24g nanocube pics for advice

[Deserter23]

Yep too late for the quarantine. I didnt have an extra tank to cycle the new LR. Corals and fish havent died but my shrooms wont open up all the way and there is a faint odor coming from the water. I'm trying to compensate for this by doing frequent water changes which has reduced the smell a lot. With 3 gallon water changes every 3 days, how long will I have to keep doing water changes until the rock is cycled? A matter of weeks or days?

Good news is the cyano i've been battling for months is completely gone and hair algae seems to have reduced. Must be the new cleanup crew!

 

[waterman78]

Actually, I suggest that you test your water for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates...this will help you get a picture of the nitrogen cycle and tell you how much more time before the new live rock has cured.

My suggestion is to purchase a 13gallon rubbermaid container...fill with the proper salinity, a bag of activated carbon and place a powerhead on the live rock for at least a week...no lights needed. However a small hang on filter would help a lot due to the toxic gases being released in the water. After a week, perform a 5 gallon water change and test again for the nitrogen cycle. If no ammonia and Nitrites exist...It's safe to say that the live rock has been cured.

Seriously, for the same amount of $$$ you're using on water changes, you can purchase a small tank to help save you $$$.

Another idea would be to purchase some fully cure live sand/rubble rock from an established tank. The bacteria present in the substrate material should help battle the imbalance of your filter.

Okay...final comments: Test...and make changes. IMO, I would not leave the un-cured live rock in my display. Have it sit in the sink fill with fresh saltwater and a powerhead. Just an idea.