Getting back into the hobby, but not rushed

DQDad · 03/14/2016, 06:06 AM

Hello all,

I am planning to get back into the hobby after 10+ years out of the hobby. I'm planning to "cycle" the start of my eventual system by throwing some of my dry, old live rock, that is "dirty" (After I found homes for all my corals and fish, I let the tank dry out via evaporation in a corner of my basement) so 10+ years later it's bone dry with plenty of bio load to create plenty of ammonia.

I do not believe in cycling with fish. So the questions are:

Benefits to either options:

A) Throw it in Rubbermaid garbage cans with a bunch of pumps, throw a couple of lids on them and let them "cook" for a couple months.

Or

B) same as A, but instead of Garbage cans, throw them in a couple old 55's.

Then, IF you favor option B, do you throw light on them during the day or no?

I really am in NO rush, as I coach my son's travel baseball team and we are about to enter the "busy" season for the next couple months, but the main advantage to me, is then I'm NOT waiting for a month when that slows down.

I have always thought slow and steady wins the race, and can't think of a "slower" start?!

Also, I have a neighbor with a HUGE system, who I am taking his water change water from time to time during this initial cycle, because 1) it's free (I've always thought making fresh "new" water during the cycle is a waste!) 2) should move a few bacterias into my rock to start my colonies. 3) With the intention, that once I am ready to start building my system after this rock is all cycled for a couple months, I would do a HUGE, damn near 100% "new" "fresh mixed" water change, and then see where levels land, and see how fast it takes some waste to measure ammonia and return to 0.

Thoughts? Especially the Rubbermaid vs 55s, and whether to throw light on it.

I realize this may be the only saltwater new set up in the history of man that was not ANXIOUSLY looking to put critters in!

(One other thing, is because I have plenty of time, and in no rush, I do NOT want to wash/rinse my rocks and throw them in my buddy's sump. Should anything happen to his tank, as a result of my rocks, or something he buys or introduces, and I would NEVER forgive myself, nor would we ever be able to pinpoint it, potentially stressing our friendship, which I would NEVER want to jeopardize. (He said, "Just bring me a bunch of your rock!" But I said no!)

Thanks in advance.

homer1475 · 03/14/2016, 06:52 AM

I would throw them in a brute trash can with a couple powerheads and a heater set to about 80 degrees. Once things start to decay it will smell real bad and having the lid on the trash can will help, it will also be way easier to change out the water when it does start to smell real bad. No need for light during this time unless you want to fuel algae growth?

Dark and warm is all you need to get the cycle going.

03/14/2016, 06:06 AM	#1
DQDad Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 5	Getting back into the hobby, but not rushed Hello all, I am planning to get back into the hobby after 10+ years out of the hobby. I'm planning to "cycle" the start of my eventual system by throwing some of my dry, old live rock, that is "dirty" (After I found homes for all my corals and fish, I let the tank dry out via evaporation in a corner of my basement) so 10+ years later it's bone dry with plenty of bio load to create plenty of ammonia. I do not believe in cycling with fish. So the questions are: Benefits to either options: A) Throw it in Rubbermaid garbage cans with a bunch of pumps, throw a couple of lids on them and let them "cook" for a couple months. Or B) same as A, but instead of Garbage cans, throw them in a couple old 55's. Then, IF you favor option B, do you throw light on them during the day or no? I really am in NO rush, as I coach my son's travel baseball team and we are about to enter the "busy" season for the next couple months, but the main advantage to me, is then I'm NOT waiting for a month when that slows down. I have always thought slow and steady wins the race, and can't think of a "slower" start?! Also, I have a neighbor with a HUGE system, who I am taking his water change water from time to time during this initial cycle, because 1) it's free (I've always thought making fresh "new" water during the cycle is a waste!) 2) should move a few bacterias into my rock to start my colonies. 3) With the intention, that once I am ready to start building my system after this rock is all cycled for a couple months, I would do a HUGE, damn near 100% "new" "fresh mixed" water change, and then see where levels land, and see how fast it takes some waste to measure ammonia and return to 0. Thoughts? Especially the Rubbermaid vs 55s, and whether to throw light on it. I realize this may be the only saltwater new set up in the history of man that was not ANXIOUSLY looking to put critters in! (One other thing, is because I have plenty of time, and in no rush, I do NOT want to wash/rinse my rocks and throw them in my buddy's sump. Should anything happen to his tank, as a result of my rocks, or something he buys or introduces, and I would NEVER forgive myself, nor would we ever be able to pinpoint it, potentially stressing our friendship, which I would NEVER want to jeopardize. (He said, "Just bring me a bunch of your rock!" But I said no!) Thanks in advance. Last edited by DQDad; 03/14/2016 at 06:52 AM.

03/14/2016, 06:52 AM	#2
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	I would throw them in a brute trash can with a couple powerheads and a heater set to about 80 degrees. Once things start to decay it will smell real bad and having the lid on the trash can will help, it will also be way easier to change out the water when it does start to smell real bad. No need for light during this time unless you want to fuel algae growth? Dark and warm is all you need to get the cycle going. __________________ 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"