Newbie cycling advise: Live Rock

[gwenfckay]

Hey everyone!
I've just started cycling my tank and I've noticed a ton of worms out and about. About half are dead and half alive. Is this normal? Also can anyone see anything abnormal? Help this newbie out please & thank you. Appreciate it!

 

[Rover88]

I'm going to assume you got the rock as live rock?

There is usually some die-off in the shipping process, and you are probably seeing it now? If they are crawling out of their holes during the day you may want to check your salinity or other parameters to see if everything is 'good'.

Otherwise, stay the course and let the cycle continue!

 

[Icewing726]

Rovers right about the die off, one other thing I would caution you on is the die off from the portion now buried in the sand. I elected to go dry rock for my base and put some cycled live from the lfs in to help seed.

I'll also throw in a plug for Bio Spira. Its bacteria in a bottle and it let me skip the weeks of cycling ammonia and nitrites.

Not sure what your target is for the tank, if its more towards predator FOWLR I can share some experiences. Good luck, feel free to PM anytime.

 

[gwenfckay]

I'm going to assume you got the rock as live rock?

There is usually some die-off in the shipping process, and you are probably seeing it now? If they are crawling out of their holes during the day you may want to check your salinity or other parameters to see if everything is 'good'.

Otherwise, stay the course and let the cycle continue!

Yes I got it as live rock and was suspecting if it's "die off". Salinity is currently at 1.025 and other parameters; ammonia + nitrite levels are increasing and no nitrates yet pH is a little acidic.

 

[gwenfckay]

Rovers right about the die off, one other thing I would caution you on is the die off from the portion now buried in the sand. I elected to go dry rock for my base and put some cycled live from the lfs in to help seed.

I'll also throw in a plug for Bio Spira. Its bacteria in a bottle and it let me skip the weeks of cycling ammonia and nitrites.

Not sure what your target is for the tank, if its more towards predator FOWLR I can share some experiences. Good luck, feel free to PM anytime.

Ahh thanks for bringing that to my attention, will the "dead" rock in the sand be an issue? Do you reckon replace it with dry rock?

I did add some live nitrifying bacteria in a bottle, it's only been several days so I'm being as patient as I can.

I've always been interested in the hobby and thought I'd start out with a FOWLR with some Clowns. No specific target right now but I would love to grow with the hobby and later on add some corals.

Thank you!