I did reef tanks for quite a few years and the last one I set up I used dry rock also. I was tired of all the pest anemones and other things associated with live rock. That said alot of those other things are actually benificial and hard to get without getting live rock. And unless you are super careful you'll still end up getting apstasia in your tank. I used bottled bacteria and straight ammonia. Cycled in about 2 weeks but I kept dosing with ammonia for another 4. When the diatoms went through their dye off I added fish but kept dosing the bacteria for a few weeks and when I added new fish. I'm guessing the diatoms show up nomatter if you use live rock or dry rock, I may or may not have added coral after the cycle was complete I cant remember. But once you get the brown dusting on the rocks and sand its a diatom die off and you should be cycled, test though.
Yes, it will establish the bacteria on its own-eventually. Any live rock/sand/filter media will help speed up the process. You might even be able to scrape up a few pieces of rubble from a tank at your lfs.
As a side note, let your nose help too
That is a lot of shrimp in a new tank so the smell might get a bit strong. Eventually you might want a cover on your tank as evaporation can change tank parameters rather quickly.
As a side note, let your nose help too
That is a lot of shrimp in a new tank so the smell might get a bit strong. Eventually you might want a cover on your tank as evaporation can change tank parameters rather quickly.
I’m assuming this is just a thing that happens when you start a tank, like freshwater, but the water is really cloudy.
Yes the Ammonia will spike and lower you should be getting a positive reading for Nitrite at that time.
I'll say that is the most definitive ammonia test ive seen in a long time....lol. I usually have a hard time discerning that test. As
tlindsey
said next will be nitrite. Then nitrate.
tlindsey
said next will be nitrite. Then nitrate.
