Dry Rock

SAMSHUNG · #1 11-12-2010, 01:28 AM

Yeah I dosed half a bottle of Purple Up using their recommendations but I think that product is a gimmick as well. I think I also dumped in some/lots (can't remember) of Hagen Cycle. Dunno if either product was really needed.
Guess I was a bit wet behind the ears when I started the SW hobby.

tidal_waters · #2 11-12-2010, 02:06 AM

Thanks again

Rogue951 · #3 11-12-2010, 08:14 AM

I do not believe purple up to be a gimick. When I Was dosing I noticed a huge increase in coraline growth. that being said steady constant kalk water dosing works too. and cheaper.

Rbacchiega · #4 11-12-2010, 04:55 PM

personally I love Seachem Stability...some say it's snake oil, but I've had nothing but success in setting up a tank quickly with it. You'll need to "seed" dry rock, which is essentially what the Stability has done. What you witnessed was a diatom outbreak and now seeing some hair algae...all normal stages in cycling a tank.

tidal_waters · #5 11-12-2010, 05:50 PM

Thanks Rogue & Rbacchiega!

gobytron · #6 11-12-2010, 07:59 PM

the stabilizer is likely the reason you havent seen an ammonia or nitrate spike...it just means its working.

sphelps · #7 11-12-2010, 08:18 PM

If algae is growing and your nitrite is zero your cycle is complete.

Base rock has it's advantages but it will take a long time to look good and get nuisance algae under control.