

homer1475 · 04/26/2015, 04:54 AM

I personally would not add the bottled bacteria. If you just wait it out, the bacteria will populate themselves. You don't have to seed the coraline, it will just take way longer to grow(my tank is 3 months old and I used all live rock and my coraline is just starting to take off. Will be way longer in yours). It's better to get 1 or 2 piece of liverock from your LFS to seed your "dead" rock.

jminick2 · 04/26/2015, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

I personally would not add the bottled bacteria. If you just wait it out, the bacteria will populate themselves. You don't have to seed the coraline, it will just take way longer to grow(my tank is 3 months old and I used all live rock and my coraline is just starting to take off. Will be way longer in yours). It's better to get 1 or 2 piece of liverock from your LFS to seed your "dead" rock.

Actually it does have to be introduced it will not just grow on its own. To the OP you can either add scrapings or add a piece of live rock with it on it, either or.

gone fishin · 04/26/2015, 10:11 AM

jminick outlined the process pretty well. I used a bacteria in a bottle once just to see what would happen. IMO it did not really speed things up at all in any significant way. As far as coralline goes you can add a piece of LR that has some on it or when you start adding coral frags usually have some on it. Good luck patience is the key. If you have not read the "setting up " sticky at the top of the forum I would highly recommend it.

I MD · 04/27/2015, 04:43 PM

Thanks all. Def didn't want to put fish through any cycling. Will start tomorrow an am going to use the shrimp

04/25/2015, 10:19 PM	#1
I MD Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 23	Cycling with dry rock and maybe fritzzyme Newbie starting a 55 gallon FOWLR. Have had the tank filled with RODI water and CaribSea Live Sand for a week with heater, 600/hr powerhead, and Eheim eco cannister filter, and awaiting my 50 pounds od Marco Key Largo dry rock to come in any day. Some questions: (1) I was thinking of using Fritzzyme bacteria in a bottle after adding the dry rock. My LFS said to just start adding a damsel 48 hrs after adding the Fritzzyme, but is my tank really going to be cycled. I want to do a fishless cycle, and am in no hurry and could even not use the Fritzzyme. What are my best options - shrimp or flake food, use the Frtizzyme or not? When to add the shrimp or flake food? (2) Will coralline algae still grow if I don't seed with live rock? (3) Was going to get the API master kit but also the Red Sea Ca/Mg/Alk kit and Hanna Phos tester because I want that coralline and was told to monitor these parameters as well. Thanks for all the help.

04/26/2015, 04:54 AM	#4
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	I personally would not add the bottled bacteria. If you just wait it out, the bacteria will populate themselves. You don't have to seed the coraline, it will just take way longer to grow(my tank is 3 months old and I used all live rock and my coraline is just starting to take off. Will be way longer in yours). It's better to get 1 or 2 piece of liverock from your LFS to seed your "dead" rock. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

04/26/2015, 10:11 AM	#6
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	jminick outlined the process pretty well. I used a bacteria in a bottle once just to see what would happen. IMO it did not really speed things up at all in any significant way. As far as coralline goes you can add a piece of LR that has some on it or when you start adding coral frags usually have some on it. Good luck patience is the key. If you have not read the "setting up " sticky at the top of the forum I would highly recommend it. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

04/25/2015, 10:30 PM	#2
jminick2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1,226	don't add fish within 48 hours tank will not be cycled step 1. Add ammonia source, shrimp or pure ammonia from hardware store step 2. wait patiently monitoring your ammonia levels when you so please, ghost feed once a week will be plenty. step 3. wait some more. step 4. When ammonia and nitrites are 0 do a 20-50% water change to reduces nitrates Step 5. You are done. Add live stock slowly. Coralline will not grow with out being seeded

04/26/2015, 04:30 AM	#3
I MD Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 23	Thanks jminick. Should I still use the Fritzzyme or just forget about it all together? Also, to seed for coralline, do I need to add a piece of live rock or just scrapings of coralline from live rock?

04/27/2015, 04:43 PM	#7
I MD Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 23	Thanks all. Def didn't want to put fish through any cycling. Will start tomorrow an am going to use the shrimp