Using Dry Base Rock Question ?

[seaspook]

I have about 125 pounds of dry base rock that I want to have tank ready in about 4 weeks.

I put it into a large rubbermaid tub. Salinity/ temp adjusted. Have a large pump circulating and put some pc's over it. Going to drip Kalk once I get the dust settled. Going to add something to get a cycle going. Once I get some nitrate/nitrite peak's, plan to pull a piece of rock out of existing tank to seed the rock.

I am going to be putting it in a tank with about 150 pounds of FRESH uncured live rock. Which will also need to cure and cycle.


Is there anything else I need to do ? or Is this all neccessary since I will have to recycle the stuff anyway?

comments appreciated

thanks
alan

[Doug1]

Once the new live rock cycles and you put it all together, the base rock will colonize anyway. I would thro a few pieces of uncured in with the base rock, FWIW

[WilyGuy]

Yeah, if the LR is uncured, why not just put it all together in the tank and undergo the cycle? The Dry Base rock is basically tank ready unless you think it is going to leech something (in which case you shouldn't use it). The more LR you put with it and the sooner you put it, the better chance it will seed the base rock.

WG

[seaspook]

You guys are right, but it cant hurt anything I guess.

Forgot to add that I am moving two existing reef tanks and setting up a third in their place. Some of the dry base could end up in one of the two running reefs as things get moved from tank to tank. If that is a possibility. I would feel better using cycled rock.


Also after seeing the dry stuff bubble for hours in the rubbermaid tub, I think it is better to be able to roll the dry stuff around a bit to drive out the air pockets before it is permanently placed in the tank.

thanks for the insight

alan