Live Rock Cured Vs Dry Rock

[100gallon]

Since I am getting closer to the point where I will want to add rock should I put aragonite bed down with live or dry rock and let it cycle? If using Dr tims one and only will this suffice with dry rock and no live rock?

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[Sewerat]

Kinda also depends on how long you want to cycle for? I used dry rock but cycled for 2-3 months before I was putting any fish in mine. No real reson

 

[EricTMah]

Dr tims is some amazing stuff. I've used this in clients tanks before and it really helps. I've had it cut cycling in half before.

Dry rock = no pests
Live rock = lots of life

There's trade offs to both

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[yveterinarian]

A lot also depends on what you plan to put into your tank when it is done. In my case dry rock was the only way to go because I didn't want to run the risk of introducing any pests into my seahorse systems. Since that was the only way I had ever cycled a tank I also did it with my reef tank. I cycled using the ammonia method and was able to accurately know how much ammonia my system was clearing in 12 hours before I added my livestock.

 

[100gallon]

So if you use dry let's say, what is there to begin the cycle with no die off from the live rock. I've read that you shouldn't use fish to begin the cycle such as damsels because high ammonia would harm them and isn't really humane? I thought you always used perculas, black and white damsels and blue damsels for this as they are very hardy?

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[jeffopentax]

So if you use dry let's say, what is there to begin the cycle with no die off from the live rock. I've read that you shouldn't use fish to begin the cycle such as damsels because high ammonia would harm them and isn't really humane? I thought you always used perculas, black and white damsels and blue damsels for this as they are very hardy?

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Any ammonia source will start a cycle. People have been using raw shrimp for years and say it works. Using fish is an ethical choice. Regardless of how hardy the fish is, it's still living in "toxic" water. I personally wouldn't do it since there are other methods. I'm sure someone on here can elaborate more on the effects on the fish being used to cycle a tank.

 

[100gallon]

Yep I want to stay away from fish if possible...so the doctor tims and dry rock will do the trick? I know brs does not ship live stuff to us here but will they ship bulk dry rock and rubble?

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[EricTMah]

Even after you get the Dr Tim's, you're still going to need a ammonia source to start it.

I know there's only certain types of products that are pure ammonia that's safe to start your cycle. Maybe someone can chime in who have done this before. If you can't find it, you can just use raw table shrimp from the grocery store. Just like jeffopentax said.

 

[yveterinarian]

When cycling my tanks I purchase regular household ammonia (unscented) and a bacteria culture. I use Stability but there are many others out there. Add enough ammonia to bring your tank up to 2 ppm and add the bacteria culture. This will begin the cycle. I can give you more details on how it works if you are interested but this method has never failed me yet and no fish are used.

 

[100gallon]

Sounds good to me!!

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[Aquariums by Design]

Dry Rock, Dr. Tims and Ammonium Chloride (by Dr. TIms) is all you need. A 2oz bottle of Ammonium Chloride is only $4.99. Add 1 drop per gallon to achieve an ammonia concentration of 2mg/L. This is how we cycled our whole store when we first opened and we didn't have any issues at all once the tanks were filled with fish. You can use Dr. Tim's and just feed the tank as if there were fish in it and the food will break down into ammonia eventually but using the Ammonium Chloride is more reliable and allows you greater control.

 

[100gallon]

I will be in to see you for all of the above first week of September!

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[Aquariums by Design]

Sounds Good!

 

[yveterinarian]

That's what I prefer about the ammonia method of cycling. You have complete control over how much ammonia is cycling and you know exactly how much cycles in 12 hours. You can often stock more fish at one time when you have cycled with ammonia because the bacteria have begun working at high levels. (My Dwarf tank is a perfect example - I cycled to 8ppm clearance every 12 hours and put 100 dwarves in at once. there has been no ammonia spike)

 

[scubasteve]

everyone seems to be using the ammonia method but i just used a pinch of fish flake once a week but again you dont have the control you do with ammonia

 

[KBennett]

I just threw in a couple raw cocktail shrimp. You may also want to get a few rocks from an established tank without pests to get copepods and amphipods, feather dusters, bristle worms, etc. It is my belief that the live rock works better with these things pulling new water into the deep tunnels in the rock.

 

[100gallon]

I am using the ammonia and Dr. Tims currently. My salinity is a bit low. I will add tonight and update.

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