View Full Version : cycling w/aragonite
jfred
11/29/2008, 07:02 PM
Im going to cycle my new tank with aragonite. i will not be adding live rock right away. so my question is will that cycle ok with just the aragonite? And will adding live rock later (few weeks) cause a problem. this is my first salt water tank, any help would be appreciated.
evilspaz
11/29/2008, 09:01 PM
your tank may start to cycle but when you add the live rock it will cycle again.
Toddrtrex
11/29/2008, 09:18 PM
[welcome]
If all there is in the tank right now is the sand ( and water ) the cycle won't start.
In basic terms there needs to be "something" in the tank to start the cycle. Most of the time that will happen when you add live rock, anything that is alive ( or as it dies ) will produce ammonia which will kick off the cycling process.
sir_dudeguy
11/29/2008, 09:22 PM
Rock (assuming it is not cured, which basically means un cycled) is going to start the cycle over, so ya...
I'd start by reading through all the sticky threads at the top of the newbie forum
and welcome to rc!
jfred
11/30/2008, 08:11 AM
thanks........what do u guys think about that "instant cycling" aragonite.? does that stuff still needs something to start the ammonia cycle or does some of the microorganisms on the aragonite die and start the ammonia cycle? Ive read a lot of the newbie threads, which have been very helpful. thanks again.
brodden
11/30/2008, 08:36 AM
has anyone tried the method of using a piece of dead shrimp?
E.intheC
11/30/2008, 11:29 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13843813#post13843813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jfred
thanks........what do u guys think about that "instant cycling" aragonite.? does that stuff still needs something to start the ammonia cycle or does some of the microorganisms on the aragonite die and start the ammonia cycle? Ive read a lot of the newbie threads, which have been very helpful. thanks again.
I really feel like this stuff is a marketing ploy.. and nothing more. You could try to add Bio Spira (although I heard they no longer sell it).. you can get refrigerated products that speed along the cycle process.
thecoralreefer
11/30/2008, 11:36 AM
Yes but even adding "live rock" you still have a new cycle starting and the best bet is to start with the rock pile in place.
Anytime you move the rock, it upsets some of the bacteria and you generate a mini cycle again. When you buy new it will probably be packaged dry, some bacteria will die off.
So just bite the bullet and start up right !!! This means use the rock now.
EvMiBo
11/30/2008, 11:58 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13843926#post13843926 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brodden
has anyone tried the method of using a piece of dead shrimp?
I plan on starting with 100% dry rock (completely dead) and 100% dead/dry sand and then adding a cocktail shrimp into the tank.
I'll monitor the ammonia levels daily, and then a day or maybe 2 after I start getting some ammonia readings I'll take out the shrimp and then the ammonia will then go to nitrite and then to nitrate. Once the nitrate levels is gone I'll add CUC then fish a week or two later probably.
Just my plan :) (easier on paper I'm sure ;) )
Toddrtrex
11/30/2008, 12:00 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13844979#post13844979 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EvMiBo
I plan on starting with 100% dry rock (completely dead) and 100% dead/dry sand and then adding a cocktail shrimp into the tank.
I'll monitor the ammonia levels daily, and then a day or maybe 2 after I start getting some ammonia readings I'll take out the shrimp and then the ammonia will then go to nitrite and then to nitrate. Once the nitrate levels is gone I'll add CUC then fish a week or two later probably.
Just my plan :) (easier on paper I'm sure ;) )
Might want to think about putting the shrimp into a filter bag -- will make it easier to get it out -- has a tendency to fall apart after a while.
EvMiBo
11/30/2008, 12:10 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13844989#post13844989 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Toddrtrex
Might want to think about putting the shrimp into a filter bag -- will make it easier to get it out -- has a tendency to fall apart after a while.
good idea, thanks :D
you think it would be alright to add a small amount of uncured liverock with the bulk of dry rock to "seed" the rest with coraline algae? I assume it is, it would just prolong the cycle a bit longer..? Correct?
Toddrtrex
11/30/2008, 12:13 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13845059#post13845059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EvMiBo
good idea, thanks :D
you think it would be alright to add a small amount of uncured liverock with the bulk of dry rock to "seed" the rest with coraline algae? I assume it is, it would just prolong the cycle a bit longer..? Correct?
Sure thing.
I don't know if it would really add that much time to the cycle, if it was a small amount. Depending where you get the rock from (( how long it is out of water )) it might not add anytime at all.
Then again I have always cycled for all live rock, and did water changes during it -- never took more then a month.
EvMiBo
11/30/2008, 12:16 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13845076#post13845076 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Toddrtrex
Sure thing.
I don't know if it would really add that much time to the cycle, if it was a small amount. Depending where you get the rock from (( how long it is out of water )) it might not add anytime at all.
Then again I have always cycled for all live rock, and did water changes during it -- never took more then a month.
Sounds great thanks :)
console:
/end_thread_hack :lol:
brodden
11/30/2008, 03:02 PM
So, when you guys set up new tanks, you make sure that all of the rock that you ever want is in there right away? What if you decide later on that you want more rock? Do you just add that and watch the levels/do a lot more water changes or do you actually have to remove the fish to the QT while it is cycling so they don't die?
Toddrtrex
11/30/2008, 03:06 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13845944#post13845944 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brodden
So, when you guys set up new tanks, you make sure that all of the rock that you ever want is in there right away? What if you decide later on that you want more rock? Do you just add that and watch the levels/do a lot more water changes or do you actually have to remove the fish to the QT while it is cycling so they don't die?
Most of the time I have the amount ( within reason ) that I want to end up with. Now if I feel the need to add a rock later on I have just put it in. Granted in those cases I added a single rock from an LFS, so there really wasn't any die off during transport.
Now if I was going to be adding a decent amount of new rock to an existing tank I would cure that rock in a rubbermaid bin first.
brodden
11/30/2008, 03:11 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13845965#post13845965 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Toddrtrex
Now if I was going to be adding a decent amount of new rock to an existing tank I would cure that rock in a rubbermaid bin first.
Ok, now that makes sense. I always get confused on how the curing and cycling process works... thanks for explaining it! :)
jfred
11/30/2008, 09:17 PM
thanks everybody, lots of help.
jfred
11/30/2008, 09:35 PM
so....live rock from the lfs that has been in a tank wont have as much die off? how else can u buy live rock? what is this dry rock?
brodden
12/01/2008, 09:12 PM
I think a lot of people don't have a LFS that carries LR so they have to drive a long way, sometimes hours to get some and by the time they get it home it has some signifigant die off. Also, there is tons of LR that is bought online and shipped around the country as well.
I assum dry rock is just LR that has been allowed to totally die off; but I don't have any personal experience with it.
sir_dudeguy
12/02/2008, 12:37 AM
Dry rock is not a bad way to go at all, especially if money is an issue. It just takes a LOT longer. Basically its just live rock that has been out of water for a long time, thus killing all life on it (including the bacteria).
i've done a few tanks this way with great success. i started w/completey dry rock, washed the heck out of it (to rinse out any left over nutrients) and then start the tank brand new. You'll have to go through the full cycle this way since there is no bacteria on it, but its also a good way to not get any hair algae and stuff like that (or more importantly, PARASITES!).
Whereas if you start with live rock that is either cured or uncured, the cycle (if you even get one) wont be very long at all.
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