Base Rock/Dry Rock Curing

[lapin]

A cycle is when sufficient colonies of bacteria begin to grow/populate on the surfaces of rock/sand,etc... in an aquarium..
That bacteria is what makes rock "live"..
As you are "curing" rock that bacterial population is also starting to increase just like it would with a "cycle"..

Most bacteria is not free floating in the water and instead is sticking to any surface..
As long as you don't do something to kill the bacteria thats growing on the rock now then NO you will not have another cycle as you will bring that bacteria along with the rock when you transfer it into your tank..

And as long as that bacterial population is "strong" enough to handle any ammonia load added to the tank then all is good and that toxic ammonia will quickly be converted to less toxic forms (nitrites then to nitrates)

Yes your rock is cycling in the trash can. Bacteria will grow as along there is water present. If it is saltwater you have in the can, those bacteria will still be alive when you place the rock into your saltwater tank. You will need to feed the bacteria in the can. A bit of flake food will work. As you add fish to your tank after it cycled,you will see little spikes as more and more bacteria grow and consume the left over food and poo.

 

[mcgyvr]

Hrm. The guy at the local fish store kind of laughed when I told him that the rock seemed to be cycling in the trash can. He said "It can't cycle until there are fish with it in the tank" I thought he was wrong so I got out the test kits and on 12/3 I got


Doesn't this mean the rock is indeed cycling?? He thought I was crazy.

Another lesson learned for you.. The people are the LFS don't always know what they are talking about sadly..

Its always best to know what you are doing/want,etc.. before you go in..