(a chip off the old rock)

[teena]

if i was to knock about a hand sized piece of rock off one of my big ones. would it start a cycle just becaues there exposed rock that hasnt been in the water? the big rock is old & all ready cured. does any of this make sence?

 

[bjonesjr1]

I don't think it would because rock is porus and water runs threw it so I'm pretty sure that it won't but lets see what other people have to say

 

[teena]

the reason i ask is if i had a qt for soft corals what would i place them one, i was thinking a small rock, but all i have are big ones

 

[Witchdoctor_h]

I've had cycles just moving rocks too much. I'd just get a new small rock from your lfs. It's safer.

 

[bjonesjr1]

really well I'll keep that in mind witchdoctor next I go moving rocks around... But I agree it might cause a cycle it might not so its just better to go to the LFS and buy a 2 pounder maybe for your needs

 

[teena]

is that how you qt soft corals anyhow, dont they need something to lay on? & would it be better to have 1 qt for fish & 1 for corals?

 

[teena]

the new rock would have to cure to right.

 

[Witchdoctor_h]

I'd have a seperate qt if you are planning on medicating the fish. Like with copper. corals don't like copper.

 

[Witchdoctor_h]

Yep.

 

[whiteshark]

Frankly, I wouldn't worry about it. There are already sufficient Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter on the rock to take care of any ammonia and then nitrite that may get into the water. Plus, if you make up new water for the qt and use RO water, and you are only going to use it as a qt for softies, where is ammonia going to come from? As long as you don't use it for fish it won't cycle, and I don't even think it would cycle then. My .02cents.

 

[teena]

do most of you keep rock in your s/coral qt

 

[Witchdoctor_h]

I don't have one, personally.

 

[teena]

what do u set them on?

 

[whiteshark]

I don't have one either. I would just leave it on whatever rock it came on.

 

[sarduci]

No rock, but I do change out water from my main tank to my fish QT and my coral QT. I keep snails in my coral QT to eat any algea, and it basicly keeps the tank cycled. There are sponges and a built in overflow system.

 

[teena]

oh ok i havent got one yet i didnt no they came on any thing.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

the reason you got a small cycle frommoving rocks, was that you probably freed up alot of gunk that was stuck underneathe them. Cutting rocks wont cause a cycle. Water passes through and sits inside your rocks anyways.

 

[Witchdoctor_h]

Yeah I'm aware of that NCreefwannabe. But don't you think when teena goes to break the rock, it'll free up "alot of gunk"? The rock would have to be in a vise for it not to move and not to release junk into the water. How does one cut or break the rock without it moving?

 

[NCreefwannabe]

yeah thats true, but if youve taken care of the tank, you shouldnt have a buildup of stuff lol.
But as for the actual question. Cutting the rock wont do anything but cut the rock. Ive cut alot of my rocks to fit them into my vision of aquascaping lol. Never had any jump in readings.

 

[orionsmamma]

Turkey basters are our friends

If you are regularly blasting your rocks; you shouldnt have a build up of "gunk".

Also, Its a good Idea to set up your rocks so that there is water flow from all directions...this will also help prevent stuff from building up.

And with that said; even IF cutting your rock did put ammonia into the water, if your tank is established, it will be processed and you wont see a cycle. People cut thier rocks all the time, for fragging ect.