Cycle with Dry Rock and seeding with Live Rock

[bsdubois00]

Question:

I’m about to fill the tank with water and have a cycle question. I have almost all dry rock in the tank and was planning to use Turbo Start starter kit from Algae Barn to cycle however would it be better to buy some live rock to toss in and use for cycling? What would be your process? Still use the Turbo Start just not the ammonia?

Help is appreciated!

 

[Keithb22]

So I just went through all of this. BRS had an awesome video about doing exactly this and that’s what caused me to switch up. So I started my cycle with bottled ammonia for a few weeks so I could seed my mech and bio filtration in my HOB. The plan was to do all dry rock and live sand from caribsea but it seemed like a lot of possibilities for the ugly stage to take over. So I was going to just run no lights for a month or so and let the biome build up and hopefully mitigate any ugly stage.

Anyways, after a few weeks and some BRS videos, my ammonia was right at 1-2ppm per the dosing and I was getting a little nitrites. My lfs had some decent lr and I ended up doing a 50-50 mix of lr and dry rock. I did dose bottled bacteria by Fritz and Brightwell, figured it would give me a more diverse bacterial biome. Like a day or so after I did start to register nitrates and ammonia started to drop. I liked having the lr to jump start everything and it hopefully also helped provide different bacteria than I was dosing from the bottle, I think that’s the name of the game these days. Provide a wide array bacteria and your system functions better.

 

[Peace River]

There will likely be several opinions on this question and many of them will solid responses. IMHO, both approaches have good potential. One of the difference in seeding with additives vs. seeding with live rock, is that you will limit the negative outcomes from pests and other undesirables when using additives. However, while there may be more risks with live rock in the short term the live rock approach will typically provide a more mature and robust tank with a far more diverse ecosystem. It can be viewed in terms of risk/reward. I've used both approaches, but I often go the route of live rock. That said, be aware of where the live rock came from because you will be accepting the challenge of the previous tank. TBS is a good choice, whereas getting rock from someone parting out their system because they couldn't deal with some unknown reason (e.g., tank crash, infestation, etc.) would not be a good choice.

 

[bsdubois00]

There will likely be several opinions on this question and many of them will solid responses. IMHO, both approaches have good potential. One of the difference in seeding with additives vs. seeding with live rock, is that you will limit the negative outcomes from pests and other undesirables when using additives. However, while there may be more risks with live rock in the short term the live rock approach will typically provide a more mature and robust tank with a far more diverse ecosystem. It can be viewed in terms of risk/reward. I've used both approaches, but I often go the route of live rock. That said, be aware of where the live rock came from because you will be accepting the challenge of the previous tank. TBS is a good choice, whereas getting rock from someone parting out their system because they couldn't deal with some unknown reason (e.g., tank crash, infestation, etc.) would not be a good choice.

Since I have 80lbs of dry rock my though was just using a few pieces of premium LR to help seed.

Any thoughts on this? Still use the Turbo Start but skip the Nitrifying Bac?

 

[Fish Fan]

I agree with the above. I think the "best" option is to use maricultured live rock and sand from Tampa Bay Saltwater or similar. This give you the most biodiversity as far as beneficial microbes and macro life, though it can also come with some "bad" hitchhikers too. I think the benefits far outweighs the negatives, and most of the "bad actors" you may receive can be trapped and removed easily enough.

Second would be a high quality live rock from a trusted Local Fish Store (LFS). I stress "quality" because just like Peace River mentioned, if you get rock from a tank that already has problems, you're just inheriting those problems. For example, I have a store near me, not a dedicated fish store, that has a tank of rocks that are dirty, brown, full of bubble algae and cyanobacteria, and the best part is the sign on the tank actually reads, "Start your tank out right with live rock!" lol! PLEASE!!!

After that, dry rock and sand, ideally "seeded" with a small amount of TBS or quality live rock.

Last would be a full dry rock start using bottled bacteria and ammonium chloride. This method absolutely works, and gives you a more "sterile" start, but it can take longer, and usually involves an "ugly stage" where the dry rock grows all kinds of ugly algae and such. It's typically just a phase, but it's no fun and I believe can be largely avoided using a good live rock, or at least dry rocks that have been "pre-cycled" for some time.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[exnisstech]

Both of these tank were started bare bottom with dry rock in the DT and live rock in the sump. I pretty much avoided any bad ugly stage with both.
This one I added Fritz turbo start 900 at start up. I did not add any ammonia to either. I cycle a bit different than most. I don't test ammonia or nitrite. When I see nitrates I begin slowing adding livestock. I have added ammonia when starting with dry rock only but I don't see myself ever starting like that again. I'll choose pests over uglies every time.

