Seeding a dry rock cycle

[Potatohead]

I have a 36 gallon which has about 45 lbs of dry rock and Caribsea live sand (1"). The rock is Marco rock from what I understand has never been in the ocean so I there isn't any dead decaying matter on it. With freshwater I always just dosed ammonia up to 2 ppm and went from there. Can I do the same thing with saltwater or is it better to toss a few pellets in or something? I also have some Stability to help.

Also should I run my skimmer or not?

Thanks

 

[Aero175]

You can do the same thing you do with your freshwater. Just dose the ammonia up to 2ppm, and start testing the water. Make sure you keep adding the 2ppm until it processes all the way to nitrate in less than 24 hours.

 

[Dmorty217]

You will need to add bacteria to get the cycle to occur. I use Startsmart every time I setup a new tank (just did it with my 625g) and for QTs and Tank Transfer Method. Cycles the tank instantly

 

[thegrun]

You can do the same thing you do with your freshwater. Just dose the ammonia up to 2ppm, and start testing the water. Make sure you keep adding the 2ppm until it processes all the way to nitrate in less than 24 hours.

Aero is correct in stating that you can add ammonia up to the 2ppm level (be sure the ammonia does not contain perfumes or surfactants), but DO NOT continue to add ammonia, doing so will only leave you with unnecessarily high nitrates at the end of the cycle and likely prolong the cycle. One dose of ammonia is all you need. If you really have to know, you can make a second dosage of ammonia once the cycle is complete (ammonia and nitrites drop to zero) in which case the ammonia should drop back to zero overnight, but the second dosage is really completely unnecessary. Some are under the false impression you need to continue to feed the bacteria, this is not correct, they will live for a year or more without food (ammonia). You can add bacteria if you want to speed things up, but the bacteria is airborne and will start all on its own without any additions, it just takes longer (4-5 weeks typically).

 

[Potatohead]

I know how to cycle a tank, just wondering if the salt water was the same as fresh. Typically when I have seen ammonia being consumed I have continued to add ammonia, but at a much lower rate (about 1/4 - 1/3 dose of the original, every two days). Once I see that added ammonia being consumed within 24 hours, it's good to go. Nitrates don't really concern me because I do a 100% water change when done.

 

[thegrun]

Do not continue to dose ammonia, once and done. You need to wait for both the ammonia and nitrites to drop to zero.

 

[bat21]

No need to run your skimmer. Some people add bacteria to a dry rock cycle to get it jumpstarted. I did, though my cycle still took 6 weeks. But it's basically the same thing as freshwater, just remember to add salt.

 

[Highweigh]

I like to run my skimmers without the collection cup during the cycle so it can get a nice slime coat built up and be ready to skim once the cycle is done

 

[Potatohead]

I like to run my skimmers without the collection cup during the cycle so it can get a nice slime coat built up and be ready to skim once the cycle is done

That's what I have been doing actually, I'm finding it hard to dial in, it's either too low then you tweak it like 1 degree and it's too high lol, but I figured it's just breaking in so I ran it a little on the high side and took the cup off

 

[gallegos]

I never dose anything when I'm cycling rock. If you do don't dose ammonia. You don't want it to leach later on. I usually add a small I've rock to really ramp up the cycle. You can add biospira or seachem stability to help rush the process but I say let it be. Slow and steady makes the best live rock

 

[fernalfer]

do you guys find that after pouring in the nitrifying bacteria that it smells pretty bad. Wondering when the smell will go away.

 

[Potatohead]

do you guys find that after pouring in the nitrifying bacteria that it smells pretty bad. Wondering when the smell will go away.

It can get funky once the bacteria gets going, throw some carbon in the sump