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cycling question

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by kimbo, Dec 16, 2012.

  1. kimbo

    kimbo

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    i got some "cured" live rock from the lsf today. and put it in with my brs reef saver rock. since the live rock is cured will it cause my tank to cycle? or should i throw a shrimp in also?
     
  2. iaJim

    iaJim Inactive User

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    How much cured rock did you get, and how big is your tank. It will populate a bacteria culture; it's just a matter of how long it will take. Do you have a sand bottom or a bare bottom?
     
  3. kimbo

    kimbo

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    Its a 30 gallon marineland cube. With natures ocean substrate. It has 20 pounds of brs reef saver rock. And 5 pounds of cured live rock
     
  4. iaJim

    iaJim Inactive User

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    I don't know where you live, but if you let people know, you might be able to get someone to donate a cup of their substrate for you to seed your sand.
     
  5. iaJim

    iaJim Inactive User

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    I see that is a live sand, so maybe you don't need to do that.
     
  6. kimbo

    kimbo

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    The substrate is not live. I decided to not get the live stuff because i wasnt sure of what all was in it was good or not
     
  7. kimbo

    kimbo

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    I live in cedar rapids
     
  8. moneypit

    moneypit Inactive User

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    A cup of sand from a PEST/Disease free tank will help get everything going.
     
  9. Lee

    Lee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think 5lbs of actual live rock will be enough to avoid waiting out a cycle in a 30g tank...(I assume the BRS rock was dry and not from an established tank?) There is too much surface area in your tank that doesn't have bacteria growing on it yet and its much better to go slow than to rush. Have you been testing for Ammonia, Nitrite, & Nitrate? You could add a lot more live rock to speed things up, or trigger the cycle with adding an ammonia source (ex: shrimp/food).
     
  10. kimbo

    kimbo

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    The brs rock is dry. Im not trying to skip the cycle. I was just curious since the live rock is cured will it still trigger a cycle or do i have to start it myself? Im definitely not in a hurry considering my rapid led kit wont be here for a month or so. I am just gonna assume it wont start a cycle. And put a ammonia source in the tank
     
  11. iaJim

    iaJim Inactive User

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    Sounds like a good plan to me. You still might want to seek out a cup of sand from a healthy reef to get a wider diversity of life going.
     
  12. Lee

    Lee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    You sound like you're on the right track & I would still add the ammonia source too. I would also agree with what Jim said and add some sand from an existing tank if you know anyone that has some. You could ask Nick at Pet's Playhouse for some sand, or post in the CR thread and someone will probably give you some. (I would but I don't have any sand in my tank!)
     
  13. Marcus

    Marcus

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    Sounds like alot of work to me

    1. Fish it...

    2. Wait 2 days

    3. Pour in turbo start..

    4. DONE

    Ive done it several times and works like a charm.. Just started a 140 gal reef tank and in 2 weeks i had coarline growing
     

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