Can I start my new tank cycle - while my dry rock is still cooking in another bin?

InstructorMoe

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So I'm getting closer to being able to get my new (to me) tank running.

32.5G display tank, with a 13G sump.

I was wondering if I can start my tank up and begin it's cycle, while my dry-rock is still cooking in another bin?

For cycling the tank:

The tank will have 60lbs of live sand (already on hand). And I will be using Turbostart 9000 (already on hand). I was thinking of adding a couple of clowns to start just as an ammonia source.

ETA: I forgot I have a bottle of Dr.Tims Ammonia that I can use for an ammonia source.

In a separate bin, I have just finished bleaching a mix of old and new live rock. I have done two soaks in fresh RODI water (with de-chlorinator) and chlorine and chloramine is reading 0. So it's ready to start cooking, but I need to build my aquascape first. So my plan was to build the aquascape and then start it cooking in said bin. I have some microbacter7 on the way that I was planning using for this.

I've never started a tank with dry-rock like this before.

Since the tank is a brand new start-up:

Is it strictly required to cook the live rock in a separate bin or can I just put the sterilized rock in the display tank for the whole start-up process and keep dosing the microbacter7 to the display tank for whatever the directions say on the bottle?

OR

Should I definitely cook the rock scape in the separate bin and go ahead with starting up the tank and cycling as I'd hoped?

OR

Cook the rock in the separate bin, and wait until it's done cooking for another month or two. Then start the tank up with the cooked rock all at once?
 
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InstructorMoe

InstructorMoe

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Follow up: You can "cook", meaning cycle, your rocks in your aquarium or your brute. The good thing about a Brute is it blocks the light out. If you do cycle your rock in your tank, keep the lights off to minimize nasties early on.
Thanks everyone for confirming this stuff for me.

And yes, I was aware of the whole, lights off thing.

I was thinking I set the whole tank up the way I want, snap a few pics for posterity, and then tape newspaper or something over it for a while.

It's in the basement and there is no natural light. However, I have a crap-ton of led pot lights on dimmers in the room, so the room CAN be quite bright if I crank them up - especially if I have to interrogate one of my brats, but they (leds) are mostly dimmed.
 
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Fish Fan

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Thanks everyone for confirming this stuff for me.

And yes, I was aware of the whole, lights off thing.

I was thinking I set the whole tank up the way I want, snap a few pics for posterity, and then tape newspaper or something over it for a while.

It's in the basement and there is no natural light. However, I have a crap-ton of led pot lights on dimmers in the room, so the room CAN be quite bright if I crank them up - especially if I have to interrogate one of my brats, but they (leds) are mostly dimmed.
Your room LED's likely won't cause any nasties to grow. Tapping off with newspaper is a good idea, I like to use the black foam poster board I find at my local dollar store.

Please know, it is entirely fine to turn you lights on for a few minutes to look at your tank or take some pics, just don't leave them burring all day.
 
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