Cycling with live rock

[Kelly]

I have 29 gallon that is ready to be built but my question is can I start
cycling the tank with maybe 5 pounds of live rock and just sand and add 5
pounds every two weeks until I get about 30 pounds then add fish? OR should
I just wait until I can afford to add all the live rock at the same time?


Kelly

[Thomas Bishop]

"Kelly" > wrote in message ...
> I have 29 gallon that is ready to be built but my question is can I start
> cycling the tank with maybe 5 pounds of live rock and just sand and add 5
> pounds every two weeks until I get about 30 pounds then add fish? OR
should
> I just wait until I can afford to add all the live rock at the same time?

Either way, as long as you don't have fish when there's a cycle. If you are
good at saving money, it's fun to buy a lot at a time. But if you buy a
little at a time then you can pick which rock you want.

[Dragon Slayer]

only bad part about buying a little at the time is aquascaping changes every
time you buy. you will find that "this piece looks better here then that
one did................" .

but then again you can pick rocks out that compliment the scenery you
already have as well.

kc

"Kelly" > wrote in message
. ..
> I have 29 gallon that is ready to be built but my question is can I start
> cycling the tank with maybe 5 pounds of live rock and just sand and add 5
> pounds every two weeks until I get about 30 pounds then add fish? OR
should
> I just wait until I can afford to add all the live rock at the same time?
>
>
> Kelly
>
>

[Adam]

"Thomas Bishop" > wrote in message
gy.com...
> "Kelly" > wrote in message ...
> > I have 29 gallon that is ready to be built but my question is can I
start
> > cycling the tank with maybe 5 pounds of live rock and just sand and add
5
> > pounds every two weeks until I get about 30 pounds then add fish? OR
> should
> > I just wait until I can afford to add all the live rock at the same
time?
>
> Either way, as long as you don't have fish when there's a cycle. If you
are
> good at saving money, it's fun to buy a lot at a time. But if you buy a
> little at a time then you can pick which rock you want.
>

I've been buying mine a few at a time for both my tanks. I also buy the
live sand and cleaning crews that way too. If I have a good amount of money
I get extra for both tanks but if not then it's just a piece here and there.
My 55 gallon has only three large rocks in it and looks pretty stupid as it
now sits but some day it will be a beautiful reef that will make me
proud...:-)

[Kelly]

So each time I buy will I get an ammonia spike? And if so will that stress
out the cleaning crew?
"Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
...
> only bad part about buying a little at the time is aquascaping changes
every
> time you buy. you will find that "this piece looks better here then that
> one did................" .
>
> but then again you can pick rocks out that compliment the scenery you
> already have as well.
>
> kc
>
> "Kelly" > wrote in message
> . ..
> > I have 29 gallon that is ready to be built but my question is can I
start
> > cycling the tank with maybe 5 pounds of live rock and just sand and add
5
> > pounds every two weeks until I get about 30 pounds then add fish? OR
> should
> > I just wait until I can afford to add all the live rock at the same
time?
> >
> >
> > Kelly
> >
> >
>
>

[Mort]

"Kelly" > wrote in message
.. .
> So each time I buy will I get an ammonia spike? And if so will that stress
> out the cleaning crew?


If the rock you buy is cured then you should be fine.

I have yet to find an LFS that sells rock that is not cured.

HTH

~Mort

[Dragon Slayer]

"Adam" > wrote in message
...
> Add 1 hermit
> crab and one turbo snail wait for perfect water conditions.



if your getting any type of spike or any noticeable change at all with a
single hermit and snail, you got bad problems in your tank.

kc

[Richard Reynolds]

> if your getting any type of spike or any noticeable change at all with a
> single hermit and snail, you got bad problems in your tank.

or a BIG ARSE snail :)

--
Richard Reynolds

[Adam]

"Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Adam" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Add 1 hermit
> > crab and one turbo snail wait for perfect water conditions.
>
>
>
> if your getting any type of spike or any noticeable change at all with a
> single hermit and snail, you got bad problems in your tank.
>
No. That wasn't what I meant. I just meant that everytime I add a group
(rocks, fish, cleaners) I do the tests before moving on to the next group.
If ever the conditions don't come out perfect then I would wait for the tank
to cycle before adding the next group. So far none of my groups have caused
any spikes to speak of. That's why I say doing it this way has been good
for me.

