Base Rock

[ChangDriX]

Hey I put in about 10 pounds of base rock in my sump and aimed the power head at it and I was wondering how long it should be in there?

 

[fsn77]

What are your plans for the base rock?
Is it for the main tank on the same system as the sump, or is it for another tank?

 

[ChangDriX]

main tank

 

[fsn77]

If it's going to end up in the main tank plumbed into the same system, it could have went straight into the main tank. If the system is plumbed together and the water is circulating between the sump and the main tank, the only reason I'd see to start it out in the sump would be if there was no live rock in the main tank, but there is in the sump, so placing it in the sump would make it easier for the bacteria / pods / other microfauna to spread from the live rock to the base rock. If this is the case, I'd give it 3 - 5 weeks for bacteria to spread, 2 - 3 months for a good population of micorfauna to colonize the base rock.

If there are concerns about anything dead in the base rock causing ammonia / a mini-cycle, the base rock would have been better off cured in a separate container (bucket with a powerhead, a Rubbermaid tote with a powerhead, etc.).