Adding and rearranging rocks

[rerr001]

Tank, 75g w/ 30g sump, has been cycling for about 5 weeks now. Started with 54 pound dry Marco rocks and about 70 pounds Tropic Eden reeflakes. Tank has cycled but nitrate still around 2.0. Will be going out of town for the holidays and plan on doing a major water change when I get back, not planning to add livestock as of yet. I want to add about 25 pounds more marco rocks and 20 pounds of dry sand and also rearrange the rocks thats in the tank already. Will this take me into another cycle?

[rssayer]

adding more rocks and sand will prob start a mini cycle. Only time will tell, and time is key in setting up a salty tank properly. I'd say do a 10% water change now and check everything when you get back. see from there.

[MrClam]

Marco rocks are dry and thus will not have any die-off and will not cause a cycle. If the reeflakes are dry they will be the same. Rinse both liberally in RO/DI and scrub the rocks and you should be fine.

[Fizz71]

Dry rocks can cause an algea bloom if not properly cleaned (soaked) but they shouldn't cause a cycle. I personally wouldn't bother with a WC--if you're not doing anything in the tank just let the nitrates go up a little more while you're gone and do a good one when you get back. Just make sure you won't evaporate out your sump and run your pump dry while you're gone.

[rerr001]

Got an algea going on now, rocks gone from white to light brown, will a good CUC take care of it. Of course they will not be add til I get back. Fizz71, I'm running a ATO so the water should stay level in the sump.

[Fizz71]

I wouldn't put a CUC in there until the cycle is done...just wait it out.