Hi guys,
I will receive soon 33lbs (15kg) of dry Marco rocks that I'm going to put in a new tank (REEFER 170).
The tank is empty, no water, no equipment, nothing.
So here is the way I plan to cure and seed the rocks and cycle the tank altogether. Tell me guys how you feel about it, I definitely need your insights.
It will be a two-part process.
The First part will consist of Stages 1 to 3, and will take place in a trash can. I think this part will last anywhere from 1 week to 2 weeks at the most.
Stage 1 (when I receive the rocks)
- Fill a trash can with RO/DI water, and salt. Put in it a small powerhead and a heater
- Add the dry rocks and a dead shrimp right from the outset
Stage 2 (when the shrimp start decaying)
- After a couple of days, I'll start to test Ammonia
- When Ammonia is detectable, not too low but before it reaches the spike, I'll add a "bacteria in bottle" solution
- When Ammonia reached its spike (if noticeable) I will replace the dead shrimp by another one
Stage 3 (testing Ammonia and Nitrite)
- After 2 days, I will test ammonia again until it gets down to Zero if detectable
- Likewise with Nitrite
- When Nitrite an Ammonia reach Zero, I will assume that now the rocks are seeded with minimum nitrifying bacterias, then the second part will begin.
The Second part (stages 4 to 6) will take place in the display tank.
Stage 4
- Fill the display tank with RO/DI water, turn on the heater and mix salt in it.
- Turn on the protein skimmer
- Add the "freshly seeded" dry rocks and pour in another dose of bottled bacterias
Stage 5
- Start shadow feeding every other day, and test for ammonia and nitrite every day in the meantime during one week or two depending on the results I get.
Stage 6
- When ammonia and nitrite are no longer detectable, I will add the first inhabitants (one or two fishes, and CUC)
I think, in all, that process will take one full month at the most depending on the quality of the bottled bacteria I get.
Unfortunately, here in France, we have no easy access to well-tried bottled bacteria as Dr. Tim's or Bio-Spira. So I will go for "Prodibio - Biodigest ", a French brand.
I designed that method taking what I judged the best ideas of various other methods I came across online.
I will experiment that method, and see how it works for me. I'll keep you posted every day or every other day.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Regards,
Kay
I will receive soon 33lbs (15kg) of dry Marco rocks that I'm going to put in a new tank (REEFER 170).
The tank is empty, no water, no equipment, nothing.
So here is the way I plan to cure and seed the rocks and cycle the tank altogether. Tell me guys how you feel about it, I definitely need your insights.
It will be a two-part process.
The First part will consist of Stages 1 to 3, and will take place in a trash can. I think this part will last anywhere from 1 week to 2 weeks at the most.
Stage 1 (when I receive the rocks)
- Fill a trash can with RO/DI water, and salt. Put in it a small powerhead and a heater
- Add the dry rocks and a dead shrimp right from the outset
Stage 2 (when the shrimp start decaying)
- After a couple of days, I'll start to test Ammonia
- When Ammonia is detectable, not too low but before it reaches the spike, I'll add a "bacteria in bottle" solution
- When Ammonia reached its spike (if noticeable) I will replace the dead shrimp by another one
Stage 3 (testing Ammonia and Nitrite)
- After 2 days, I will test ammonia again until it gets down to Zero if detectable
- Likewise with Nitrite
- When Nitrite an Ammonia reach Zero, I will assume that now the rocks are seeded with minimum nitrifying bacterias, then the second part will begin.
The Second part (stages 4 to 6) will take place in the display tank.
Stage 4
- Fill the display tank with RO/DI water, turn on the heater and mix salt in it.
- Turn on the protein skimmer
- Add the "freshly seeded" dry rocks and pour in another dose of bottled bacterias
Stage 5
- Start shadow feeding every other day, and test for ammonia and nitrite every day in the meantime during one week or two depending on the results I get.
Stage 6
- When ammonia and nitrite are no longer detectable, I will add the first inhabitants (one or two fishes, and CUC)
I think, in all, that process will take one full month at the most depending on the quality of the bottled bacteria I get.
Unfortunately, here in France, we have no easy access to well-tried bottled bacteria as Dr. Tim's or Bio-Spira. So I will go for "Prodibio - Biodigest ", a French brand.
I designed that method taking what I judged the best ideas of various other methods I came across online.
I will experiment that method, and see how it works for me. I'll keep you posted every day or every other day.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Regards,
Kay
