Dry rock cycle question

[Shoelace]

So I've cycled my share of tanks.  In the past it's been the "traditional" way with live rock that dies off a little, I go through the nitrogen cycle spikes, wait several months and then things are hunky dory.

 

But this is the first time I've cycled with BRS Reef Saver rock in my 25G nano.  It's dry.  It's dead.  No organic matter on it at all (unlike the BRS Pukani dry rock).

 

So I've "cycled" for almost a month and a half with the help of a little fully cured rock from my old nano and ghost feeding, then adding a chromis and I have never seen any spikes.  Nothing.  Nada.  The only think that seems familiar from my old cycling experience is that I got small diatom spots after a couple of weeks.

 

So I researched more and found threads like this:

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/289089-cycling-new-tank-question/

 

Since this is my first experience with dry rock, is it possible that I went slow enough that the little bit of live rock was able to handle the ammonia thus not triggering a cycle?  Is it safe to assume that after almost a month there is some bacterial build up in the dry rock?  I put some zoas in the tank to see how they would fare and they look very happy.  I am trying to fend off my impatient streak, but with all my parameters looking OK, temptation is getting the better of me.

Edited June 1, 2013 by Shoelace

[the_gats]

You shouldn't have any real spikes as the bacteria should spread to the other rocks when you increased bio-load (feeding). But like everything else in this hobby, bad things happen quick. So stock slowly and keep an eye on everything. Your bacteria will increase as load increases.

[howaboutme]

I cycled my new tank w/ about 30 lbs of reefcleaners rock and about 5 lbs of fully cured from LFS. I didn't get above .25ppm for HN3 or NO2 as measured w/ API. With any fully cured rock added, even if a little, it will speed up your cycle. Mine took about 2 weeks to cycle, though I waited closer to 3 to 4 before adding some CUC.

[Shoelace]

Cool, guys.  Thanks for the input.  On other forums, there were these guys who were adamant that I would see a regular cycle, but this does not seem to be the case.

[wade]

Just don't dump too much livestock in quickly. The bacterial populations will need to expand as the bioload increases. Suddenly kicking it up a notch can create some spikes.  Otherwise, its good to go.