Setting up a 150.

[acrum222]

In the slowish process of upgrading my 65 to a sca 150. Plan is to use all the rock from the old tank, plus new sand (with a few handfuls of the old) and 60+ pounds of new dry rock. I've had the dry rock in the garage with some salt water and a heater circulating. And added 12 pounds of cured live rock from the lfs to hopefully seed the dry rock with some bacteria. I've tossed in some fish food to hopefully break down and feed the bacteria. Question is should I add a raw shrimp to break down a bit, or will the fish food be enough for a few weeks till I get the 150 stand built and ready to go? Thanks for the help all!

 

[CuzzA]

In the slowish process of upgrading my 65 to a sca 150. Plan is to use all the rock from the old tank, plus new sand (with a few handfuls of the old) and 60+ pounds of new dry rock. I've had the dry rock in the garage with some salt water and a heater circulating. And added 12 pounds of cured live rock from the lfs to hopefully seed the dry rock with some bacteria. I've tossed in some fish food to hopefully break down and feed the bacteria. Question is should I add a raw shrimp to break down a bit, or will the fish food be enough for a few weeks till I get the 150 stand built and ready to go? Thanks for the help all!

Fish food is fine. I'd go ahead and test the water for phosphates. Even dry rock, especially from Florida can have a lot of phosphate. Easier to deal with in a curing tub, rather than your display.

As for a cycle, as long as you just add a fish or two at a time over the course of time the volume of a 150 will negate any worry of an ammonia spike killing the fish. It's just too much water.