Which cycles rock faster
- Thread starter dmatt88
- Start date
clownfishrule
Member
the live rock.
jjmoneyman
RS Sponsor
I throw in a shrimp or two and a little live rock.
TylerHaworth
Active Member
One piece of rock and a shrimp!
If you're talking about "base rock" compared to Fresh, well cared for Live Rock there really is no comparison. The Live Rock (so long as not a lot of die-off during transport and handing) is already heavily colonized with the beneficial bacteria. Depending on how long out of water and such you could see little to no "visible" cycle.
I'm with JJ as I always toss a shrimp in just to "Push It". Why risk it when you can "Shrimp It"!!!
I'm with JJ as I always toss a shrimp in just to "Push It". Why risk it when you can "Shrimp It"!!!
redneckgearhead
Active Member
If you add LR to your tank the cycle is started immediately. Or am I missing something? If the rock is "Live" it should have the nitrifying bacteria already on/in it.
I went with cured live rock and threw two shrimp in.......broken down very quickly.....reassured me that the rock was ready to go. Shrimp does a nice job but rock is better.
Now using dead rock, it would be interesting to see if shrimp or Dr. Tim's was faster.
Now using dead rock, it would be interesting to see if shrimp or Dr. Tim's was faster.
TylerHaworth
Active Member
Given the choice of one or the other I'd go with pre-established live rock, but deli shrimp are so cheap it's silly to not use em both =)
some random thought... related
LR that is very fresh with lots of die off on it or LR "cured" from an established tank ?
That's what seems so hard to define, the state ones new LR.
and the fact that LFS sell cured rock for more $$$ than uncured LR and call various states of LR cured to increase profit.
then we get into the whole definition of that is a cycled tank?
Is that a tank that we can safely add livestock too, one that has establishing a biological filter (i.e. cultivating a bacteria colony) having gone through the Nitrogen cycle?
Ammonia is needed for the cycling process to succeed. It can be produced in several ways, but usually it comes from dead decomposing matter... Organisms and bacteria that live in and on the LR die when the rock is transported from the ocean to the dealer, this decomposition process produces ammonia that is very beneficial to the bacteria and starts the process, often a shrimp just helps boost this... how long the LR sat in a tank at the LSF plays a big role in this.
My 1st tank, the LFS order Tonga Branch LR for me and it was flown in, pick up from the airport very fresh with lots of die-off and "uncured" I wanted this & though it was a good way to cycle a tank, though "cured" LR they had in thier tanks for a month would have been faster. I still added a shrimp
This subject & the fact that there are more than one way to "cycle" a tank (like adding pure ammonia) always make for interesting discussions. Then there are all the new additives & commercial products, some with bacteria while others consist of enzymes that say you can add them & add fish with the tank being "ready to use in as little as 24 hours" which I readily admit I don't understand.
some of my thoughts... anyway - see what others think
on my 2nd tank I went with 80% Marco Dry Rock, 20% LR from LFS (unsure of the state - cured or fresh) and 2 deli shrimp... that worked well too
LR that is very fresh with lots of die off on it or LR "cured" from an established tank ?
That's what seems so hard to define, the state ones new LR.
and the fact that LFS sell cured rock for more $$$ than uncured LR and call various states of LR cured to increase profit.
then we get into the whole definition of that is a cycled tank?
Is that a tank that we can safely add livestock too, one that has establishing a biological filter (i.e. cultivating a bacteria colony) having gone through the Nitrogen cycle?
Ammonia is needed for the cycling process to succeed. It can be produced in several ways, but usually it comes from dead decomposing matter... Organisms and bacteria that live in and on the LR die when the rock is transported from the ocean to the dealer, this decomposition process produces ammonia that is very beneficial to the bacteria and starts the process, often a shrimp just helps boost this... how long the LR sat in a tank at the LSF plays a big role in this.
My 1st tank, the LFS order Tonga Branch LR for me and it was flown in, pick up from the airport very fresh with lots of die-off and "uncured" I wanted this & though it was a good way to cycle a tank, though "cured" LR they had in thier tanks for a month would have been faster. I still added a shrimp
This subject & the fact that there are more than one way to "cycle" a tank (like adding pure ammonia) always make for interesting discussions. Then there are all the new additives & commercial products, some with bacteria while others consist of enzymes that say you can add them & add fish with the tank being "ready to use in as little as 24 hours" which I readily admit I don't understand.
some of my thoughts... anyway - see what others think
on my 2nd tank I went with 80% Marco Dry Rock, 20% LR from LFS (unsure of the state - cured or fresh) and 2 deli shrimp... that worked well too
dmatt88
Has been struck by the ban stick
Reason for the question is dean bought a 29 biocube for his office. We added 30lbs of dry rock. I told him if we add a few pieces of our live rock its cycled virtually immediately however only able to support a small bioload. Yet being a 29 will a few pieces of our rock be enough? Office tanks r trickey cause clients don't enjoy looking at rocks as much as we do.
.............stay thirsty my friend.
.............stay thirsty my friend.
engineer goby
Has been struck by the ban stick
My clients do :wit:
Cute pic ^
lbiminiblue
Well-Known Member
rock
