Can I add Live Rock from current tank while new reef tank is cycling?

[FreshSaltyGuy]

Hi all,

I'm on day 5 of cycling my tank. My new 220 gallon reef tank is still cycling. I currently added some dry & live from from a fish only tank that probably could have be cured but didn't have time. I also added CaribSea live sand. To help the cycling would it be ok if I took my current good live rock out of my 40 gallon that has tons of Coralline on it and put it in my new tank or will the high Ammonia kill the coralline or anything else?

 

[Gill the 3rd]

Yea absolutely go for it. Live rock will help immensely for your cycle. I wouldn't worry about the ammonia at all.

 

[MnFish1]

Hi all,

I'm on day 5 of cycling my tank. My new 220 gallon reef tank is still cycling. I currently added some dry & live from from a fish only tank that probably could have be cured but didn't have time. I also added CaribSea live sand. To help the cycling would it be ok if I took my current good live rock out of my 40 gallon that has tons of Coralline on it and put it in my new tank or will the high Ammonia kill the coralline or anything else?

Have you added ammonia to the tank? (like 2 ppm, etc) - what is the ammonia level? In general once your ammonia is down, you could add the other rock. Did you add any bacteria? One quick comment are you sure that the rock you added from the FOWLR did not have any copper exposure?

PS I have added ammonia up to 4 ppm to 'live rock' and noted no problems.

 

[FreshSaltyGuy]

Have you added ammonia to the tank? (like 2 ppm, etc) - what is the ammonia level? In general once your ammonia is down, you could add the other rock. Did you add any bacteria? One quick comment are you sure that the rock you added from the FOWLR did not have any copper exposure?

PS I have added ammonia up to 4 ppm to 'live rock' and noted no problems.

Yes I added Dr. Tim's One and Only and have been following the directions as per the site. I have been keeping my ammonia between 3-4ppm with Dr. Tim's Ammonia. Today I will see if it is below 0.5ppm then I have add 2ppm and see what happens tomorrow. So no possible way to add the good rock now? And yes the rock did not have any copper exposure....would that affect the ammonia or testing?

 

[bushdoc]

Live rock from established tank or retailer should have other critters ( meiofauna) and not only bacteria. Bacteria would survive, but many of the critters could not, so I would recommend to add it after cycle is done.

 

[MnFish1]

Yes I added Dr. Tim's One and Only and have been following the directions as per the site. I have been keeping my ammonia between 3-4ppm with Dr. Tim's Ammonia. Today I will see if it is below 0.5ppm then I have add 2ppm and see what happens tomorrow. So no possible way to add the good rock now? And yes the rock did not have any copper exposure....would that affect the ammonia or testing?

If you had copper exposed rock, it can affect any corals you might want to add in the future. I'm not sure you need to continue to add ammonia, however, since you have a protocol, and instructions, continue to follow those instructions. I would add the corralline rock once the ammonia is <.25. I would also considering adding fish at some point (after you're done adding ammonia)

 

[FreshSaltyGuy]

So I'm confused @Gill the 3rd says no problem add the rock now. But @MnFish1 your saying wait until my ammonia drops? I'm just wanting to know if it will help my cycle as I'm never used this process before only with live rock. Thanks!

 

[FreshSaltyGuy]

Live rock from established tank or retailer should have other critters ( meiofauna) and not only bacteria. Bacteria would survive, but many of the critters could not, so I would recommend to add it after cycle is done.

Well that is good to know. Would it kill Asteria starfish because then I wouldn't mind lol.
Would it kill copepods or amphipods?

 

[MnFish1]

So I'm confused @Gill the 3rd says no problem add the rock now. But @MnFish1 your saying wait until my ammonia drops? I'm just wanting to know if it will help my cycle as I'm never used this process before only with live rock. Thanks!

The difference is that you are continuing to add ammonia which maybe @Gill the 3rd didn't realize. Normally, one does not add ammonia to a tank containing live rock - as the 'cycle' is already complete on that rock. as @bushdoc said, you may have more than just corralline algae on your 'live rock' - and at higher ammonia levels you might affect that.

 

[bushdoc]

Well that is good to know. Would it kill Asteria starfish because then I wouldn't mind lol.
Would it kill copepods or amphipods?

Most probably, but many other critters too.
If you want live rock just for a sake of nitrifying bacteria, then you can add it sooner.

 

[Gill the 3rd]

Yea sorry, I didn't realize you were adding ammonia. I was treating more like a cycling with live rock situation. If that's the case, I agree with everyone else. Let your cycle go until your ammonia is gone and add your live rock.

 

[FreshSaltyGuy]

Ok so sounds like I should wait until this cycle is over. Would it benefit to add water from my other tank?
Just tested water this morning and Nitrite is 0 and Ammonia still around 1ppm and

 

[FreshSaltyGuy]

Also tested my Nitrates which look to be abetween 5ppm- 10ppm. Is this normal or ok during cycling??

 

[MnFish1]

Ok so sounds like I should wait until this cycle is over. Would it benefit to add water from my other tank?
Just tested water this morning and Nitrite is 0 and Ammonia still around 1ppm and

Your nitrates seem fine, your ammonia will likely be lower by morning.

 

[FreshSaltyGuy]

Your nitrates seem fine, your ammonia will likely be lower by morning.

24-hours after adding Ammonia will be around 5pm tonight. So if I test for Ammonia again and it is below 0.5ppm but not 0 do I want to bring it back to 2ppm? And if it is 0.5ppm or higher then don't add any ammonia? Thanks for the help.

 

[MnFish1]

24-hours after adding Ammonia will be around 5pm tonight. So if I test for Ammonia again and it is below 0.5ppm but not 0 do I want to bring it back to 2ppm? And if it is 0.5ppm or higher then don't add any ammonia? Thanks for the help.

If you have a protocol you're following - follow it. iMH - if the ammonia was <0.25 - I would have added the rock - and I would have added a fish

 

[MnFish1]

24-hours after adding Ammonia will be around 5pm tonight. So if I test for Ammonia again and it is below 0.5ppm but not 0 do I want to bring it back to 2ppm? And if it is 0.5ppm or higher then don't add any ammonia? Thanks for the help.

I would not add more ammonia - however you're proceeding with a protocol - so proceed with it until finished? I mean I don't know what you're exactly doing

 

[FreshSaltyGuy]

I would not add more ammonia - however you're proceeding with a protocol - so proceed with it until finished? I mean I don't know what you're exactly doing

I'm just following the instructions on the Dr. Tim's One and only products from their website.

 

[TX_REEF]

to keep the critters on your "good" rock alive, safest to wait til your ammonia is sustainably zero i think

 

[steveschuerger]

I’m moving from my current 60 to a 90. I’m adding some live rock I’ve had cooking in the refugium, but last time when I went from 30 to 60 I just took all my rock and plopped it in without any issues