I chose two very large (35#, 25#) pieces of
live rock for the main display. The
LFS had the rock curing for about a week. The rock was fairly clean, with some evidence of dead macro and micro algae, as well as encrusted mussels, coraline and some brown spots that reminded me of brown wafer algae. I had the
LR in a heated and circulating plastic brute pail for almost 3 weeks before placing it into the
DT. I tested several times, recording at first the presence of a small bit of
Ammonia but a huge
nitrite spike, then later
ammonia and
nitrite settling to zero, with
Nitrates around 5ppm.
Now that I have had the
LR in the main display for a week, my tests are about the same (0
Ammonia, 0
Nitrite, and 5ppm
Nitrate.) I have never had a
DSB before, and I assume I am going to wait 4-6 weeks for this tank to settle in, but I am wondering if there is not enough putrefaction in this tank to start things off.
I have read Eric Borneman post that he likes to "feed" his tanks during the intial cycle, and I recall the oft mentioned rotting table shrimp nod in this forum - which probably amount to the same thing. Should I do the same, or just let the mostly cured
LR do its thing?
Thanks,
-Scott
