Cycling while curing

[Pchauvin05]

Should you start cycling your aquarium with just sand while rock is curing?

 

[mcgyvr]

Yes you can start your cycle while the rock is cycling in its own container and then add the rock once the rock has fully cured/cycled..

Or you can add the rock and sand and just start the cycle like that..
If you know that the rock is in pretty bad shape (excessive phosphates,etc..) that you need to leach out first then it might be a better idea to cure it by itself to avoid all that being in the display tank during its cycle..

 

[Pchauvin05]

Thanks. It's dry rock, but I'm trying my patience. Lol

 

[mcgyvr]

Thanks. It's dry rock, but I'm trying my patience. Lol

If its just dry rock I'd put it right in the tank with the sand and start the cycling process..

 

[Sk8r]

Back in the day, we used to start a tank with 100% dry limestone rock and sand (prewashed) and a gallon of lfs discard saltwater. Took about 12 weeks, but it got there.

We don't recommend that nowadays because of the risk of importing ich or some other problem. The point is simply---life takes off from just a little bit of live water, or rock, or whatever. What you miss by that route is the myriad of beneficial hitchhikers that come in on some rocks. But the curing process also does in many of those. The best rock is a 'seeding' rock from a tank you really, really trust...but that CAN go amiss.

 

[JUNBUG361]

Yup, agree to what they both said ^ ^

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

I like nasty wet live rock but that's just me.

 

[JUNBUG361]

i like nasty wet live rock but that's just me.

lol

 

[Kaimana969]

Yes you can start your cycle while the rock is cycling in its own container and then add the rock once the rock has fully cured/cycled..

Or you can add the rock and sand and just start the cycle like that..
If you know that the rock is in pretty bad shape (excessive phosphates,etc..) that you need to leach out first then it might be a better idea to cure it by itself to avoid all that being in the display tank during its cycle..

So if you add the rock and sand and just start the cycle, doesn't it stink up your house? I'm trying to avoid that process.

 

[JUNBUG361]

Either way you will have that smell durin cycle(IMO)

 

[mcgyvr]

So if you add the rock and sand and just start the cycle, doesn't it stink up your house? I'm trying to avoid that process.

Never been an issue for me... But I've only bought live rock a few times (maybe 2) and did have it shipped but never noticed a house engulfing smell..
All other tanks have always just used rock from the previous tank..

 

[Kaimana969]

Either way you will have that smell durin cycle(IMO)

But at least with the bucket in the garage, the smell is contained there.