Cycing a new tank

[jsanfilippo5]

So i bought a bout 50 lbs of live rock form a local shop - Had some issues with my tank and had to drain it and start from scratch - I had the live rock out of water for about 2 days.

So I go the new tank set up and I am wonder how to go about cycling.. I have read that since my rock has been out of water for 2 days there should be plenty of die off to start a cycle. Its about a week and ammo, nitrite and nitrate all read 0. How long before I should see the ammo go up??

Thanks in advance!

 

[sunny]

You need to add a source for ammonia. Most people use frozen shrimp.
You can also use Biospira and add fish at the same time.

Good luck!
Sunny

 

[motortrendz]

you may need to feed the cycle, add some live bacteria and add a pinch of flake food daily until you notice the cycle start then let if run its course.... every system is different and the only way to tell is to test and take notes to be able to acuratly chart the cycle...

good luck

 

[fishman1069]

you may need to feed the cycle, add some live bacteria and add a pinch of flake food daily until you notice the cycle start then let if run its course.... every system is different and the only way to tell is to test and take notes to be able to acuratly chart the cycle...

good luck

+1 Try microbacter 7 for you bacteria source. That stuff works great!

 

[Imbarrie]

Anyone try cycling with special blend microbe lift?

 

[jsanfilippo5]

I thoughjt the die-off on the rock would be a source of ammonia.. Guess it's not enough?

 

[twan]

It will be a source, is it enough, probably.

I would get the rock re-cycling for a week and see if you can track ammonia spike all the way through to nitrite and nitrate to confirm.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

I use the shrimp method.

Go to your local grocery store with a seafood counter. Buy a RAW shrimp, rinse it with RO to get rid of any possible preservatives or other contaminants that may be present.

Shell it, throw it in your tank and dose the tank with Microbacter7 as the directions state for starting a new aquarium- 1 capful for every 25 gallons each day.

Turn your skimmer off and leave off for 4 hours or so after dosing.

Test daily. You'll see the cycle happen. 2 days is a long time for the rock to be out and was obviously dry when you added? If so it was no longer live rock. It won't hurt you, just make the cycle take longer.