Dry Rock

[AlexDm]

If I order dry rock online can I just put it into my aquarium and start adding sand and water to start cycling it?

 

[AndrewNC]

You could but... you risk phosphates leaching out and causing a pita algae issue. I always cure the rock before hand. Trust me it will save headaches down the road

 

[Reefnewb]

yes actually a lot of people do it. just dont add it to an esstablished tank without curing it. Whenever I start a new tank I use marco dry rock from ebay (very good reviews) The normal phosphate leaching will happen but I just run GFO for a couple weeks until it all comes out. If Im adding dry rock to an established tank I will "cook" it in a trashcan with some flow and do water changes on it every week for a month, then add to the tank.
Hope this helps!!

 

[AlexDm]

yes actually a lot of people do it. just dont add it to an esstablished tank without curing it. Whenever I start a new tank I use marco dry rock from ebay (very good reviews) The normal phosphate leaching will happen but I just run GFO for a couple weeks until it all comes out. If Im adding dry rock to an established tank I will "cook" it in a trashcan with some flow and do water changes on it every week for a month, then add to the tank.
Hope this helps!!

How can I consider going about without my phosphate leaching

 

[AlexDm]

You could but... you risk phosphates leaching out and causing a pita algae issue. I always cure the rock before hand. Trust me it will save headaches down the road

Is curing when you put rock into a bin of water for weeks to months ?

 

[Reefnewb]

How can I consider going about without my phosphate leaching

Just do your normal 15% weekly water changes and eventually everything will balance out! phosphates will take about a month to get to zero but will eventually come down with the water changes. Just be sure not to overfeed your fish when the time is right!

 

[AlexDm]

Just do your normal 15% weekly water changes and eventually everything will balance out! phosphates will take about a month to get to zero but will eventually come down with the water changes. Just be sure not to overfeed your fish when the time is right!

Okay should I add some those Bactria boosters in as well? I know you told me about the shrimp idea , but could this also help?

 

[Susan Edwards]

I just did this 15 days ago. I used live sand and Marco dry rock and a couple pieces pukani, also dry. I added a bottle of bio spira. Tank cycled in less than 2weeks. I have 2 clowns and some corals and some snails all seems good. Have some gfo to add to my media basket. Oh also used a jumbo shrimp for 3days

 

[AlexDm]

I just did this 15 days ago. I used live sand and Marco dry rock and a couple pieces pukani, also dry. I added a bottle of bio spira. Tank cycled in less than 2weeks. I have 2 clowns and some corals and some snails all seems good. Have some gfo to add to my media basket. Oh also used a jumbo shrimp for 3days

Sweet thanks! Happy to hear your thanks doing well! When u mean u used a jumbo shrimp for 3 days did u keep it in for 3 days or ..? Also what's GFO?

 

[Susan Edwards]

Sweet thanks! Happy to hear your thanks doing well! When u mean u used a jumbo shrimp for 3 days did u keep it in for 3 days or ..? Also what's GFO?

Yes, left it in for 3 days. Was quite disgusting when I took it out. The biospira kept ammonia to 0, one small nitrite spike and nitrates between 5-20. You can check out my build thread for my progression. I went a bit faster than most I think but my numbers were good and have been good. Good luck! Start a build thread as well.

 

[PatW]

You can often find ammonia for sale at your LFS. You can deliver a precise dose that way.