Curing dry rock new tank help

[feenixfire]

I have a new 29g biocube that I put 25lb of dry rock, maybe 1lb of live rock to seed, and live sand (30lb). Do I need to toss food in or something to help the process (if so what kind of food)? My water tests are 0 for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates, 8 for ph. It's been up for a week so I wasn't sure if it's too early or if I should be throwing food in to help.

 

[jerseypete]

You need something. I used pure ammonia. But I cured my dry rock outside the tank. I would put a small raw shrimp.

 

[jrr98002]

Easiest thing as jerseypete said would be a raw shrimp. Pure ammonia is good too but you have to make sure it's pure, otherwise it's not useable.

 

[feenixfire]

A raw shrimp like I would cook from the grocery store? Just the one or do it once a week?

 

[bhofosho]

Buy some liquid bacteria too to jumpstart the fauna.

 

[Pet Detective]

Buy some liquid bacteria too to jumpstart the fauna.

Avoid doing this, let nature take it's course, you will be certain your tank has cycled once you read zero nitrites in 4-6 weeks, no guessing, no mini cycles, no elongated cycles, no need to do water changes, just patience.

Plus there is no evidence that this even works, OR what type or how much of colonial bacteria are even present, still alive, still active, etc. in a bottle.

 

[CStrickland]

yeah just a regular raw shimp. You dont need a big jumbo one either. As it decays your ammonia will start to rise and the bacteria can get to work. If the ammonia gets over like 3ppm and teh shrimp is still there you can pull it out.

your live sand was already treated with the bottled bacteria so they should be in there, plus the live rock.

 

[jerseypete]

I agree. Avoid the bottled bacteria.

 

[BrickFishHouse]

I'm not a fan of bottled bacteria, either...

...although there are a couple situations where it could come in handy, they are the exception, not the rule.

 

[feenixfire]

Wow thanks everyone. I'll go with the raw shrimp and thanks Strickland for the 3ppm advise, wondered if I just left it in there or had to pull at a certain point. Thanks everyone!

 

[mitchb]

I think you should add more than a single pound of live rock initially. Let the bacteria cut lose, buy more! Add the shrimp and just wait. No harm in the liquid bacteria either. When the nitrites go away, add a couple fish and wait some more, then do a good size water change. Just be patient.