Pre-cycling Life Rock

[chome360]

Hey all, newbie here. Hoping to learn what's possibly going wrong (if anything) with my current attempt to pre-cycle some caribsea life rock.

I've got them in a 10 gallon brute, 2 wavemakers running for circulation, heater at 78, does Dr Tim's ammonia to 2 ppm, and added 1 oz of Fritz 900.

Did all this on Sunday, so we're at day 5. So far the ammonia is still at 2 ppm. Nitrite and Nitrate are both at 0.

So it seems nothing is happening... I'm thinking it's one of the following

A) the Fritz bottle was no good. It was refrigerated at the LFS but who knows before that.
B) nothing is wrong and I just need to wait longer
C) the API test kit I'm using is no good
D) none of the above and I don't know what I don't know

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[chome360]

Yesterday I added another bottle of Fritz 900. Still no nitrites or nitrates. I know the second bottle needs more time if that's what does the trick. I've got a different brand nitrite test coming today. Annoying thing was I bought the second bottle thinking the last bottle was a week from expiration, maybe that was it. Second bottle I got I didn't look at the expiration till I got home, had the exact same expiration date one week out.

Technically I'm overdosing. 10 gallon bucket that I have is full to the top with life rock, so I figure it's got 5 gallons of water in it more or less. The 1 oz is supposed to treat 25 gallons. I would imagine overdosing would not be a problem but sharing anyways

 

[Uncle99]

B and C.

API is the likely problem as it is for so many.

Don’t waste your time. Hanna will work but you’ll likely only use once, so bit of a waste.

Rock,saltwater,flow, heat, bacteria + 7 days and ready.

 

[chome360]

API is the likely problem as it is for so many.

Thanks, I hope you're right. I have the salifert nitrate test coming this evening. We'll see what that says. I'll have to try to get my hands on their nitrite also. I heard that one works well

 

[Uncle99]

Thanks, I hope you're right. I have the salifert nitrate test coming this evening. We'll see what that says. I'll have to try to get my hands on their nitrite also. I heard that one works well

If I see nitrate, I am good to go for big water change and fish.

 

[jabberwock]

IMHO, life rock is a bad marketing pitch. So is bottled bacteria.

Real ocean live rock is the way.

 

[chome360]

If I see nitrate, I am good to go for big water change and fish.

That's what I'm going for, hopefully this new test shows a different result than API. I'll know in a couple hours when Amazon swings by

 

[chome360]

IMHO, life rock is a bad marketing pitch. So is bottled bacteria.

Real ocean live rock is the way.

I'm new to the hobby, so zero experience with either. The LifeRock I really just got to be the rock, I assume it can't have live bacteria when it comes out of the box bone dry. The fritz 900 I just got for the heck of it.

 

[jabberwock]

I'm new to the hobby, so zero experience with either. The LifeRock I really just got to be the rock, I assume it can't have live bacteria when it comes out of the box bone dry. The fritz 900 I just got for the heck of it.

It is going to be an awesome journey! The best advice I can give you besides "real ocean live rock" is to GO SLOW. And then GO SLOWER!

 

[Uncle99]

I'm new to the hobby, so zero experience with either. The LifeRock I really just got to be the rock, I assume it can't have live bacteria when it comes out of the box bone dry. The fritz 900 I just got for the heck of it.

I use nothing but that rock when building aquascapes from dry.

Starts purple, stays purple and looks great from day one. It makes it easier to add pieces later as it doesn’t “standout” like the white stuff.

If your not using real ocean rock, this is the next best substitute IMM.

 

[chome360]

We're now at day 7 and still no sign of success. Ammonia still sits at 2 PPM, and nitrite and nitrite are both still at zero. 48 hours ago I added a second bottle, 1 oz of Fritz 900. Just in case the first bottle was a dud. Really frustrating if both bottles are no good. Cost me 40 bucks

 

[TacticalBacon]

IMHO, life rock is a bad marketing pitch. So is bottled bacteria.

Real ocean live rock is the way.

And live rock is still able to be procured.
My LFS told me importing was banned. I asked about live rock not life rock.
So ticked. I should have looked but I didn’t know about Reef2Reef and didn’t google. Assumed my LFS was legit. Great reviews and all of that.

I will never start a new tank without live rock.

 

[jabberwock]

And live rock is still able to be procured.
My LFS told me importing was banned. I asked about live rock not life rock.
So ticked. I should have looked but I didn’t know about Reef2Reef and didn’t google. Assumed my LFS was legit. Great reviews and all of that.

I will never start a new tank without live rock.

You must make the distinction between "live rock" typically available at your LFS, and "real ocean live rock" which will only come from a specialty mariculture operation like Tampa Bay Saltwater. "Life rock" is purple garbage IMHO

 

[TacticalBacon]

You must make the distinction between "live rock" typically available at your LFS, and "real ocean live rock" which will only come from a specialty mariculture operation like Tampa Bay Saltwater. "Life rock" is purple garbage IMHO

I have learned my lesson. I have all three Marco, TBS, and Gulf in my favorites now.

I feel like the LFS wasn’t as open as they could have been so I would just buy rock from them.

Lesson learned.

 

[jabberwock]

I have learned my lesson. I have all three Marco, TBS, and Gulf in my favorites now.

I feel like the LFS wasn’t as open as they could have been so I would just buy rock from them.

Lesson learned.

I wish you great success. Whoever you purchase from, make sure you get their instructions on how to prepare for their product.

 

[chome360]

If it's helpful to anyone, my problem is solved. I contacted Fritz and told them the above, they were great and immediately sent out two replacement bottles. Expiration date on these is June of this year, so much more life left on them than the other bottles I had. Plus I don't have to be worried there about them being properly stored before I bought them.

Without changing anything, the bucket the water the ammonia I had originally put, everything untouched. I added half of one of the new bottles, and now less than 12 hours later I'm already seeing some movement in nitrite and even nitrate.

Previously it was 2 weeks of zero change in the ammonia level, sitting at 2 PPM. And not registering anything on the nitrite or nitrate.