Cycling dry rock

[BeanAnimal]

But there are also products that legitimately add strains of bacteria in the water that are found in mature reef tanks.

Sure there are, that is not being disputed.

The issue is that I have is both the marketing and the propagated misinformation suggesting that compel people to co continuously dump bacteria into a new tank and/or keep spiking ammonia while doing so.

I have only been on this forum a fraction of the time you have and already ive seen too many "I am frustrated with my 6 month old tank because I cant get rid of these dinos and am ready to tear it down, HELP!" Threads

Bottled pods and bacteria don’t magically solve that problem.
Time, progression of the natural biofilms and feeding the fish does.

Those same companies and the “modern” way have people dumping all kinds of magic into brand new tanks. That arguably and demonstrably makes things worse for many.

 

[427HISS]

I’m cycling dry Marco rock in a Brute in my garage. Not sure if it’s needed or not, but it feels right. I have 60ish pounds in 20 gallons of saltwater. I’m dosing PolypLabs Genesis and Microbacter7. I have a powerhead, a heater, and an airline putting bubbles in. I keep the lid on. I’m dosing with ammonium bicarbonate (because I have it on hand). I’m using a cheap API test to monitor ammonia. I’m trying to keep it around 2ppm. It’s been going a week now, and the ammonia is slowly starting to drop. I also plan on watching the phosphate since my nano had a hard time with 0 PO4 when I first set it up.

I plan on setting up the new tank within the next 2 months probably.

Hi, I'll have to look at the PolypLabs Genesis and Microbacter7, but what do they contribute when compared to a few company's like Dr. Tim's,.... that start the denitrifying factor in rock ?

I had a 29g Oceanic 3-in-1 system and it cycled in 3 days. Then I added one Damsel that I fed quite a bit and the nitrate never went over 25 ppm. I have a but load of the BRS dead rock that I plan on using in my 215g tank and I'll add some live rock o seed them, so I'm just wondering on the different ways and cycling chemicals to use.

Any updates ?

 

[BeanAnimal]

It doesn’t really matter. Dose bacteria and ammonia or use a grocery store shrimp or similar. Or use a hunk or rock or cup of sand from an existing system. The process will take hold from there.

 

[427HISS]

It doesn’t really matter. Dose bacteria and ammonia or use a grocery store shrimp or similar. Or use a hunk or rock or cup of sand from an existing system. The process will take hold from there.

Thanks.