Curing/Cycling Live Rock

[krzyphsygy]

I got some rock from my buddy. Its from "Real Reef Rock". He had it in Salt water with a pump circulating. He got it from a tank he purchased that was running for 6 months or so.
So I got it from him. I placed it in a Rubbermaid trash can with SW and a pump. About 1-2 months ago. I also feed the can some Mysis shrimp to decompose and cause a nitrogen cycle. I haven't touched the rock or water since then.
I want to place this rock in my sump and use it for fragging. I tested the water 0 ammonia, 0 Nitrite, and 25ppm Nitrate.
Is this rock now considered cured? Is it safe to place in my sump?
My current tank is 2 1/2 years old and is sps dominated.

 

[zn00py]

i would swap the water and wait a couple days and test again.

 

[Cole.97]

If you're only getting Nitrate then it's probably cured

 

[krzyphsygy]

If I haven't been feeding the bacteria with anything, I guess the fact that's theirs nitrates should fuel the bacteria??

 

[uncleL]

Since your tank has been up and running for a while I WOULD NOT add that to my tank before I NUKED it! That's just me.....

 

[krzyphsygy]

Since your tank has been up and running for a while I WOULD NOT add that to my tank before I NUKED it! That's just me.....

Nuke it?

 

[wooden_reefer]

If I haven't been feeding the bacteria with anything, I guess the fact that's theirs nitrates should fuel the bacteria??

Nitrate is consumed by denitrification.

But the term fuel is not apt, I tend to think.

In denitrification, I tend to think that it is more correct to say bacteria "breathe" the nitrate when fueled by organics. The role of nitrate in denitrification is similar to that of oxygen in nitrification in that nitrate is the oxidizing agent in denitrification.

I would always test a biological filter with a pulse of ammonia if I have any doubt about its capacity to process ammonia.

 

[jeffdenney]

I agree with wooden reefer. 2 months is a long time for beneficial bacteria to go without a source of food.. I would do a large water change and dose ammonia and see how it reacts.. if u get nitrates in a week with no ammonia.. I would use it then..

 

[wooden_reefer]

I agree with wooden reefer. 2 months is a long time for beneficial bacteria to go with a source of food.. I would do a large water change and dose ammonia and see how it reacts.. if u get nitrates in a week with no ammonia.. I would use it then..

I think one should dose ammonia first.

It is not always necessary to change water, but I'd dose ammonia first and then do WC if necessary.

 

[krzyphsygy]

I think one should dose ammonia first.

It is not always necessary to change water, but I'd dose ammonia first and then do WC if necessary.

What kind of ammonia? Off the shelf?

 

[wooden_reefer]

There are several ways to get ammonia.

If you are "cycling the tank", meaning that you do not plan to change 100% of the water after cycle, that you should be more careful what ammonia you use. If you have already planned to do 100% WC plus rinse the cycled medium (cycling the medium), then you have more choices.

1. Pure ammonia from a bottle, no additives.

2. Decay of protein. one small shrimp finely chopped up gives 3 ppm N-ammonia in 25 gals of water.

If you are cycling the medium and intend on doing 100% WC (and rinsing out the medium with suitable tank water), than you can use

3. human urine.

4. even ammonium nitrate (rinse out all nitrate after cycle) fertilizer. Generally all nitrogen fertilizer is ammonium nitrate (double source of nitrogen).


Ammonia from livestock is NEVER a good way to cycle. This is a primitive source for cycling of yesteryears of ignorance.

 

[jeffdenney]

I used the shrimp method.. cheap, easy, and I got to eat the rest of the bag of shrimpfor dinner. lol