Replaced LR in Tank, is my new LR cycled?

[Yellow_donkey]

So I added bio media/stone into sump in bags to make sure I had plenty of surface area and seeded that new media for 3 weeks.

I then removed all of the "man-made" LR I did not like and placed it in a bin with a powerhead.

Waited and tested my DT daily for any spikes and everything was good so I had plenty of BB to maintain my tank cycle.

I went and bought the LR I wanted from the LFS and placed in same bin about 2 weeks later with the 3 rock pieces I removed the tank knowing I had to cycle my new LR. So I placed new LR in same bin with removed.

One week later I tested all three, NH3, NO2 and NO3. Bother NH3 and NO2 were zero but the NH3 was at 10, so after one week I assume somthing significant happened/cycle. Two days ago I dosed store bought ammonia and raised the bin level to 4ppm, greenest I have ever see that via! haha.

It took 36 hours but I am now zero across with NH3 still showing in the 10 range.

I tested throughout the 36 hours as well and I saw the ammonia gradually on the decline the entire time.

My question is, did I cycle the new LR or is the old LR just taken care of everything. Am I bale to place new rock into DT or no, wait longer? Keep dosing NH3?

As a side note, I never saw any NO2 whatsoever. Thank you.

 

[CarrieB]

Was the live rock you got from the LFS in water or dry?


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[Yellow_donkey]

Was the live rock you got from the LFS in water or dry?

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It was what i would call "Live Rock" in a 120-gallon vat with other rock. Several vats split with different types, man-made, tonga branch and then others. It would have been "cycled" already at the store, and then had die off with my 1 hour drive home.

 

[CarrieB]

Was it dry for the hour in the way home or in water?


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[Yellow_donkey]

Was it dry for the hour in the way home or in water?


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In a tight double bag with a splash of water. Damp to the touch when bags removed an hour later.

 

[CarrieB]

Replaced LR in Tank, is my new LR cycled?

Well, I'm not an expert, but it seems like that wouldn't kill your bacteria, so you just need to worry about any organics dying off. You'd want that process to finish up before you add the rock to the tank, if only to avoid adding to the nitrate load.

My thought would be to monitor the nitrate level in the tub for a week and verify that they stay more or less the same. If they go up significantly, you probably want to wait until they level off. Just my opinion.


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[Yellow_donkey]

Well, I'm not an expert, but it seems like that wouldn't kill your bacteria, so you just need to worry about any organics dying off. You'd want that process to finish up before you add the rock to the tank, if only to avoid adding to the nitrate load.

My thought would be to monitor the nitrate level in the tub for a week and verify that they stay more or less the same. If they go up significantly, you probably want to wait until they level off. Just my opinion.


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Ya I thnik you are right, if I monitor for 1 more week that will be 2 weeks and a decent amount of time. Should I dose ammonia agiain, but cant if watching Nitrate. Maybe dose right after I take it out, to keep older rock BB going. I may keep this tub'o'rock going forever.

Thank you.

 

[CarrieB]

I wouldn't add any more ammonia. It will just confuse things and you don't need it.


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[CarrieB]

Once the bacteria is established it isn't that fragile.


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[wikichiase]

Was the live rock you got from the LFS in water or dry?

 

[Yellow_donkey]

Was the live rock you got from the LFS in water or dry?

Yes in large vats of water for just LR. Transported in double bags with a splash of water in it. Moist to the touch when taken out of bags and immediately added to bin.