Yesterday I added 90lbs of live rock. I know it has to cycle for a week to two. I have seen people say to do water changes during cycles and its not need. Will I be ok just to let the water be and test it in a week to make sure it cycled? Since there is no real need to test it daily for the first few days, since it takes at least a week to cycle.
Cycle question
- Thread starter Nwest
- Start date
dean87jones
New member
do you have any live stock in the tank?
If your new to this and the tank just got started u wanted test it EOD to at notice and pattarns and just practice testing everything. After a series of repetative results... successive measurements can then decrease.
If your new to this and the tank just got started u wanted test it EOD to at notice and pattarns and just practice testing everything. After a series of repetative results... successive measurements can then decrease.
When I cycle a tank, I wait unti a week has passed before I test, then test weekly. A typical cycle takes about 6-8 weeks. Less if you have used partially or fully cured LR. Don't bother doing any water changes until your ammonia and nitrite have reached zero and your nitrates are around 40ppm or so, then do a 20% water change.
Pufferpunk
New member
Like mentioned, it will depend on how cured the rock was when you got it. Uncured rock will take 6-8 wks to cure.
Yes, it could. Patience is the key with this hobby. Rushing things usually leads to dead livestock early on.
I recommend this to all new tank owners. Give yourself a dose of this daily for the duration of the cycle.
Happy reefing!!
Pufferpunk
New member
Where can I buy a case of that & how much?
Pufferpunk
New member
Yes, you are partially correct--when the rock is cured.
Palting
New member
Uncured live rock means that there are dead/dying/decaying stuff on the rock. Cured live rock means everything that was dead/dying/decaying is now gone, therefore the rock is "cured".
I am not sure what your LFS meant by "it was there for 2 weeks and it's good rock". 2 weeks is not long enough for uncured rock to cure, or they may have cured rock that has been sitting there for 2 weeks. Ask them which one it is: 2 week old uncured rock or 2 week old cured rock. Makes a big difference.
If it's all cured rock, that means the rock has all the beneficial bacteria and the amount of die-off is minimal, just whatever is related to the rocks being placed in an aquarium different from where they came from. This may, indeed, be completed in a week. Keep an eye on your parameters and go slow with adding livestock.
I am not sure what your LFS meant by "it was there for 2 weeks and it's good rock". 2 weeks is not long enough for uncured rock to cure, or they may have cured rock that has been sitting there for 2 weeks. Ask them which one it is: 2 week old uncured rock or 2 week old cured rock. Makes a big difference.
If it's all cured rock, that means the rock has all the beneficial bacteria and the amount of die-off is minimal, just whatever is related to the rocks being placed in an aquarium different from where they came from. This may, indeed, be completed in a week. Keep an eye on your parameters and go slow with adding livestock.
Pufferpunk
New member
That link was just so you would know what the difference of cured & uncured is.
bamse
New member
Not only the tank cycles, your skills should "cycle" as well :lol2:. Use this time to get used to the routine. You have to minimize your chances of catastrophic blunders before you have anything dear in your tank.
For example, this is a good time to get your testing skills up :spin1:. It is also interesting to see how the water parameters are changing over time (not to mention it is the safest way to assess the end of a initial nitrate cycle).
For example, this is a good time to get your testing skills up :spin1:. It is also interesting to see how the water parameters are changing over time (not to mention it is the safest way to assess the end of a initial nitrate cycle).