Ed

[JT]

Hi Kelly,

One problem you might run into when you add uncured rock to a tank. If
the tank has established rock, the uncured rock might give off enough poison
( while stuff dies ) to kill all the good stuff on the established rock. So
the curing process might be prolonged by continued cycling. I would suggest
that you buy local cured live rock so it doesnt have a die off if you wish
to do it in stages. Or add one order of live rock, wait a bit and add some
dry cured rock. That way the new dry rock wont have die off to kill any of
the established rock. The dry rock will take some time to become loaded with
life, but I have seen dry rock gain substaintial life from the established
tank within about 3 months. After about a year or less the dry rock will
look just like the other live rock. Some dealers thought I was a fool by
suggesting live/dead dry rock, but Ive done it and it works well. The dry
rock costs far less too. I bought 30 lbs live and then 40-50lbs dry. So now
I have one tank with about 70 - 80lbs of large rocks for about $80 TOTAL.
All of the rocks are full of life and my corals are doing extremely well.

The other thing you could do is just not worry about it. Eventually
everything will work out no mater what you do. Just dont get to depressed if
the new uncured stuff makes a mess of the established rock.

I wish you the best of luck.

"Kelly" > wrote in message
. ..
> I have 29 gallon that is ready to be built but my question is can I start
> cycling the tank with maybe 5 pounds of live rock and just sand and add 5
> pounds every two weeks until I get about 30 pounds then add fish? OR
should
> I just wait until I can afford to add all the live rock at the same time?
>
>
> Kelly
>
>

[kelly]

If I use all cured rock and add a bit at a time can I get away without the
protien skimmer until I add fish? I will still have the filter and pwer
heads.


"JT" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Kelly,
>
> One problem you might run into when you add uncured rock to a tank. If
> the tank has established rock, the uncured rock might give off enough
poison
> ( while stuff dies ) to kill all the good stuff on the established rock.
So
> the curing process might be prolonged by continued cycling. I would
suggest
> that you buy local cured live rock so it doesnt have a die off if you wish
> to do it in stages. Or add one order of live rock, wait a bit and add some
> dry cured rock. That way the new dry rock wont have die off to kill any of
> the established rock. The dry rock will take some time to become loaded
with
> life, but I have seen dry rock gain substaintial life from the established
> tank within about 3 months. After about a year or less the dry rock will
> look just like the other live rock. Some dealers thought I was a fool by
> suggesting live/dead dry rock, but Ive done it and it works well. The dry
> rock costs far less too. I bought 30 lbs live and then 40-50lbs dry. So
now
> I have one tank with about 70 - 80lbs of large rocks for about $80 TOTAL.
> All of the rocks are full of life and my corals are doing extremely well.
>
> The other thing you could do is just not worry about it. Eventually
> everything will work out no mater what you do. Just dont get to depressed
if
> the new uncured stuff makes a mess of the established rock.
>
> I wish you the best of luck.
>
> "Kelly" > wrote in message
> . ..
> > I have 29 gallon that is ready to be built but my question is can I
start
> > cycling the tank with maybe 5 pounds of live rock and just sand and add
5
> > pounds every two weeks until I get about 30 pounds then add fish? OR
> should
> > I just wait until I can afford to add all the live rock at the same
time?
> >
> >
> > Kelly
> >
> >
>
>

[Dragon Slayer]

with water changes as needed (by testing) you can never use a skimmer and
have a beautiful reef tank regardless of if it has LR, fish or
whatever......... its just a very nice safety measure to have a skimmer on
a tank, and it makes things a little less demanding on you.

