Can I go ahead an cycle my rock without a tank?

I have 80 lbs of base rock that will go into my 65 gallon once I get the tank. My question is, can I place the base rock in a plastic tub of saltwater and introduce a few cups of sand from my reef and just drop some food in there? Will that start a cycle? I was thinking that water movement would be important for flow and oxygen so I could put a pump in there. Would I need a heater?

It would be nice to have a little bacteria on my rock before I set up my tank. ;D

 

Yeah. You are curing the rock. Just google curing live rock, because thats pretty much exactly what you are doing. I would put a heater in there, but im not sure if it makes mych difference.

 

I would think that bacteria would spread better in a warmer environment.
Also, If I add frozen shrimp to decompose and produce ammonia, How long would It take to see an ammonia spike?
Or is there some sort of pure ammonia I can dump in?

 

Im doing the same thing for my 55gal. Just put it in a tub or small tank and add some live sand and if you can get a peice of live rock(not much. maybe a pound or so) and let it do its thing. It will be just like your cycling a tank. I have a small filter and power head in a 10 gal. tank. Its been in there for about 2 months. And also I have heard that it will cycle faster without a heater. I did my that way and its doing a great job.
Good Luck

 

Cycle

I've got about 50# of sand and 150# of LR in two 55gal rubbermaid tubs. Have had them "cycling" since I started my new 120g build. Although this will provide a "quick start" after scaping and all, I'll still wait a coupla weeks before putting anything in it. I have light over each tub. The rock does have worms and some snails, so I drop food in there a coupla times a week.

 

Dont use a frozen shrimp just go to your local store and buy two pieces of raw shrimp, just peel them before you put them in the tub.

 

Don't forget the soy & a little wasabi!!:LolLolLol

 

I would definitely use a heater and create some sort of flow via powerhead and/or airstone. Light would be very beneficial as it is needed for the photosynthetic organisms. I would also be sure to do water changes at the very least on a weekly bassis. Since you are not actually "curing" the rock, you will want to treat the rock as if it were in your tank. When curing rock, you are aiding in the process of things dying and releasing amonia (like old sponges and such). When doing this they say to keep the temperature high (80*) and very dim or no lighting to prevent algae blooms. You, however, are trying to create beneficial life and the best way to do that is to give it the best life it can benefit from (8-12 hours of light, proper temp, good salinity, and good water flow). Get that algae to bloom baby!

 

A tub, a heater and a PH is really all you need.