Michael7979 Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 So I put some of my LR from the current tank in my 240 to help seed it. So here is the questions..... 1- How much rock would you put in? 2- Would you 'ghost' feed the tank while cycling? 3- How long do you think it will take/ Give me good answers because I'm getting antsy to put some stuff in the 240!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef-fisher Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 5 second rule!!! I would give it a good week or so. Just keep an eye on your parameters. The only downside I can think of would be an algae bloom of some sort or mini-cycles when adding new livestock. Ive actually put dry rock directly in my display and had no issues. Actually, they start in the sump, and eventually make their way to the display after they are 'inspected'. I would add as much live rock as you can. Are you buying new rock or do you have some already cycled? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted September 18, 2008 Author Share Posted September 18, 2008 Using the LR from my old 100 that is in the 'holding tank' right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 do you have rock in it, and your adding LR to it? Or is the tank empty of life and the live rock is the first addition? Sand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefboy Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 put in all new rock now if you can afford it to cycle and add whatever you can from existing display to help cycle but I'd give it at least a month unless you trust the source of new rock as being cured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefboy Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 also id go buy the store get a prawn cut it in small sections and feed a piece a week a large prawn should last a month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef-fisher Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Better safe than sorry. Since its your rock, you know where it is bio-wise. Not a bad idea about the prawn either. Lets you know how strong your bio filter is and what it can take. Should build plenty of new bacteria(the good kind) that will help down the road too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted September 18, 2008 Author Share Posted September 18, 2008 Thats not what I wanted to hear!!!!!!!! DOH!DOH! Hoping it would be quicker but........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 1- How much rock would you put in? Depends.... is the rock you have now QUALITY rock? I would seed the new rock with 50 pounds of old to get started and prevent a full cycle, the amount you end up with is user preference, but 50 pounds of cured rock will get that baby going well, seeding new rock can take a long time to fully cure, one option is large sump and run new rock in display and keep 50 pounds in a sump. 2- Would you 'ghost' feed the tank while cycling? Never, unless all the rock is uncured and I had to do a full cycle, than I would do the raw shrimp seeding method. 3- How long do you think it will take/ Depends on how you do it. 50 pounds cured you should be able to avoid a cycle, I have every time. now new rock will take time to fully seed, so there are variables that you have to think about, plus well seeded rock usually needs to be cooked to get some sort of SOMETHING off it you don't like, so these are all things to consider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefcam Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 what I have done in the past is to basically watch the levels. initially all levels will be low when you put your rocks in... if the rocks are uncure, you will get a spike in Nitrite, Ammonia and Nitrate. Watch the cycle and once they come down, your tank is pretty much cycled. I have cycled tanks within a couple of weeks to a month or two. It just depends on how much die-off there are. If the rocks is from your old tank, then it will not take as long as you will have less die-off. And water changes are important. Hope this helps. I'm in the process of moving all my rocks and live stock from my main tank into my prop tanks. You remember my prop tanks Mike. But only setting up 2 for now. And my goal is to complete it by Friday night or at least in 3 hours. Then I'll be doing multiple water changes to help keep the Ammonia level down. Done this in the past and worked well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted September 18, 2008 Author Share Posted September 18, 2008 I'll be moving more into the 240 tonight. Don't want to take all the rock outta the one tank in one big swing but I should be able to get around fifty pounds in there. I should still have enough in the current tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Definately make sure that you put as much really good live rock in there as you can. The more you put in the faster things will go. Also good live sand will help to seed your dry sand and really speed stuff up. Getting some life in there will help as well. I wouldn't hesitate at all with adding a few less sensative pieces of your cleanup crew at the beginning of the second week. This will help keep some of that detrius and diatom algae down while your tank gets where it needs to be. With enough live rock and live sand, you really don't have to wait all that long. Obviously the more the marrier here, but to get a few fish in there actually will help things out alot. Just make sure they are hardy, less expensive fish that you wont mind being in there for years. A lawnmower blenny would be one of my first picks as it is part of your cleanup crew anyway. Garrett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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