How much to scrub rocks

[Dirtysouthreef]

Ok So I'm starting a nano tank and bought some primo deco rock to go in it. Rock arrived via fed ex shipped on Thursday from Florida and I got it Friday evening.

Since its a new tank that I'm going to cycle do I pick as much of the stuff off the rocks and then place in tank, or let the stuff stay on and cure it by just letting it cycle for a few weeks?

Seems a waste to buy live rock only to scrub off all the stuff that makes it primo so I'm asking before I mess it up.

Thanks,

 

[Bpb]

Don't scrub it at all. Put it in the tank and let it run as a normal tank. Just wait a couple weeks to add anything to allow the bacteria to re stabilize. Couldn't hurt to DOSE a little bacteria and/or vodka to jump start it as well


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[Dirtysouthreef]

Thanks I will do just that!

 

[Easy E]

Don't scrub it at all. Put it in the tank and let it run as a normal tank. Just wait a couple weeks to add anything to allow the bacteria to re stabilize. Couldn't hurt to DOSE a little bacteria and/or vodka to jump start it as well


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I agree, but if you see die off on the rocks, brush it off and siphon it out. You will also want to do a large water change after the tank is cycled and before you add any livestock.

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[Dirtysouthreef]

Ok I don't know if this is normal or not but yesterday on day one I did a phosphate an nitrate test with a master reef kit. Both showed 0 ppm after letting the tubes sit for several minutes which surprised me cause I put the live rock I got shipped to me in the tank without scrubbing it. I did remove all the clams (3) that were attached.

My whole living room stinks to high hell and I'm not sure if I should drain it all out wash the rocks and start over again. The water even has this very thin film in certain spots.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

[Easy E]

If it's a new tank you won't have any phosphate or nitrate yet. You don't get nitrate until after it's cycled. What you're smelling is die off from the rocks that's rotting. I would change out most of the water and try to siphon out anything that's obviously dead. Use an old toothbrush to get the dead stuff off the rocks.

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[JUNBUG361]

You should be testing ammonia. Not phosphate or nitrate

 

[on the spot]

Ok I don't know if this is normal or not but my whole living room stinks...

completely normal.




the film on the water - turn off the water flow for a bit, and just blot it off with some paper towel if it offends you.

otherwise I'd suggest staying the course. open a window - it's nice outside. finally. at least here. YMMV.

 

[jlmawp]

My whole living room stinks to high hell and I'm not sure if I should drain it all out wash the rocks and start over again. The water even has this very thin film in certain spots.

Don't freak out. Stay the course and let the rocks figure themselves out. Like Easy E said, there was some die-off in transport, which is totally normal. Hell, if I pull a rock out of my tank after not having cleaned in a while, yeah, it smells. That just means it truly is full of life.

Like others said, change out a lot of water, and run some activated carbon to help with the smell. After you add the carbon, the smell will largely disappear in a day.

And for the love of god, don't scrub the rocks! A lot of people insist on having clean, bleached rock and over-react to hitchhikers and all that stuff. I say it's all super silly. The diversity of mature rock is fantastic and should be embraced. It's all a part of creating a true ecosystem in a tank. Things die and new equilibriums need to be reached.

Keep going as is and you won't be disappointed.

 

[Trigger Tough]

Be patient and let it cycle. It’ll be worth it in the long run

 

[Dirtysouthreef]

Thanks for all your advice. I will change out the water as suggested but leave the rocks alone. I got an ammonia test today (14.99 wow for one element) and it was as dark green 8.0 ppm as you could get.

 

[Anemone]

Yep, with fresh rock that has been shipped "moist," you'll get a big cycle. Monitor Ammonia. When it hits zero, monitor Nitrite. When it hits zero, do a large water change to reduce nitrates and you're on your way. This can take 30 or so days! That would be the point to start testing for nitrates and phosphate.

FWIW,
Kevin