Fastest way to cure dry rock

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#1
So after an acid/baking soda bath and rinse what's the fastest way to seed dry rock and bring it to life? Just a bottle of dr tims and a raw table shrimp? I'd like to get the new cube up and running as fast as possible. I could add a piece of two of LR from the current setup if that would help.

I also have a ton of black sand I'm gonna use that's been rinsed and sitting in Rodi water for a couple months. Does that need to be added to the rock cycle? Or will the sand become "live" over time in the main tank after the rock is added?
 

theMerchant

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#2
I have a bottle of Dr Tims Amoninia. You can have it, BTW I work in chino.
This will help speed up the cycle

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sean2sean

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#4
Or you can use instant ocean bio spira. You can add fish after 48 hours. Some people wait less then that.
 
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#7
Or you can use instant ocean bio spira. You can add fish after 48 hours. Some people wait less then that.
So instant ocean is just a cheaper version of dr. Tims? So basically
1) acid/baking soda bath air dry for a day (100 degree) heat should help
2) rinse in rodi
3) sand and rock in aquarium
4) add saltwater/a couple pieces of LR/ bacteria and boom done......
5) test parameters for a couple days and if stable good to go?

I'd need to add some ammonia to make sure the bacteria is doing its job right?
 

theMerchant

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#8
Step 4 . The boom takes some time.
Basically you need to test for Nitrites then it gets converted to Nitrates.
Dr Tim has some good info on his website.
Doing it wrong , then you'll be fighting algae for awhile amongst other things.... take it slow.

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BeanMachine

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#9
So instant ocean is just a cheaper version of dr. Tims? So basically
1) acid/baking soda bath air dry for a day (100 degree) heat should help
2) rinse in rodi
3) sand and rock in aquarium
4) add saltwater/a couple pieces of LR/ bacteria and boom done......
5) test parameters for a couple days and if stable good to go?

I'd need to add some ammonia to make sure the bacteria is doing its job right?
If you do add fish in that short of a time span, make sure to not add a bunch at the same time. Definitely make sure your tank isn't registering any ammonia readings before you do.

I wouldn't go that route personally though. Too much money involved in this hobby to rush it. You've been doing this long enough to know that! ;)
 
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#10
Yeah but this is the first dry rock start. Everything else has been tank transfer. I'll research the "slow" way but I assumed that just avoided buying the bacteria. Thought the bacteria was the "fast" way of doing it.

Dr tims website says a week. Much better than 20-30 days
 
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#12
Ok how's this

1) acid bath/rinse/dry old dead rock
2) sand and rock and new saltwater in tank
3) run system without filter socks or skimmer
4) add live rock to help seed and ammonia/one and only per dr tims website
5) 10days should be good (fingers crossed)

How's that sound for a plan?
 

NVTE

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#13
Ok how's this

1) acid bath/rinse/dry old dead rock
2) sand and rock and new saltwater in tank
3) run system without filter socks or skimmer
4) add live rock to help seed and ammonia/one and only per dr tims website
5) 10days should be good (fingers crossed)

How's that sound for a plan?
add number 4.5) check everything to see the parameter is good. and add to 5) If Parameter is good then
 

NVTE

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#15
If I don't seed with LR it still should be the same process. Right?
It might take longer because beneficial Bacteria wont come with cleaned dead rock. It has to seed somewhere like lr, dead shrimp or bacteria bottle.
 
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#16
Rock. Add shrimp. Waitf for diatom bloom and begin adding livestock slowly. Never tester for ammonia, nit or phos.
 

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