Cycling / Bacteria Seeding Question

[SpikesReef]

So I'm 3 weeks into my cycle on a 25g lagoon

Current parameters
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0.5
Nitrate - 50(!)

I have don't the following in this order
- followed Microbacter dry rock starter process 1 week
- added Dr Tims
- added seeded bio media
- added Fritz 900
- added pods and plankton ( the latter every two days"
-added more dr tims
- added 1 lb Australian live branch rock

I ordered KP aquatics Rubble as it was the best online option at the time, but then Awuabiomics released their aquacultures rubbl so I got some of that

Do I add the KP- which comes from the ocean and could have some hitchhikers- or just use the clean Aquabiomics rubble?

For reference I have no algae or critters that came through the other sources I used (at least not yet)

 

[BryanM]

I'm a huge supporter of live rock... if you read up on it here or elsewhere its almost universally accepted as the best option. Many people use 10% live, as it is quite expensive.

 

[Arkayology]

Did you already order the KP and Aquabiomics rubble? If so, I would add them both. If you are asking if you should get one or both, I say that you could get both, but it is not necessary at this point for you to add more biodiversity given the variety of bacteria that you have already introduced. You can't go wrong with adding more though if you have the money.

 

[SpikesReef]

Did you already order the KP and Aquabiomics rubble? If so, I would add them both. If you are asking if you should get one or both, I say that you could get both, but it is not necessary at this point for you to add more biodiversity given the variety of bacteria that you have already introduced. You can't go wrong with adding more though if you have the money.

Yup I have both coming soon, plus all those other sources. I figured the more sources the better for biodiversity, but I've also heard that different strains can out compete. That's why I started this thread- to get a better idea of what the most common approach/thought is currently

 

[Arkayology]

Yup I have both coming soon, plus all those other sources. I figured the more sources the better for biodiversity, but I've also heard that different strains can out compete. That's why I started this thread- to get a better idea of what the most common approach/thought is currently

The mantra of more bacterial diversity = more better is somewhat true, but only part of the picture. We (hobbyists) don't really have a good idea of what good diversity is or what that means. You might have high diversity but not enough of the right bacteria. It's hard to say what is the right away to do it IMO, though bringing in at least something from the ocean is usually a good idea. Most will tell you add live rock or sand from the ocean as the best way to do it. I did a somewhat similar cocktail to you; I added MB7, Nite-Out, LR from LFS, so-called live sand (Tropic Marin), as well as pods, sand, hermits, snails, and mud from Hawaii (IPSF.com - they are amazing and I highly recommend). In the past I have started tanks using LR from the ocean and Dr. Tim's One and Only. Both worked fine for me. IMO, you are going in the right direction.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I'm a huge supporter of live rock... if you read up on it here or elsewhere its almost universally accepted as the best option. Many people use 10% live, as it is quite expensive.

We used live rock on our pico tank and I would easily do live again in future tanks!

 

[dangles]

Purely my opinion here. I would say if you've to live stuff coming (AB and KP), JUST use those from here on out. I would avoid introducing more of any of the commercial stuff in addition to that (it may or may not be the bacteria we actually NEED...this is a HOTLY debated subject!). The natural stuff is *guaranteed* to be the right stuff, and I don't think there's any compelling reason to add anything else.

 

[SpikesReef]

Maybe adding the bottled stuff helps get things going enough that ammonia from die off from live rock is less toxic- just a theory. I definitely took the approach of "add everything" this time around. It's exciting to see so much conversation around this and the importance of live rock. If I had a sump I'd likely fill a large portion with live rock and keep the dry in my display purely for the ease of creating an interesting aquascape.

 

[BryanM]

Maybe adding the bottled stuff helps get things going enough that ammonia from die off from live rock is less toxic- just a theory. I definitely took the approach of "add everything" this time around. It's exciting to see so much conversation around this and the importance of live rock. If I had a sump I'd likely fill a large portion with live rock and keep the dry in my display purely for the ease of creating an interesting aquascape.

Even with die off my tank was almost cycled day one. I only waited two weeks before adding things. This is the tank today, and its 3 months old or so.

 

[SpikesReef]

Even with die off my tank was almost cycled day one. I only waited two weeks before adding things. This is the tank today, and its 3 months old or so.

Where did you source your rock?

 

[BryanM]

Where did you source your rock?

Gulf Live Rock.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So I'm 3 weeks into my cycle on a 25g lagoon

Current parameters
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0.5
Nitrate - 50(!)

I have don't the following in this order
- followed Microbacter dry rock starter process 1 week
- added Dr Tims
- added seeded bio media
- added Fritz 900
- added pods and plankton ( the latter every two days"
-added more dr tims
- added 1 lb Australian live branch rock

I ordered KP aquatics Rubble as it was the best online option at the time, but then Awuabiomics released their aquacultures rubbl so I got some of that

Do I add the KP- which comes from the ocean and could have some hitchhikers- or just use the clean Aquabiomics rubble?

For reference I have no algae or critters that came through the other sources I used (at least not yet)

I can’t really advise on what’s the best rock, but in terms of cycling you are done and the nitrate level is likely much lower than you report due to the nitrite interfering with the nitrate test.

I think you are ready for the next stage of tank startup.