question about LR and cycling... please help :)

[mmm55645]

BACKGROUND
I want to use the "cycling with uncured LR" method to cycle my 55g tank, that I read in "So, you want to start a Marine tank…
by Hennie Landman (aka New Reefer)" I am trying to figure out how much of my DIY rock to use during cycling, (from the method of MR. Wilson, that I read on this forum

QUESTION
My question is in regard to this quotation:

"You don't need to buy fully cured LR. In fact, the cheaper, uncured LR causes a better cycle, and usually have more diverse life forms in/on them."


Can I use half DIY rock and half uncured LR while I cycle the tank, then add premium quality once the tank is cycled?
and
Does the life spread fast enough(<2 months)during a fishless cycle that I could use mostly DIY rock and a lot of rubble?

Thanks for any help

 

[rhino509]

i would say you could use half diy and half uncured to cycle,but even once the tank is cycled i wouldnt personally add a lot of cured at one time just because.(my thoughts) even at the early stages of a tanks lifespan,everything is somewhat balanced(with decent husbandry),even with fully cured,corraline infested rock,it is still possible to have die off just from the ride from the lfs to your house.not to mention parameter differences(yours and lfs).
some of these types of things really depend on what other equipment you have going(skimmer ) just my thoughts.

 

[mmm55645]

I would really appreciate if anyone comments here... any advice will be helpful, even if it is a comment letting me know that the question is a dumb one.. then I will know that I am on the wrong track at least.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

half and half will be great but still take around 6 monthes for the DIY rock to become fully LR.

 

[mmm55645]

thanks for the advice.

I will have to put in more LR than the DIY I guess, Would it take less than 6 months if the ratio of DIY to uncured rock was different? or if I had the same ratio but quite a few lbs of rubble added to jumpstart the process?

 

[Bluey101]

Hey mmm....Just FYI when I started my 250 gal I learned the hard way not to use too much uncured LR. I tried several things to speed up the cycling process but had HUGE issues because I used uncured rock. I will expand if you need me to but just be aware of all of the problems that can and will occure with uncured rock....

 

[mmm55645]

Please explain, phxdrocks.

 

[Bluey101]

mmm...I'll pm ya in a sec....

 

[earthboy17]

can you expound on this thread?