Rock doesn't look seeded

[gus6464]

So for the past 10 months I have kept a 5gal bucket with some dry rock that was nuked with muriatic acid and live rock trying to get it seeded. All that is in the bucket is dry rock, live rock, circulation pump and a heater. It has been sitting in my shed. I have been taking out all the saltwater and replacing with new once a month. For some reason the dry rock still does not look like live rock. No light was shined on the rock at all.

[farkwar]

You need light.

 

 

 

You got a bucket of wet rocks in a shed, what else did you expect?

[gus6464]

You need light.

 

 

 

You got a bucket of wet rocks in a shed, what else did you expect?

I have never been to an LFS that has a light shining on their live rock tanks.

[TJ_Burton]

Your rocks are likely seeded with bacteria, but you will not get coralline or algal growth without proper lighting.

[tibbsy07]

Your rocks are likely seeded with bacteria, but you will not get coralline or algal growth without proper lighting.

This. The bacteria are there, I'll bet. They don't need light to grow and are hindered by UV light, in fact (Note: inside the rock they are protected). If you want algae or coralline, you'll need light.

[gus6464]

Ahh ok I wasn't looking for coralline or algal growth. I basically just want my tank to be insta-cycled.

[evanski]

This. The bacteria are there, I'll bet. They don't need light to grow and are hindered by UV light, in fact (Note: inside the rock they are protected). If you want algae or coralline, you'll need light.

This.

 

 

Ahh ok I wasn't looking for coralline or algal growth. I basically just want my tank to be insta-cycled.

Not this. You would need to feed the bacteria in the rocks (chunk of shrimp or some such) if you really want them to proliferate.

 

You have seed, but are asking for a tree, if that makes sense.

[uscgbeachbum]

As evanski stated, you need to add a food source (such as a raw shrimp) or some of Tim's One and Only pure ammonia.