Help me understand this process. So i will be doing a fishless cycle. I bought 100lbs. of Marco Dry rock. I was going to go with dry sand as well. I have a few telling me i should throw in a few pieces of live rock to help the process along. Then have some saying don't because they could have potentially bad hitchhikers. Which one is it? Also what chemicals would i be using to help this process along and do I ghost feed as well?
New tank cycle
- Thread starter fernalfer
- Start date
Brieninsac
Member
I used Bio-spira and a week later my first two fish were in. Water parameters were fine and fish are healthy and thriving 5-months later.
Live Rockin
New member
Personally I used dry rock and live sand to begin with then did Dr. Tims ammonia dosing method to build up the beneficial bacteria. Live Rock could introduce unwanted pest, so you could use Dr. Tims complete process with his bacteria as well if you don't want to take the chance.
dalston
Active member
You don't NEED to add some already live rock to get a cycle, people do this to 'seed' their system with existing bacteria, which certainly speeds the cycle process up. It's not mandatory though because the bacteria needed to cycle will come naturally as long as you are feeding your system. Some like to just add a raw table shrimp and wait for it to start breaking down, creating ammonia. You can also dose pure ammonia.
You are right about potential hitchhikers. Established rock could have many issues hiding inside. But it can also contain many beneficial components, too.
It's all about what you want to risk vs how much time you want to wait.
You are right about potential hitchhikers. Established rock could have many issues hiding inside. But it can also contain many beneficial components, too.
It's all about what you want to risk vs how much time you want to wait.
Can you be more specific. So you used dry rock and dry sand?
gone fishin
New member
When I reset my tank up after a move I pulled my now dead rock out of some totes washed it off and put it into the tank. Added some well rinsed dry aragonite then added enough pure ammonia to get up to 2ppm. I then patiently waited for the cycle to complete. Good luck just my 2 cents.
champion6sigma
New member
No chemicals needed IMO.
Live sand , live rock, live water....is what I used...cycled extremely quick.
Ghost feeding is ok.
I never worried about some stealth hitchhiker assassin that could remain hidden and wipe out my future fish
I put some trust in my LFS that they have quality rock, they cure them there and that they don't just get rocks in from hobo's off the street and sell them to me same day LOL
Brieninsac
Member
New tank cycle
I didn't want hitchhikers with live rock. So I started with 77 lbs. of ReefRock 2.1 and 40 lbs. of live sand. I think the live sand helps a lot too.
I didn't want hitchhikers with live rock. So I started with 77 lbs. of ReefRock 2.1 and 40 lbs. of live sand. I think the live sand helps a lot too.
JohnnyHildo
Member
i used dry rock and dry aragonite. one 65 pound bag left with with somewhere around an inch of substrate in my tank which is exactly the same measurements as yours.
doing it this way does require more patience though. it'll be 30 days this coming thursday and my nitrites are just now starting to taper off.
doing it this way does require more patience though. it'll be 30 days this coming thursday and my nitrites are just now starting to taper off.
Would the live sand help speed the process and do you now wish you used live sand or still happy you went with dry?
DavidGraves
New member
There is a sanded depth calculator on this site: http://www.reefcentral.com/index.php/sand-bed-calculator
I personally used dry rock and live sand (was on sale, caribsea). Throw in a few table shrimp and start looking for ammonia a week in.
I personally used dry rock and live sand (was on sale, caribsea). Throw in a few table shrimp and start looking for ammonia a week in.
JohnnyHildo
Member
i was aware going in that it would be a month or longer and to be honest i'm happy with how i did it. the amount of knowledge i've picked up in this time will without question keep me from making the mistakes i probably would have made if everything was good to go in a week.
