6 Q's about Live Rock

O

OkiDivers

New member
Okay, I (we) am NEW NEW NEW to this hobby. I bought a tank for my better half and will surprise him with it at the end of the month. I have been reading so much about saltwater tanks, and now I am trying to get of much of it together as I can before I give it to him. So, I am asking for everyone's help.


1. I plan on cycling my new tank with live rock and a substrate bottom. To do this I am supposed to get "cured live rock" correct?

2. Many articles talk about different quality live rock. How do I know what I am getting or what to look for in picking out LR?

3. How much should I start off with to cycle my new tank? One article said 1 pound per gallon of water. I have Frank's old 38gal tank.

4. Does anyone have directions to the Live Rock shop in Naha? I go down there every Wed and would like to go next week if I can.

5. If I buy the LR on Wed can I set it in saltwater until I am ready to put it in the tank of Friday?

6. Is it better to just pick up our own LR from the beach during low tide?

Okay, I think that is enough questions for now. I am sure you all will see my name on here a lot in the next few weeks. I hope to put water and live rocks in the tank next Friday (Memorial Day weekend) and give it to him.

Thanks in advance

Arika
 
All of this is my opinion and how I did my tank.

I have a 30 gal tank w/20gal sump. It has a deep sand bed (over 3in) in the tank, and in the sump. It also has 30+ lbs of live rock in it. I also collect my own water (5 gal a week) I don't mix it, but I do top off my tank with fresh water to keep the salinity down.

There's a lot of discussion about DSB (deep sand beds) personally I believe they are a big help in controlling water quality.

I put all the sand, the rock, and the water in my tank in one day. All of it was live. (Anything that has been in the ocean for a while is "live")

Quality IMO has more to do with what the rock looks like rather than where it actually comes from. I've seen some Fiji Rock at a LFS that looked dead, and some on the beach that was covered with purple, red and pink coralline algae. Where ever you get it from, the amount of coralline is a pretty good indication of the quality of the rock.

Sometimes there are some pretty good rocks on the beach; sometimes there are some pretty good rocks and the store. I'm sure this helps a lot!

The problem with using uncured rock is there can be a lot of hitchhikers on it. For example I ended up with a lot of small crabs in my tank and a few urchins. I had to trap them out, but it wasn't a big problem for me I had to wait for the tank to cycle anyway. There can also be some die off of the organisms on the rock if it's not cured. Cured rock can also have hitchhikers on it. Personally if you setting something up a tank from scratch I wouldn't worry about getting cured rock.

If you want to buy rock and wait to put it in the tank I would recommend keeping it in saltwater with a power head on it. The rock will get a lot of die off if it's not in moving water.

Good luck!
 
Be aware that buying rock can be spendy. Collecting rock can bring a lot of hitch hikers but all in all collecting your rock is the fasted way to go. Das and I can show you some great spots to get nice pieces. I would first, Decide how deep of a sand bed you want and put that in first. Next, get your water in the tank but leave it a few inches from the top. Last get your rock. If it is taken under water, you won't have a large cycle to deal with like the rock found on the beach. Put all your rock in and basically, wait until you don't see any ammonia or nitrite if you see it at all. I would wait a couple week before stocking however to give the sand bed time to set up. It will take a while before the sand bed is functional but you will still be able to slowly add things. DO start out with the clean up crew first.
 
A word of caution:

You have to be careful if you decide to collect your own rock. It's my understanding that some locations you can take loose rock, or rock washed up on the beach, as long your not damaging the reef taking it it's legal. By the Meada point area it's illegal to take shells or even sand from the area. I would ask some of the people on the forum before you collect your own. IMO!
 
Thank you all for the good information!

Das and Jeff what beaches or area did you get your live rock from? I wouldnt mind collecting a few peices myself and then buying the rest.

Also, anyone have directions to the Naha rock store?
 
If you want I can show you exactly where to get your rock from. I'd like to go out this upcoming weekend if anyone is interested. I have collected over 200+ lbs of live rock easily. I have collected so much rock on trips that I almost drowned trying to carry it in...LOL. If you don't listen to another word I say please listen to this...get your rock from the deepest part of the ocean you can. If you pull the rock from the shallows it will be crawling with hitchhikers. The deeper you go the better. I have had really good results with rock coming from 15+ feet in depth. Also you need to freedive for it. Don't get caught pulling stuff out of the ocean with dive gear. They can confiscate your gear and your CAR onsite if they catch you.

