Questions about cycling with live rock

[JosephM]

So I received 40 lbs of live rock from KPA shipped damp overnight (great rock by the way). It's looking pretty good but I am getting tons of ammonia. They recommend daily 30% water changes for the first 3 days and then bi-weekly 50% water changes until cycled. Well every time I have tested it's steady at 2ppm with today testing 4ppm. Is there any way to minimize ammonia build up? I have filter socks, should I be changing them out more often even if they're not clogged? I have cheato in my sump that is growing a lot. I do have a skimmer but it's not running because I am having issues getting it to run properly so I just shut it down. Will it hurt to do 2 or 3 water changes in a day? I started doing 2 a day, one in the morning and one at night and that's when it was constantly 2ppm but I let it go for 24hrs and according to my API test is was between 4-8ppm. I know API is not the best but its what I have to work with and it gets me in the ball park. KP says to try and keep ammonia below 1ppm but I can't seem to achieve that. I am also dosing Seachem stability daily if that even does anything. Any pointers or advice will be very welcome, thank you!

 

[ThePhoReefer]

I recommend instant ocean biosphira with the live rock

 

[DungSl1nger]

I went through the same thing, I did do excessive water changes. KP said you can also use prime to help control the ammonia. I chose the water changes to preserve as much life as possible and I tested with Red Sea kits. In all I probably used 100 gallons of water total.

 

[JosephM]

I went through the same thing, I did do excessive water changes. KP said you can also use prime to help control the ammonia. I chose the water changes to preserve as much life as possible and I tested with Red Sea kits. In all I probably used 100 gallons of water total.

How excessive are we talking?

 

[DungSl1nger]

100 or so gallons the first week. At the end of the week it was at almost at zero. 3 days later the last it tested at zero. I did one more 15 gallon change and waited 4 more days to redo my tank.

 

[JosephM]

100 or so gallons the first week. At the end of the week it was at almost at zero. 3 days later the last it tested at zero. I did one more 15 gallon change and waited 4 more days to redo my tank.

What size tank, how many changes a day, and how many gallons per change. I have about 40 gallons in my system so I'm just trying to gauge how much I can do.

 

[DungSl1nger]

My rock was cured in a brute 25 pounds in 35 gallons of water.
End of day one ammonia off the chart high. Did a 20% change. Next morning 20%. Evening 10%. Next day 75% with tank water change water. Then 20% for the next couple of days (All rough numbers). By the start of week 2 almost At 0 so I waited a few days and changed for the last time.
When I added the rock to the tank I rinsed one final time with newly removed tank water from my weekly WC. I am still finding new life on it.

 

[JosephM]

My rock was cured in a brute 25 pounds in 35 gallons of water.
End of day one ammonia off the chart high. Did a 20% change. Next morning 20%. Evening 10%. Next day 75% with tank water change water. Then 20% for the next couple of days (All rough numbers). By the start of week 2 almost At 0 so I waited a few days and changed for the last time.
When I added the rock to the tank I rinsed one final time with newly removed tank water from my weekly WC. I am still finding new life on it.

Okay, thank you! Starting this thread gave me the will power to get my skimmer back online LOL

 

[DungSl1nger]

Okay, thank you! Starting this thread gave me the will power to get my skimmer back online LOL

Yea, it is a good idea to get it broke in before putting fish in the tank. I had micro bubbles everywhere.

 

[JosephM]

Yea, it is a good idea to get it broke in before putting fish in the tank. I had micro bubbles everywhere.

It's already mostly broke in. Running for a week before I had troubles but it's back running now with SOME bubbles. Not a ton, not a little.

 

[DungSl1nger]

It's already mostly broke in. Running for a week before I had troubles but it's back running now with SOME bubbles. Not a ton, not a little.

Sounds like your good to go then.