Cycling question (base rock only)

[sundontshine]

So I'm starting a new tank and want to avoid any unwanted pests. I know live rock has good and bad with it but really want to control what goes in. I've added 50lbs of base rock into my new tank with new dead sand and a cup of live sand from another tank.

I've been dosing microbacter7 as well. I would like to be able to add some live rock for seed but not available at the moment. What else special do I need to do to allow tank to cycle completely? I will wait as long as I need to ensure a proper start up. Is there any products for introducing coralline into a tank besides LR or scrapings?

I have some sps to transfer from old tank after the cycle, is there any additional precautions I should take?

Thanks

 

[wrott]

Just a piece or 2 of mature LR will get it going, along w/ a piece of shrimp to let the bacteria go crazy on your base rock. Let it go 14 days and add a few hermits. If they make it a week, then you can add corals, just be careful w/ adding fish and feeding--go very slow and check nitrite.

Edit---You should be able to establish the tank w/ just a piece of shrimp to avoid any unwanted pest. But in my opinion, you 're going to get those pest anyway, somewhere down the line.

 

[cindre2000]

Every coral needs to be 'sterilized' in a basic dip; look up freshwater or iodine dips, before you put them in the tank.

The most common place to actually get bad hitchhikers is actually from the corals, or the rocks the coral are on; since they are shipped in water.

 

[KeMo]

Wow another person who is starting their tank with all dead rock and 1 cup of good sand. Bud your tank is going to take so long to cycle if it every really cycles right.
So you are choosing what they call ( life in a bottle over) over the real dead ?
You are going to have algae problems and cycle problems.
You need to get some good LR in their. Not only bact comes on LR. What about the worms,pods you need them to have a successful tank.
Dont start to add things for coraline. Coraline wont just start up you need to have a rock with it seeded on it already. Even if you buy purple up it does not have coraline in the bottle . Get some LR bud.

 

[Potsy]

I used nothing but dry rock from BRS and a refrigerated bacterial addictive from "Dr. Tim's." I didn't want my fish and corals from my previous tank sitting for two months in rubbermaid bins in the laundry room (nor did my wife). Added the live bacteria culture and then 12 hours later added my three small fish and large lps corals. Never in the three months that it has been setup did I ever get the slightest reading in ammonia, nitrite, or nitrates. Got coralline growing and happy snails, coral, and fish.

I'm not saying everyone should instantly cycle their tanks and start loading up on livestock, but sometimes an instant bacterial cycle via a proven culture additive can be pragmatic if the situation calls for it, especially if a light bioload is being transferred in.

 

[sundontshine]

Thanks for the reply's. I will be dipping all corals before going in and plan to add a detritus crew. A source of LR that I trust is not available at the moment but I will add some once available. I have been adding flake food to the tank also to try and get a spike. Just wasn't sure if there was anything I should do different from the normal cycle process other than going extra slow on introducing things.

I know purple up does nothing for introducing coralline but have heard of products that are basically crushed coralline but don't recall the name.