Starting My Tank With RealReef Cured Rock

[BigEZ77]

So I've got my water mixed at a good salinity, added live sand and have now added about 45 lbs of Realreef rock. My LFS said its cured and that I only need to test for a few days and I should be good to start adding livestock. I'm a bit wary of this because anything I read says its good to cycle a tank regardless to build up beneficial bacteria throughout the system. Of course I'm perfectly happy to start adding some inverts but should I wait and force a cycle first? If so, what is the best way to do this?

Thanks,

Russell

 

[gikseiman]

I just very recently started a reef tank and LFS suggested me to use aquavitro seed. A different store told me to use ATM Colony.

All for the same reasons to generate bacteria for the nitrogen cycle, I. E help with creating aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.

I was also told the live rocks I picked up was cured already, but it may have die off and also, it may leak phosphate which I'm dealing with atm.

I think a few days is very optimistic to start adding things, but I'm a newbie to this myself..

I'm sure other more experienced folks will chime in.

Enjoy the extremely addictive hobby!!

 

[BigEZ77]

Thanks for the tips. I should also mention the rock has been in the tank for almost 5 days and I get the following readings with my API Master Saltwater Testing Kit...

Ph - 8
Amonia - 0 (could be .25, hard to tell the color but I think its closer to 0)
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0

 

[BigEZ77]

Can I just feed the tank to start the cycle? I have some Neptune Crossover Diet on hand.

 

[MJV0103]

Spike the ammonia up and watch it go down, if it goes from 2 to 0 within 24 hrs you're good to go.

 

[BigEZ77]

Thanks. What's a good way to spike the ammonia?

 

[panhandler01]

Thanks. What's a good way to spike the ammonia?

Get some pure ammonia (no surfactants, etc.) and dose it so that your ammonia reading is 2ppm. If the tank is at 0ppm in 24 hrs., you're good to start adding cuc. The best way to check to see if ammonia is pure is to shake the bottle. If no foam forms then it is good.

 

[BigEZ77]

Actually went to the LFS today and they suggested a frozen cube so I bought some. Gonna try that. Thanks all for the help.

 

[T Haynes]

Thanks for the tips. I should also mention the rock has been in the tank for almost 5 days and I get the following readings with my API Master Saltwater Testing Kit...

Ph - 8
Amonia - 0 (could be .25, hard to tell the color but I think its closer to 0)
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0

Api ammonia tests are garbage. Mine read .25 when it was zero. I now use a badge. Seems to work fine

 

[BigEZ77]

Yeah, I don't really like this color matching thing. I'm looking at other (more accurate) options as we speak. Seachem Ammonia Alert looks promising.