How long before adding LR ?

[M Atkins]

Hi there,


Can anyone tell me how long i should wait after mixing salt water until i add LR ?


This isnt my first tank .......ive got LR in storage at the LFS after i started over with my setup. Last time round i had to wait as i needed ££ for the LR wheras this time i can go right down and pick it up whenever.

 

[Joggins]

24 hrs. is good, but allow more time if you have the patience. As Saltwater matures slow chemical reactions take place that stabilize the water. I would wait a week and add my rock at the correct salinity, temperature, and pH (comparable to the tanks you got the rock from). I may be anal, but I want to minimize the shock to the invertebrate life present within and on the LR. If the rock is uncured, then cycling will start to take place with the decay of the life on the rock. If it is fully cured, then there must be a waste (ammonia) concentration to fuel the expansion of nitrosamonas bacteria. For full cured rock, if I am not ready to add fish or inverts then I put a small amount of rotting food (krill) in the tank. and then observe as it cycles. I like to add a damselfish or two!! ( I prefer fiji blue devils!)

Good Luck

-Stephen

 

[cruehead]

the tank wont cycle without the rock. mix up ur salt water making sure its disolved. most of us wait 24 hrs and add ur rock. test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. when the first two reach 0, the tank is cycled. then u can work on getting rid of the nitrates