Adding Live Rock to Cycling Tank

[ibamba]

I have been following Tullock's book to put together a matine aquarium, using an extra fresh water one. He essential says to put in the water wiat a day, check parameters then put in the love rock and sand.

I put in the water then was called out of town for a week. Now the water parameters all meet his specs except there are nitrites, it is cycling good.

Should I wait for the nitrates to go zero and then add the rock or add it immediately. Ammonia is zero as are nitrates. I can see 2 points. 1. that the cured rock has enough bacteria to deal with the nitrites or 2. make things as easy a possible for what is living on the rock today. I like option 2 but.. what do you think?

The Nitrites are minimal.

 

[Len]

Your new tank, without live rock, will experience a very minor cycle since there is not much in terms of living and dead organisms. The ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels aren't very toxic and are a small fraction of the levels you'll see after you add the live rock. Adding the live rock to this tank is fine.

If you can cure the live rock in a seperate container, that is the ideal approach. Let the tank do it's mini cycle on its own, and add the fully cured live rock to the tank after it's spent 4-6 weeks in the seperate container. This method will ultimately give you the best water quality for the life of your tank.

 

[ibamba]

Thanks for the help. The shop were I will get the live rock says it is already cured. He keeps it a tank in the bad for a few weeks before bringing it out.