kc

"kelly" > wrote in message
news:z1rdb.13214$o21.8939@edtnps84...
> If I use all cured rock and add a bit at a time can I get away without the
> protien skimmer until I add fish? I will still have the filter and pwer
> heads.
>
>
> "JT" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi Kelly,
> >
> > One problem you might run into when you add uncured rock to a tank.
If
> > the tank has established rock, the uncured rock might give off enough
> poison
> > ( while stuff dies ) to kill all the good stuff on the established rock.
> So
> > the curing process might be prolonged by continued cycling. I would
> suggest
> > that you buy local cured live rock so it doesnt have a die off if you
wish
> > to do it in stages. Or add one order of live rock, wait a bit and add
some
> > dry cured rock. That way the new dry rock wont have die off to kill any
of
> > the established rock. The dry rock will take some time to become loaded
> with
> > life, but I have seen dry rock gain substaintial life from the
established
> > tank within about 3 months. After about a year or less the dry rock will
> > look just like the other live rock. Some dealers thought I was a fool by
> > suggesting live/dead dry rock, but Ive done it and it works well. The
dry
> > rock costs far less too. I bought 30 lbs live and then 40-50lbs dry. So
> now
> > I have one tank with about 70 - 80lbs of large rocks for about $80
TOTAL.
> > All of the rocks are full of life and my corals are doing extremely
well.
> >
> > The other thing you could do is just not worry about it. Eventually
> > everything will work out no mater what you do. Just dont get to
depressed
> if
> > the new uncured stuff makes a mess of the established rock.
> >
> > I wish you the best of luck.
> >
> > "Kelly" > wrote in message
> > . ..
> > > I have 29 gallon that is ready to be built but my question is can I
> start
> > > cycling the tank with maybe 5 pounds of live rock and just sand and
add
> 5
> > > pounds every two weeks until I get about 30 pounds then add fish? OR
> > should
> > > I just wait until I can afford to add all the live rock at the same
> time?
> > >
> > >
> > > Kelly
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[kelly]

But is it the fish or the LR that causes the need for the skimmer?
"Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
...
> with water changes as needed (by testing) you can never use a skimmer and
> have a beautiful reef tank regardless of if it has LR, fish or
> whatever......... its just a very nice safety measure to have a skimmer
on
> a tank, and it makes things a little less demanding on you.
>
> kc
>
> "kelly" > wrote in message
> news:z1rdb.13214$o21.8939@edtnps84...
> > If I use all cured rock and add a bit at a time can I get away without
the
> > protien skimmer until I add fish? I will still have the filter and pwer
> > heads.
> >
> >
> > "JT" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Hi Kelly,
> > >
> > > One problem you might run into when you add uncured rock to a
tank.
> If
> > > the tank has established rock, the uncured rock might give off enough
> > poison
> > > ( while stuff dies ) to kill all the good stuff on the established
rock.
> > So
> > > the curing process might be prolonged by continued cycling. I would
> > suggest
> > > that you buy local cured live rock so it doesnt have a die off if you
> wish
> > > to do it in stages. Or add one order of live rock, wait a bit and add
> some
> > > dry cured rock. That way the new dry rock wont have die off to kill
any
> of
> > > the established rock. The dry rock will take some time to become
loaded
> > with
> > > life, but I have seen dry rock gain substaintial life from the
> established
> > > tank within about 3 months. After about a year or less the dry rock
will
> > > look just like the other live rock. Some dealers thought I was a fool
by
> > > suggesting live/dead dry rock, but Ive done it and it works well. The
> dry
> > > rock costs far less too. I bought 30 lbs live and then 40-50lbs dry.
So
> > now
> > > I have one tank with about 70 - 80lbs of large rocks for about $80
> TOTAL.
> > > All of the rocks are full of life and my corals are doing extremely
> well.
> > >
> > > The other thing you could do is just not worry about it.
Eventually
> > > everything will work out no mater what you do. Just dont get to
> depressed
> > if
> > > the new uncured stuff makes a mess of the established rock.
> > >
> > > I wish you the best of luck.
> > >
> > > "Kelly" > wrote in message
> > > . ..
> > > > I have 29 gallon that is ready to be built but my question is can I
> > start
> > > > cycling the tank with maybe 5 pounds of live rock and just sand and
> add
> > 5
> > > > pounds every two weeks until I get about 30 pounds then add fish? OR
> > > should
> > > > I just wait until I can afford to add all the live rock at the same
> > time?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Kelly
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Richard Reynolds]

> But is it the fish or the LR that causes the need for the skimmer?

neither, both.

almost anything alive(algae being the only exception i can currently think of) causes the
desire for a skimmer, the critters ON LR cause the desire for a skimmer, the fish also
create a desire for a skimmer, you SHOULD get the best one you can. you dont ever NEED a
skimmer, thats one of the reasons ppl can use POS skimmers and have good tanks. the
skimmer removes bad things that a waterchange also removes.

now for the short answer either one, which ever is added first :)
--
Richard Reynolds