Cure/Cycle and Sand?

[Chicagoreef2016]

hi folks,

Just started to cure/cycle my BRS reef saver rock and wanted to see if what I am planning makes sense in my 60 cube:

65lbs of BRS reef saver rock
Cycle/cure has been going on in my DT for about 1.5 weeks, ammonia still very low, added a couple raw shrimp day 2 to help jumpstart that process. There is nothing blowing off the rocks, and no smell to speak of thus far (the rock was basically all white). So I am in no rush, but wanted to know if it would be a good idea to add my sand right now (probably not the "live" sand, just the carib sea special grade reef sand). As of right now the cycle is going on just in my DT, no filtration/skimmer running, just a couple power heads blowing the water around pretty good. 1.26 is my SAL and temp is 77.1 degrees.

Soooo, I figure add the sand in a few days, start using my filtration/skimmer/sump and get everything tuned in while the cycle/cure takes place. Then once the cycle is nearing its end add some pods to the DT after ammonia drops (later to my refugium), followed by a very small batch of CUC. I have also read a lot where the advice is to do a 100% water change after the cycle/cure is over, but intuitively that doesn't seem to make sense, as I just spent all of that time fostering good bacteria in my tank, then I am going to get rid of some with a 100% water change, as well as potentially change my parameters by putting all "new" water in. So I figured doing a 30-40% change, test my parameters to make sure they are solid, do another water change if necessary, and then start slowly by adding a couple clowns. I figure from now until possible fish addition is at least 6 weeks. Does that make sense or am I nuts?

Thanks in advance!

 

[gone fishin]

You can add the sand now if you would like. I personally always use the dry aragonite, just make sure it is well rinsed to cut down on cloudiness. As far as the WC goes the bacteria predominantly live on the rock and surfaces not the water column. good luck just my 2 cents.

 

[Bl4ckDr4g0n]

The reef saver likely doesnt require much of a cure. I am curious when you say not much NH3 was that before you added the shrimp or after? If it was prior then there is some organic material on the rock. I bought rock that was loaded with dead organics but my NH3 and NO2 never got real high it was the NO3 that sky rocketed. I ended up curing for 8 weeks and I probably could have let it keep going another 2 months if I were more patient.

For the difference in price I dont think it makes much sense not to buy live sand imo. Waiting for bacteria to appear is painfully slow, any source of bacteria that expedites the process I see as a plus. I used live sand and the Red Sea Reef Mature Pro kit to cycle my tank. Its been about 6 weeks and even my NO3 is undetectable.

 

[Chicagoreef2016]

The reef saver likely doesnt require much of a cure. I am curious when you say not much NH3 was that before you added the shrimp or after? If it was prior then there is some organic material on the rock. I bought rock that was loaded with dead organics but my NH3 and NO2 never got real high it was the NO3 that sky rocketed. I ended up curing for 8 weeks and I probably could have let it keep going another 2 months if I were more patient.

For the difference in price I dont think it makes much sense not to buy live sand imo. Waiting for bacteria to appear is painfully slow, any source of bacteria that expedites the process I see as a plus. I used live sand and the Red Sea Reef Mature Pro kit to cycle my tank. Its been about 6 weeks and even my NO3 is undetectable.

Here is what I have done thus far:
Elos NH3/4 Test
Salifert Nitrate Test

6/25: water in tank SAL 1.25
6/26: 2 shrimp in
6/27: NH3 was .1
7/2: NH3 was .1, nitrate 0 (did nitrate test to try the kit out)
7/3: 20% water change