Live rock?

OK how long does it take base rock to become live rock in a new tank? I have all new base rock from reefcleaners and one piece of live rock from my LFS not rushing just wondering how long before there are signs of some sort.

 

usually arround a month . to aid in the prosess to keep the bit you have alive and to feed others that have been born you will need an amonia sorce some use damsel fish i for my part find it crewl .. if you have no fish in the tank i would add a pice of coctail shrimp i just get one of those small frozen entres from the store and add 1 pice to the tank ive cycled 3 tanks in that manner and has always gave me a decent bio to start with once the peramiters are in check

 

I think base rock will become live when you cycle your tank. I believe the bacteria will be on the sand and rocks. The only reason live rock is live is because you get different organism (good and bad). I would just place a shrimp in your tank and let the cycle take it's course.

 

+1 GT.

adding an ammonia source will definitely boost your biological colonies. depending on how much LR you put into the tank with the live rock is also a factor. the more the merrier

 

Live rock is live because of the bacteria, so you're not going to see signs of that except with an ammonia test kit once the cycle starts/finishes.

 

Tested water today ammonia was .5 everything else normal have been having it tested every three days. Rock is changing color and everything looks great. Was told not to do a water change. How long before you do one. I have been topping off at around a gallon a day. So I guess that in itself is a water change.

 

Don't do any water changes until ammonia and nitrite are at zero.

 

OK thanks

 

ditto next you will detect nitrites once i detect nitrites i add a tiny bit more shrimp