Question about cycling rock without sand

[itz frank]

Talk to me about any issues that might arise from cycling the live rock without the live sand.

I currently am cycling my liverock in my garage where my tank is mocked up. Because I'll be moving the tank inside once all is done, I decide to not put livesand in with it and will be adding it later.

Reading over the Waterkeeper threads, it popped into my mind that I'll cause another cycle.

The reason the tank isn't in the house is because it's replacing a 60 in the same space and I don't have anywhere to keep the current corals and fish that are in the tank.

Any issues that you guys see?

 

[JammyBirch]

I guess i don't understand why you wouldn't just add the sand now? You're right you'll have another cycle, but it will be minimal since the rock will already be able to process the ammonia and nitrite.

If it were me i'd add the live sand now.

 

[A.Astore]

I cured/cycled my rock in Brutes in the basement and carried it up to the tank which then had live sand added. I added a bottle of BioSpira to help populate on the floating sand particles as well. I had no cycle show. I had bacteria built up on the rock and it stayed out of water for no time. I added the bacteria bottle as well to help with the sand storm that was going to happen no matter what I did and it resulted in a tank that was not forced into a cycle. I have added corals and fish (and feed VERY heavily thanks to a sun polyp that has to compete with shrimp) since with no issues and fully believe that if the rock is cured/cycled with no time out of water (only enough to transfer it from one tank to another) you can pull it off.

People will argue with me, but it happened and I will do it again the way I did without questioning it. I would again use the bottle of bacteria considering it was like $10 and I can't say whether that was the icing on the cake that made it all work out or not (some live sand comes with the packet of bacteria to populate the sand particles that are floating hence the reason I added BioSpira).

 

[itz frank]

I guess i don't understand why you wouldn't just add the sand now? You're right you'll have another cycle, but it will be minimal since the rock will already be able to process the ammonia and nitrite.

If it were me i'd add the live sand now.

Because the tank needs to be moved again. The tank is 130gallons and would require about 130 lbs of sand.

 

[roberthu526]

I would fix the rock on the bare bottom first then add sand. Let everything sit over night and add water slowly to avoid dusty water. Then start the cycling. But you can do it like you said and I wouldn't worry about the mini-cycle. Your rock is your main filter.

 

[thegrun]

Cure the rock, then add DRY sand (washed). No chance of a cycle that way.