Live Rock/Base Rock Question

[Myka]

IMO, wait until you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite for a full week. You may not actually get much or any cycle using cured rock. Don't ever add a CUC unless there is something for them to eat. Also, do not fall for the 1 snail/hermit per gallon trick. I have 7 Astrea snails, 2 Emerald crabs, 2 small fighting conches, and Stomatellas snails breed on their own in my 90 gallon tank to give you an idea of what you're looking for. If you can find someone who has stomatella snails that you can get 2 or 3 from they will breed. My tank started with only 2, and now has many. They are great because their numbers will decline or increase with the amount of available food.

[PoonTang]

You can also introduce ammonia to your system and cause it to cycle to increase your bacteria population. Throw 1 uncooked table shrimp into your tank and let it rot. Now take your readings and it is ready when everything reaches 0 again. You can wait to do this until you add your last pieces of rock that you are cooking. Then sit back and wait for a week or so at least. Some people wait 2-4 months.

[SmallFry]

Originally Posted by Myka

Also, do not fall for the 1 snail/hermit per gallon trick. .

+1

Myka warned me about this one when I started my tank off. Good thing - if I'd gone with the recommendations of 1 per gallon I'm sure they'd have been starving to death in no time.

If you're thinking of turbo snails I'd be very conservative in the numbers - I can tell you from experience (I used to have a big algae problem) that given a chance a zebra turbo snail can eat a truly mindboggling amount of algae.

Was kinda cool though - every time I left for work I'd look in the tank and there'd be another big bright white patch on the rocks.

Rob.

[Eb0la11]

Originally Posted by Myka

IMO, wait until you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite for a full week. You may not actually get much or any cycle using cured rock. Don't ever add a CUC unless there is something for them to eat. Also, do not fall for the 1 snail/hermit per gallon trick...

Too bad you dont live in Calgary I was going to suggest I come grab a couple off you!

Originally Posted by PoonTang

You can also introduce ammonia to your system and cause it to cycle to increase your bacteria population. Throw 1 uncooked table shrimp into your tank and let it rot. Now take your readings and it is ready when everything reaches 0 again. You can wait to do this until you add your last pieces of rock that you are cooking. Then sit back and wait for a week or so at least. Some people wait 2-4 months.

Ahhh, the old fishless cycle trick. Good idea actually. Wouldnt there be some ammonia on my cured rock, even if only a small amount? Maybe I'll try something like this just to see how strong my denitrifying bacteria is.

Thanks for the help guys. I'll keep checking levels and be sure to introduce some extra ammonia just in case my live rock isnt really producing any. Though there are also two crabs in my tank that hitch hiked. One's body is half the size of a dime the other the size of a quarter so they are definitely producing some.

I'll have to research my CUC a bit more. I was thinking snails, hermits (even though some people dont like them), probably 2-3 emerald crabs, some brittle stars and perhaps one tiger tail cucumber.

Only thing is Im not sure what kind of snail. Ive researched in the past and "thought" turbo snails were destructive, often knocking over corals (which seems like a sort of small problem to me) What snails should I stay away from?

[SmallFry]

Apparently bumblebee snails are carnivorous and will go for other snails (found out after I bought two). Having said that I must have the laziest pair in the world - if they even move I mark it on the calendar...

I'm only FOWLR at the moment (will change when the bigger tank/better light/better skimmer come on line) so haven't had any real problems with the turbos. They do charge around the tank rather so I can see the potential for destruction though. Seriously, one minute you can't find one, the next there's one slap bang in the middle of the front glass - kinda freaks me out

I have a couple of small blue legged hermits too, which haven't been a problem, and are great entertainment - they're crazy and always up to something. I made sure they had plenty of spare shells so they can move house whenever they want. From what I hear, I get the impression that it's when they get hungry or can't find the right shell they start to cause problems..

[Eb0la11]

Ya I hear the same thing about hermits. I think I might just have to try a bit of a mix of snails and find out for myself. I mean, they are cheap, so worst case scenario, I buy one, dont like it and return it or give it to another reefer or something.

I'll prob go buy my CUC this weekend if my params are still 0-0-10 or so which should signify my cycle is done.

[PoonTang]

Originally Posted by Eb0la11

Ya I hear the same thing about hermits. I think I might just have to try a bit of a mix of snails and find out for myself. I mean, they are cheap, so worst case scenario, I buy one, dont like it and return it or give it to another reefer or something.

I'll prob go buy my CUC this weekend if my params are still 0-0-10 or so which should signify my cycle is done.

Actually a tank is never truly finished cycling. It is forever trying to balance itself according to the daily bioload placed upon it. Your cured rock may or may not give off ammonia at the start, it depends on how much dieoff there was during the transfer. The reason I suggested that you use a dead shrimp is that it will give off ammonia as it rots and thus will supply your tank with a SOURCE of ammonia. Your tank will respond by increasing the population of denitrifying bacteria. Once you have a large enough population of bacteria then you are ready to add your permanent source of ammonia....Fish. If you dont have enough ammonia at the start of your cycle then you wont have enough bacteria to keep the levels in check when you add your fish.