Removing live rock during cycle, should i be worried??

Atom75 · 06/27/2016, 01:15 AM

I have recently removed a piece of live rock and placed a dry piece in instead. There are 3 other pieces of live rock in the tank and i figure they will still provide enough filtration for my 9 gallon(ish) 34L nano tank

After removing the live rock there was a drop in nitrites (from 5ppm to about 1ppm) but i cannot be sure if this drop was just due to the tank cycling, or a result of removing the live rock. Since removing the live rock (1 week ago) the ammonia has dropped to almost 0, and nitrites have continued to drop with nitrates rising, so I'm assuming the tank is still cycling fine.

Should i be worried about potentially having less bacteria to handle ammonia in the future?

CarrieB · 06/27/2016, 04:58 AM

The new rock will eventually become populated with bacteria. Sounds like the other rocks are well along the cycling path. I don't think you need to worry. Go slow with adding bioload after the cycle is complete and keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite, but you would need to do that anyway, particularly in a small tank.

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Ron Reefman · 06/27/2016, 05:16 AM

Atom75, remember that just because your tank is cycled, that does NOT mean it's ready for whatever you want to do. Tanks take 6 to 12 months to 'mature' and get through a potential algae or bacteria bloom. Time is your friend.

The old saying is so true, "Nothing good happens quickly in an aquarium."

Good luck and enjoy the show.

Atom75 · 06/28/2016, 06:01 AM

Thanks for the replies/advice guys!

Ron Reefman, i am fairly patient but ill try and take things slowly!

06/27/2016, 01:15 AM	#1
Atom75 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 25	Removing live rock during cycle, should i be worried?? I have recently removed a piece of live rock and placed a dry piece in instead. There are 3 other pieces of live rock in the tank and i figure they will still provide enough filtration for my 9 gallon(ish) 34L nano tank After removing the live rock there was a drop in nitrites (from 5ppm to about 1ppm) but i cannot be sure if this drop was just due to the tank cycling, or a result of removing the live rock. Since removing the live rock (1 week ago) the ammonia has dropped to almost 0, and nitrites have continued to drop with nitrates rising, so I'm assuming the tank is still cycling fine. Should i be worried about potentially having less bacteria to handle ammonia in the future?

06/27/2016, 04:58 AM	#2
CarrieB Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 526	Removing live rock during cycle, should i be worried?? The new rock will eventually become populated with bacteria. Sounds like the other rocks are well along the cycling path. I don't think you need to worry. Go slow with adding bioload after the cycle is complete and keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite, but you would need to do that anyway, particularly in a small tank. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

06/27/2016, 05:16 AM	#3
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Atom75, remember that just because your tank is cycled, that does NOT mean it's ready for whatever you want to do. Tanks take 6 to 12 months to 'mature' and get through a potential algae or bacteria bloom. Time is your friend. The old saying is so true, "Nothing good happens quickly in an aquarium." Good luck and enjoy the show. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

06/28/2016, 06:01 AM	#4
Atom75 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 25	Thanks for the replies/advice guys! Ron Reefman, i am fairly patient but ill try and take things slowly!