Cycle time using fully cured rock from a LFS…

[YellowDesmo998]

I'm going to pick up some LR from Dr. Mac tomorrow to start my new Nano Cube 24DX. How long should I expect the initial cycle to take? I'm going to transport the LR from his shop to my home in buckets filled with water. He's around an hour fro me.

I picked up some Tropical Play Sand from HD today so the sand bed is new as well. It looks like the SD I used in the past but haven't done the vinegar test yet.

Would it be safe to throw a few blue legs in there from the start? I have the water for the tank aerating as I type so it will have a good 24hrs of mixing before entering the tank.

[Rosseau]

I recently used "fully cycled" rock as well as cycled water from a trusted LFS. I experienced a very minor peak in nitrates, and added my clean up crew only 2 days after. I think some die off occured in transportation of the rock from the store to my tank....

Make sure the rock is actually cycled, many stores seem to claim this to please you.

[Rosseau]

oh, and my sand was new also. Blue leg hermits are still healthy after 4 weeks.

[YellowDesmo998]

Thanks for the reply. That's what I was thinking too.

Any more opinions on this?

[saltman123]

I had live rock from an established tank and my tank still cycled for a few weeks. I used sand from an established tank also, so my cycle may have dragged out because of this.

Don't rush it, just let it run its course and test those ammonias and nitrites.

[greggwisniewski]

I have a 24g DX also. Purchased 18lbs of cured LR and 20lbs of live sand. After a day or 2 all my vitals were good and have been the same since. it has been been 2 weeks and have full cleaner crew and a perc clown. All doing well.

[BLKTANG]

My 29 has been up for 2 weeks,1 week with fully cured LR,i have everything in it now including clams,& sps.

[YellowDesmo998]

Thanks everyone. I just got back from Dr Mac's place. Very nice!! It's more like a medical facility then a LFS! lol. Everything is pristine. If you are close by I suggest stopping in for a visit!

[greggwisniewski]

cool, im in baltimore... where is he located?

[YellowDesmo998]

Just north of Salisbury. If you're going to OC you pass within less then a mile of his shop. He's just off of 50 before the Salisbury bypass.

[JCfromMD]

Hello everyone,
I live in Easton, MD and have been to Dr. Mac's. His facility is amazing. Very high quality livestock and service! Well worth the drive if you live within driving distance!!!

[cbicop]

believe it or not... everyone in my department at work has a 24 gallon reef tank. All of us bought live rock, live sand and used that live bacteria packet from the lfs... put in corals the next day with no probs all tanks have been running now for over two years with no die off. We all also use chemipure.

[NickBee]

I got my LR from a LFS also. Am never got above .25 and the cycle was done in less than a week.