As for your questions I think if you get your rock from a "clean" part of the ocean (not alot of algae around) you won't need to cure it and it won't have a lot of hitchhikers. Please don't buy your live rock. I personally think it's the biggest waste of money here. Even if you are looking for that one piece of rock to tie your whole aquarium together. Hammers, chisels and dremel tools are what make the world go 'round in this hobby, especially here on Okinawa. Hope this helps a little.

Take care,
Josh
 
Live rock form the ocean does not need to be cured. The process of "curing" rock is done because the rock needs to be returned to a healthy state (if you mailordered rock that had to sit outside water for a period of time). Look at the process more like cycling it just like you would a tank. If you place uncured (mailorder) rock in you tank all you levels would spike, and your tank would begin the cycling process all over.

As far as setting up your tank, I think me and Josh have a pretty sound method that requires almost no cycling. Essentially you could beging stocking in three days. Start with live sand, or crushed coral if you want. You want to get it as the tide is going out, or pulling off of it. This way, all the benificial bacteria are still present. As said before collect your own water. You can buy water from the fish lady or PPM, but why not use water that the inhabitants of your tank were raised, and thrive in? There are a few place to collect, but I have found Kadena North is the best. Once in the tank, in a matter of 24 hours the tank will cloud. When the water clears, it's done and you can begin to add SLOWLY.

Good luck, and welcome. If you need any help let me know, and I'll drag Josh along for the ride!
 
Thank you very much for all the info Jasalmanza (BTW, what is the name Josh uses to post so I know who is who?)

I found directions to Naha, so if DrsFoster gets my powerheads to be by Wed, I will probably buy some LR downtown. I would like to collect some from around here Saturday and get the water in the tank Fri or Sat. Is anyone else going out this weekend to collect LR?

I am so happy this forum is here!
 
I am going out every morning this week, You're (everyone for that matter) is more than welcome to come. Friday will probably be the only day I'll snorkle. I would HIGHLY advise that you don't waste you're money on rock (God knows this hobby will consume enough of that already). Especially since you'll probably just wind up replacing it with better rock sometime in the near future anyhow. Given our location, and the abundance of obtainable treasures, I think there is some truth to the old "you paid what,... for a ROCK!?!" joke. Good luck with your shipments, I wont go into my nightmares, I'll save those for the next frag party....

Jason
 
I would get larger rock from the ocean, then place smaller stuff on top of that for future fragging. reason being, if you go to trade something, you will have to pull out the large piece to trade...but if you had smaller stuff in the tank, you could pull out the smaller stuff. Arika, you saw my tank, its full of the rock from the store in naha. I have (2) 1400 yen bucket fulls in there. (you buy it by the bucket full) So, my advice, get some larger peices from the ocean, and then put the stuff from naha covering it.


on the subject of snorkeling...im game for this weekend for sure! just let me know when and where to meet, and im there! I think I still have your number in my cell josh so I will just give you a call later this week...sound good?
 
Frank, I think I will do that. Yes, I saw your tank and it was set up very nice. That sounds a lot easier than getting all live rock. My DrFoster stuff still hasnt arrived. I hope it comes in with the next set of mail.

Jason, I sent you an email. I would love to tag along and collect rocks.

arika
 
have you called them yet?

-or maybe it might be a mail issue. I to am having some serious time delays on a few packages comming across the water.
 
Yes, they said it takes 4-6 weeks for APO. I ordered it April 21st, I guess I am just impatient. I really wasn't thinking it would take the whole 6 weeks. ha-ha Oh well, such is life. It is okay!
 
Frank loaned me his. Thanks anyway! I cant belive how nice everyone is on this forum. I really appreciate everyone's help!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7405356#post7405356 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OkiDivers
Thank you all for the good information!

Das and Jeff what beaches or area did you get your live rock from? I wouldnt mind collecting a few peices myself and then buying the rest.

Also, anyone have directions to the Naha rock store?
Click to expand...

Actually I collected mine form Aja in Naha. Not the best place now with all the polution and all.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7434340#post7434340 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OkiDivers
Frank loaned me his. Thanks anyway! I cant belive how nice everyone is on this forum. I really appreciate everyone's help!
Click to expand...

Actually the whole point of this is forum is to bring awareness and friendship to folks who share the same hobby and to teach different methods and styles of reefkeeping.
 
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