2 years

This one I only added live rock, no bottled bacteria but I added lot of live rock

9 months

 

[bsdubois00]

Both of these tank were started with dry rock in the DT and live rock in the sump. I pretty much avoided any bad ugly stage with both.
This one I added Fritz turbo start 900 at start up. I did not add any ammonia to either.

2 years

This one I only added live rock, no bottled bacteria but I added lot of live rock

9 months

Ok now we’re talking!!

So I understand your process:

DT full of Dry Rock
Sump added Live Rock (appx how much compared to dry?)
Added in Fritz TS to help the Dry Rock (no ammonia)

This was along the lines I was thinking. I was looking at the Marco Live Rock since TBS looks like another month plus for shipping.

 

[cilyjr]

Both of these tank were started with dry rock in the DT and live rock in the sump. I pretty much avoided any bad ugly stage with both.
This one I added Fritz turbo start 900 at start up. I did not add any ammonia to either.

2 years

This one I only added live rock, no bottled bacteria but I added lot of live rock

9 months

This is what I have done.
When I moved to California I found the local club met some people and ended up buying a bunch of dry Rock trading that to some some local people for some pieces of their live rock. Filled the sump with the rock that was live and build the display Rock out of the dry stuff so it could be put together how I want it.
I would add that I give the dry rock a muriatic acid bath, which really helps significantly with any bound phosphates and thus eliminates some early algae issues.

 

[exnisstech]

Ok now we’re talking!!

So I understand your process:

DT full of Dry Rock
Sump added Live Rock (appx how much compared to dry?)
Added in Fritz TS to help the Dry Rock (no ammonia)

This was along the lines I was thinking. I was looking at the Marco Live Rock since TBS looks like another month plus for shipping.

TBH I didn't really track how much live vs dry rock I used. I put as much live as would fit in the sump. When I started the hobby about 9 years ago I bought live rock harvested off the coast of PR to start my first tank. After that I never threw away any rock or let it dry out. I'm a live rock hoarder lol. I still have a 32g brute full in the basement. I can cycle a tank in the time it takes me to mix salt water. This was an insta cycle I set up a few weeks ago emptying a small tank with a failing seam. The nem was in there and corals in a 29g storage tank. I combined the two. Enough live rock and its more like a tank transfer.

I miss the good ole days

 

[bsdubois00]

I was thinking of 10lbs of this and about 55-60 of dry rock. Along with a bottle of Turbo Start. Wonder if it’s enough or if it will take a while to cycle since the ratio is much higher Dry Rock to Live Rock. Just not sure I can’t fit 20lb in my sump.

 

[Dan_P]

Question:

I’m about to fill the tank with water and have a cycle question. I have almost all dry rock in the tank and was planning to use Turbo Start starter kit from Algae Barn to cycle however would it be better to buy some live rock to toss in and use for cycling? What would be your process? Still use the Turbo Start just not the ammonia?

Help is appreciated!

Don’t over think this. Turbo Start and ammonia is a good way to get started. Adding a little live rock will not make drastic difference, maybe it is a good thing. The only potential down side is adding pests, but the same applies to adding fish and coral.

 

[bsdubois00]

Don’t over think this. Turbo Start and ammonia is a good way to get started. Adding a little live rock will not make drastic difference, maybe it is a good thing. The only potential down side is adding pests, but the same applies to adding fish and coral.

Thank you - sometimes keeping it simple is best.

 

[Dan_P]

Thank you - sometimes keeping it simple is best.

Probably a good byline in this hobby considering all the ways available to automate the aquarium and all the miracle additives to solve “problems”.

Good luck and enjoy the new aquarium.

 

[Keithb22]

Keep it simple and take your time, have rushed prior tanks and nothing great comes from it. It’s all about building a solid biome and giving it time to equilibrate itself.

 

[SliceGolfer]

TBS Treasure Chest packages are great for seeding tanks. Best part is they ship to your door.