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