Cycling live rock

[Breakthecycle2]

Is this OK to do? I just bought a garbage can and am filling it with RO and bought some salt to add for now. Can I just throw some dry rock in with a power head to cure it until my new tank comes in about two weeks? Could I also just throw in a piece of cured live rock to seed it?

 

[chefjpaul]

Thats what I did. Test for ammonia after a couple days, if there is none add a source to start it up.

I also tested for phosphates. I had alot, so i ran a gfo reactor as well.

Add a heater.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Is a heater important?

 

[Marty.h]

The bacteria needs a heater to survive and help multiply

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Good to know. Thanks.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Whats the best way to kick off a cycle?

 

[Marty.h]

Ammonia we use to use Cleen off on freshwater systems but I'm not sure about marine side I would say it's the same process but someone will confirm I've attached a pic of the stuff

 

[chefjpaul]

There are a few methods, it just depends on what your comfortable doing. I suggest Google the subject and read as much as possible and then choose.
(Stay away from live fish in cycle methods).

I like ammonia chloride as I can control it. Just my method.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

OK, so I does ammonia and tested a few hours later and I have .50PPM amount of ammonia. There is about 30 gallons of saltwater and 90 pounds of live rock in the trash can currently. Salinty is 1.022. Is this enough ammonia to kick start it?

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Alright, so Right now Ammonia is .25, Nitrites are 1PPM and Nitrates are 20PPm. Do I need to keep dosing ammonia?

 

[glb]

Your cycle has definitely started. I'd keep adding ammonia daily until your ammonia levels and nitrites are zero. At that point your cycle will be complete. You can lower the nitrates then by doing a big water change.

 

[Marty.h]

Dose ammonia upto 2ppm and check daily once down to 0 dose back to 2ppm once you get 3 consecutive 24 hours where it clears 2ppm of dosed ammonia to 0 and 0 nitrites you will be ready to go after a water change to bring down nitrates you will then need to stock as all them good bugs will be needing food

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Well, I can't stock a trash can. lol

 

[Marty.h]

Well, I can't stock a trash can. lol

I know that haha but once they in the tank

 

[Breakthecycle2]

When the tank is finally up and running, can I just put the cycled rock in or should I also add some of the water? The new tank will be around 200 gallons.

 

[glb]

When the tank is finally up and running, can I just put the cycled rock in or should I also add some of the water? The new tank will be around 200 gallons.

Following. I don't know about a tank that size.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Alright. Ammonia is zero. Nitrites are 5PPM. Nitrates are 20PPM. Yesterday they were between 80/160PPM. My question is, shouldn't have the nitrites came down before the nitrates?

 

[glb]

Alright. Ammonia is zero. Nitrites are 5PPM. Nitrates are 20PPM. Yesterday they were between 80/160PPM. My question is, shouldn't have the nitrites came down before the nitrates?

Your nitrates dropped from 80-160 to 20? Are you sure? That doesn't seem possible without doing a big water change. And yes, your nitrites should go down first. Nitrates stay in the water so water changes are the only way to bring them down unless you have a skimmer or some sort of nitrate reducing media. Test error maybe?

 

[Pete polyp]

Your nitrates dropped from 80-160 to 20? Are you sure? That doesn't seem possible without doing a big water change. And yes, your nitrites should go down first. Nitrates stay in the water so water changes are the only way to bring them down unless you have a skimmer or some sort of nitrate reducing media. Test error maybe?

Rock will break down nitrate.

 

[glb]

Rock will break down nitrate.

It will, but not that much in my experience.