cycle question
- Thread starter zxknight
- Start date
gone fishin
New member
The short answer is yes. Depending on the rock it is possible you may get phosphate leeching out for some time and will be dealing with some algae issues. Or it may not be an issue.
I have personally tossed in some dry rock filed up the tank and started cycling/curing. Good luck just my 2 cents.
I have personally tossed in some dry rock filed up the tank and started cycling/curing. Good luck just my 2 cents.
JMorris271
New member
Just do thewater changes to remove the phosphate as it leaches out of the rock or use phosban.
CStrickland
New member
That's how I did it.
I put in the rock and saltwater, waited a few days and tested phos. My rock didn't leach any phos but if it had I would be able to deal with it easily using lanthanum chloride, which is much more effective than water changes or gfo. After a week or so I was confident that there was no phos issue, so I addded sand and turned on the lights.
If you are using food to cycle, like shrimp or pellets, that will add some phos but not enough to really skew the tests. Ammonia won't.
You need a proper phos test for this. The API one doesn't read low enough numbers to be any use in a reef tank. I like the Hanna ULR phosphorus checker personally.
Another benefit to this method is you can do your aquascape in a dry tank. Get everything set up how you want it before adding water. This is far easier than curing in another container and trying to place the rocks while keeping them wet enough not to kill the bacteria. Especially if you want to secure the rocks with rods or cement.
I put in the rock and saltwater, waited a few days and tested phos. My rock didn't leach any phos but if it had I would be able to deal with it easily using lanthanum chloride, which is much more effective than water changes or gfo. After a week or so I was confident that there was no phos issue, so I addded sand and turned on the lights.
If you are using food to cycle, like shrimp or pellets, that will add some phos but not enough to really skew the tests. Ammonia won't.
You need a proper phos test for this. The API one doesn't read low enough numbers to be any use in a reef tank. I like the Hanna ULR phosphorus checker personally.
Another benefit to this method is you can do your aquascape in a dry tank. Get everything set up how you want it before adding water. This is far easier than curing in another container and trying to place the rocks while keeping them wet enough not to kill the bacteria. Especially if you want to secure the rocks with rods or cement.
ericarenee
New member
i would first soak the dry rock in a tub with saltwater and a power head for a week or to see the phosphate and nitrate levels its leaching ... see where the rock stand then decide from there.
is this dry rock from another system.
is the dry rock from the ocean
is the dry rock man made?
But yes it can be done regardless but some rock can leach for years...
is this dry rock from another system.
is the dry rock from the ocean
is the dry rock man made?
But yes it can be done regardless but some rock can leach for years...
