Dry Rock Question

[izzyish]

While I'm waiting for a new tank, is there anything I could be doing with this dry rock that's just sitting? It's reef cleaner rock so I'm not worried about curing it. Can I start the nitrification cycle in brute barrel while I wait for my tank to come in?

 

[gone fishin]

You can then transfer over to the tank once it is setup. Good luck

 

[izzyish]

Thanks Tony!

What should I add to this brute to start the nitrification cycle? Should I just add the essentials, like a powerhead, heater, saltwater, rock, and a dead shrimp? Is there anything different that I should do compared to cycling in a tank?

 

[gone fishin]

That's what I would do.

 

[izzyish]

Okay thanks Tony!

What's the purpose of a heater during the cycle? I'll be doing this cycle in my garage and with this Texas weather it gets pretty hot in there. Do I really need a heater? Does the bacteria need temperature to be stable?

 

[GilliganReef]

Thats fine, I have a heater in my tote with dry rock in the garage. But I am in Minnesota where it can get down to 50 degrees. Shouldn't be any issues cycling in your garage.

 

[gone fishin]

Okay thanks Tony!

What's the purpose of a heater during the cycle? I'll be doing this cycle in my garage and with this Texas weather it gets pretty hot in there. Do I really need a heater? Does the bacteria need temperature to be stable?

IMO the bacteria grow better when the temps are closer to what we run our tanks at. I would certainly think in Texas summer you can get the water to around 80 degrees without a heater. Good luck, look forward to seeing some fish in the tank.

 

[tharkins]

I am doing this same thing and am about 3 weeks in with curing my 100 lbs reef saver rock and a bit of tonga while I wait for my tank. I would recommend seeding with one piece of live rock from your LFS that looks clear of nasties. Just put in a shrimp into the brute with the rock and you are good to go. The smell was awful after 24 hours so I removed the shrimp and put in a bag of carbon which cleared that up. I am in the nitrite spike phase of the curing with my ammonia almost gone.

Figure it should speed up the eventual cycling of the tank quite a bit if you have 100lbs of cured live rock with all that beneficial bacteria established.