What if you never did a water change... ever.

[sk_josh]

Yes I am familiar with the nitrogen cycle. Isn't the rock still live?

After I put it in I also put in some marine biozyme to help reestablish the good bacteria. Oh, and there is already about 60 lbs of live rock in there. Tank is 6 months old or so.

I really appreciate your help.

 

[stingythingy45]

Yes I am familiar with the nitrogen cycle. Isn't the rock still live?

After I put it in I also put in some marine biozyme to help reestablish the good bacteria. Oh, and there is already about 60 lbs of rock in there.

What do you think?

There's a good chance that all the beneficial bacteria on the rock is now dead from the freshwater bath.Marine biozyme may help with the soon to come ammonia spike.The only product(that I've heard of) that helps colonize a tank with bacteria is Fritz Turbo start.If the fish are in this tank,you're really going to have to watch for ammonia.Might even have to remove them to another tank if it spikes too high.

 

[sk_josh]

OK, I think I'll move the rock to a rubber maid tank to cycle.

 

[stingythingy45]

How many fish?
What species?

 

[sk_josh]

there is 1 3spotted damsel, 1 true perc, and 1 blue finned damsel. snails, hermits, CBS, and peppermint shrimp. I dont want to risk any of these guys getting hurt.

 

[stingythingy45]

Where do you live?
Some folks might have a QT tank set up that could hold the fish til your tank cycles.Also,even if the fish go in an un-cycled QT tank there's still going to be an ammonia spike.It's not really too hard to pull fish through that.
I had to put my fish in a hospital tank a few years ago that wasn't cycled.
Frequent water changes and Amequel can save the day.The tank actually cycled with the fish in there.Can you get you hands on some good cycled media?
Is there substrate?Was this also washed out with fresh water?
Can you get some sand from a good establish(pest free)system?

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

I think that nutrient import/export can be done in many ways....depending upon the type and number of livestock in the system. If a system has lots of rock, a large skimmer, and a small amount of "little" fish, then the system in general can get by on fewer water changes than a heavily stocked tank with large fish and a large skimmer and small amount of rock.

SPS requires cleaner water in general than softies. There are other considerations as well such as water volume in your tank, water volume of your sump, etc.