Cycling with un-cured live rock....

[platapus]

Ive currently begun setting up a new 100 gallon reef tank, and am cycling it with un-cured live rock, and live sand - Just would like to hear any feeed back from anyone who has triied this method!

-thanks

[UFGator]

Well I'm doing the same thing as of today. I asked this BB before I tried it and most of the folks said they didn't see a problem with it. I guess you and I will know for sure in a couple of days!
Joel

[platapus]

Cool - keep me posted on what you are doing, and, if you dont mind, share work water results with me? you can email me at sam@bluechunks.net

I begun cycling with 108lbs of uncured live rock, and 40lbs of live sand on Friday 9-14-01 for a 100 gallon. I tested my water 09-15-01 and my ammonia level was at a 4.0. It was at a 2.0 before I put in the LR and LS -

[platapus]

one more thing, will you be leaving your lights on during the cycle, and if so , how long?

[UFGator]

O.K. I started today with 80lbs of LR in a 75 gallon. I think I need to add about 4 more pieces which should be another 10bs. Since I don't want any more algea to die, I am going to leave the lights on (MH/PC) on a normal daylight cycle. I have also started protein skimming. I'll do all my water quality checks tomorrow and update... Joel

[platapus]

This is day 4 with the uncured LR, I want to make sure everything goes right, im goint to test every 3 or 4 days:

9-17-01:
-Temp: - 78
-Salinity: - 1.022
-PH: - 8.1
-Ammonia: - 2.0
-Nitrite: - 2.0
-Nitrate: - 10.0

[Brooke]

this is a great way to cycle a tank. If ammonia levels get too high, you could even do a water change (with pre-mixed saltwater) to help preserve life on the rocks.

Track your ammonia and nitrites and look for a peak..and then for them to go to 0. When they do...wait 6 months..then you can start stocking your tank . OK, wait at least a couple of weeks after that and start with your clean-up crew..which you will need because the diatoms will be covering the glass.

It's a fun ride...glad to have you along.

Brooke

[ 09-17-2001: Message edited by: Brooke ]

[UFGator]

Hi Sam,
Here are my parms for today:

Temp: 81.5 (I hope to God I don't have to buy a chiller).
Amonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Oxygen: 7ppm
Calcium: Oops. Forgot to buy a test for CA
Salinity: 46.5Ms (1.0220)
PH: 7.9 this morning, 8.16 @ noon. I added some Kent PH Booster to bring it up.
Phosphate: .5 This is too high. I used natural seawater so I don't know how this could be. How do you get rid of phosphate?
dKH: 8.6

I guess my tank has not started to cycle yet. I might wait until Thurs before testing again...
Joel

[platapus]

Hey Joel -

I will test again on Thurs too and post it - I dont know about the the phosphate issue, I should probably test for that too. I use tap water, conditioner, and a salt mix. Did you use any live sand? I was told that it is good to use to kick off the cycle - but who knows?

later - sam

[UFGator]

Hi Sam,
I just couldn't help myself! I saw some gunk in the protein skimmer (I have 2. One is working and the other doesn't seem to be doing much) and I just had to test today. Here goes:
[*]Salinity 52.1ms - Say what? I haven't noticed any evaporation. I used natural seawater. My pinpoint might have needed some time to "warm up". I added a gallon of DI water yesterday and a gallon today. In a couple of days I will pull out some water and replace with DI water to get it to where it needs to be.
[*]PH 8.14 (noon) - I added some more PH booster. I want to get this up to around 8.20+
[*]Temp 82.6 - Not good. My acrylic aq has to "holes" in the top. They have lids. I took the lids off to help with evaporation. I DON'T want to buy a chiller!
[*]Amonia 0
[*]Nitrite 0
[*]Nitrate 0

I'm going to the LFS to try and get some macroalgea for my TINY (2 gallon) refugium. I guess a small refugium is better than no refugium at all?

Yes I did use live sand. I bought the pre-packaged stuff from the LFS (60 lbs).

BTW if this thread is anoying to everyone but Sam and I, let me know and I will take off-line. I thought this might be interesting for newbies (like me) to read and see what to expect. Also if any experts are reading they can intervene before we destroy something!

Joel

[Brooke]

platapus...be careful using tap water. I don't recommend it at all unless you ar getting it from pristine mountain streams. Have it tested for silicates, phosphates, copper, other metals, nitrates..whatever else they can get. You don't want to run into problems down the road and source water can be the #1 issue.

Brooke

[platapus]

lol - I know the feeling, its a new tank, and Im curious - Sometime if you get a little air bubble on the salinity reader it throws the whole reading out of wack? Just a thought for your high salt levels. Your ammonia level should start to rise a little in the next day or two - I think.Im going to try to hold off until thursday to do the whole test thing, but yesterday when I got home I only did an ammonia test just to see what is happening - was a 1.0
I have 3 hermit crabs in my tank that have been there since day one - I also spotted a feather duster on one of the rocks....Im not sure if Im at the beginning, or middle of cycle? only time will tell.

I have read threads were others are buying ammonia additives to kick off there cycles?? another thought - The most important advice i get from everyone is....be patient.

Ill post my water specs tommorow evening, we will see if any changes are visible yet!

[platapus]

Tested again yesterday - I dont know if my ammonia is plummeting or what ?

Date - Temp - Salinity - PH - Ammonia - Nitrite - Nitrate - Notes
09-15-01 80 f - 1.021 - 8.2 - 4.0 - 1.0 - 10.0 - Day 2 of Cycle
09-17-01 78 f - 1.022 - 8.1 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 10.0 - Day 4 of Cycle
09-19-01 79 f - 1.023 - 8.0 - 0.1 - 2.0 - 15.0 - Day 6 of Cycle

http://www.bluechunks.net:81/reef

[ 09-20-2001: Message edited by: platapus ]

[HARRISON]

I am glad you guys are tracking this. I have cycled a couple salt tanks and several freshtanks and ponds but it still interesting to see what you come up with. Using the live rock is new so i am "tuned in"...

Thanks
Harrison

[platapus]

Hey Joel - I just read this, and tried it out. Im new to reefs and never heard this, but it works. Take a flashlight and cover the lense with a piece of red tranparent plastic (I used the tail light lense off of a jetski trailer) wait a couple hours after the lights go out on your reef tank, and use the red light to inspec you live rock! I discovered 1 bristle worm, and 2 plain worms out looking for food. I can see that one of the first fish I need to buy will be a wrasse!

Just thought I would share that tidbit!

sam

[ 09-21-2001: Message edited by: platapus ]