Live rock

Fishez · 05-12-2004, 05:32 PM

I just got 3 Lbs. of live rock and 7 Lbs. of base rock , and i was wondering how long it will take for my base rock to look like my live rock. and if there is anything i can do to speed it up . And I also have a question about my tank cycling , I took a water sample to LFS and they said my cycle was already done and my tank is ready for new fish if i wanted to put some in , but my tank has only be up and running for 18 days. I always thought it took atleast 5 or 6 weeks for it to cycle. but i saw the tests and my ammonia was 0.0 ppm , Nitrites 0.0 ppm, and pH 8.2 .

mojoreef · 05-12-2004, 05:47 PM

Did you see any levels of ammonia or nitrites or nitrates at any time??? 18 days seems a little quick. The LR will color up and liven up with time

Mike

Fishez · 05-12-2004, 05:57 PM

This was the first time I had my water tested so I dont know if anything spiked.

05-13-2004, 01:03 AM

Would be a good thing to get your own test kits.
What LS did you use? We have had some people post here that use a sand that was saying it cycles the tank faster. I think it was GaMmA and someone else that used it. Do a search on LS as it was just last month they posted about it.

Did you add a raw shrimp to the tank?

Jason McKenzie · 05-13-2004, 03:52 AM

3 # may have cycled fast. I would invest in More LR. As 10# in a 30 may not provide the amount of filtration you require.
And ya, did you feed your tank during the cycle?
(The Shrimp thing Naut is talking about)

J

JOER0178 · 05-13-2004, 04:39 AM

to speed up the base rock becoming live you can put the live rock by a power head blowing water onto the base rock that will speed up the process a bit

Fishez · 05-13-2004, 09:23 AM

yeah I fed em flake and raw Brine shrimp , did the shrimp help it cycle faster? I used CaribSea Argonite.

Fishez · 05-13-2004, 11:34 AM

what kind of test kit do i need? Just Ammonia, Nitrites and pH ?

JOER0178 · 05-13-2004, 11:54 AM

a master test kit will have ammonia nitrate nitrite and pH, there are also test kits for alkalinity,phosphate, calcium. but for cycling you only need the master test kit

05-13-2004, 02:27 PM

It would depend on what master kit you are talking about.
Most are not accurate. Salifert has one but it is alto of $.
Get what you can afford but you get what ya pay for. ammonia , Nitrite, and Nitrate are 3 you need to cycle with. Calcium, alk, pH are 3 needed for reef tanks and alto more if and when you really get into this hobby.