I've finally started baby steps in cycling rock to prepare for a tank in the future. Planning on starting a tank in about ~4 months due to various reasons. The bin is running with a thermometer and pump for water movement, though I may switch to a bubbler if I don't need as much and can spare the energy.
So, I've got lots of dry rock that I'm running in this bin with 2 separate chunks of live rock I've acquired from both LFS in our town. I'm trying to build as much diversity as I can for the cycling rock cause I'm dead set on a stable/healthy tank for my first go.
I've got no light on it to try to avoid algae growth, but if I have no light going- will that hurt any Coraline Algae present on the live rocks I've added? I'm not in a hurry to add bacteria/ammonia for faster cycling but would happily consider it. I did a single ghost feed of generic flakes, I might throw in a thawed out shrimp/scallop from a freezer in a few weeks or something to break down- would it be better to ghost feed something more specific? Like, live phyto?
I'm also considering getting a 'reef booster' sort of thing from someone like Pacific East Aquaculture, live sand+copepods+handful of snails+Coraline Algae chips, but I'll hold off until the rocks had a little extra time to cycle.
So far though, I love being able to peak in the bin and watch all the little copepods/amphipods present on the live rock. Thinking about looking around for more chunks of live rock from other people's tanks for further introduction of bacteria/variety, or just revisit one of the LFS since one of them has a pretty great stock of nice live rock for a decent enough price.
So, I've got lots of dry rock that I'm running in this bin with 2 separate chunks of live rock I've acquired from both LFS in our town. I'm trying to build as much diversity as I can for the cycling rock cause I'm dead set on a stable/healthy tank for my first go.
I've got no light on it to try to avoid algae growth, but if I have no light going- will that hurt any Coraline Algae present on the live rocks I've added? I'm not in a hurry to add bacteria/ammonia for faster cycling but would happily consider it. I did a single ghost feed of generic flakes, I might throw in a thawed out shrimp/scallop from a freezer in a few weeks or something to break down- would it be better to ghost feed something more specific? Like, live phyto?
I'm also considering getting a 'reef booster' sort of thing from someone like Pacific East Aquaculture, live sand+copepods+handful of snails+Coraline Algae chips, but I'll hold off until the rocks had a little extra time to cycle.
So far though, I love being able to peak in the bin and watch all the little copepods/amphipods present on the live rock. Thinking about looking around for more chunks of live rock from other people's tanks for further introduction of bacteria/variety, or just revisit one of the LFS since one of them has a pretty great stock of nice live rock for a decent enough price.