adding more rock

[JeffyT]

Hi Reefers,

Had a question about adding cycled reef rock into an established tank.

I would like to go to my LFS and buy a couple pieces of live rock that is "cycled" by my LFS and add it to my 8 month old tank.

I went for a minimalistic look but decided i want to grow some GSP and i want more LR for it to spread on.

Do i need to take any precautions when adding the rock?

 

[mcgyvr]

Keep it moist/wet the whole time and you shouldn't have any problems..

 

[thegrun]

The big question is whether or not the new rock is truly cycled or not. If you keep it wet during transportation back to your house and you only add 10% of your current rock's weight you are going to be fine, if you add much more than 10% it is going to depend upon how well the new rock was really cycled. If the rock was live rock brought and dumped into the store's bin and hasn't been there long it has the potential to have enough die off to start a new cycle.

 

[lg2725]

I see that your previous "life experience" was a very expensive lesson? How so? I am only asking because if it was because of no QT procedure you also have to ask yourself where the cycled rock is coming from. Is it from a segregated system with no water contact with fish? Or was your lesson that Hippo Tangs don't belong in 30 gallon NUVO's? I'm just having fun and possibly help since I am new at this and the research I've done still hasn't been lost like 7th grade math.

 

[JeffyT]

Keep it moist/wet the whole time and you shouldn't have any problems..

thanks mcgyvr, yeah usually store bought rock from my LFS is given to me with a bucket with water. i just have to return the bucket.

i also only live 5 minutes from my LFS so that helps!

 

[JeffyT]

The big question is whether or not the new rock is truly cycled or not. If you keep it wet during transportation back to your house and you only add 10% of your current rock's weight you are going to be fine, if you add much more than 10% it is going to depend upon how well the new rock was really cycled. If the rock was live rock brought and dumped into the store's bin and hasn't been there long it has the potential to have enough die off to start a new cycle.

thanks for the tip for the 10 percent. i am definitely going to have to take that into consideration.

and as for if the cycled rock is really cycled. i guess an LFS would lie to you just to sell you some rock.

would it be potentially harmful to the tank if the rock isnt cycled? or will my existing rock seed it for me and ill just go through another diatom bloom?

if i do go through another diatom bloom, should i consider removing my mechanical filtration? my chemipure elite and purigen?

 

[JeffyT]

I see that your previous "life experience" was a very expensive lesson? How so? I am only asking because if it was because of no QT procedure you also have to ask yourself where the cycled rock is coming from. Is it from a segregated system with no water contact with fish? Or was your lesson that Hippo Tangs don't belong in 30 gallon NUVO's? I'm just having fun and possibly help since I am new at this and the research I've done still hasn't been lost like 7th grade math.

don't really understand where you are getting. this is completely off topic from my question.

I do not currently have a QT procedure. I dip my coral which as of this new project is one torch coral and the RBTA which was also dipped and drip/temp acclimated.

Clowns are generally hardy fish and I introduced them together but they are tank bred and came from a source I trust.

The IM 30 nuvo was my very first tank. I had it running for 3 years. Went through a lot of ups and downs when it came to BTA's. However, when it came to livestock I had no problem including my baby hippo tang which was moved to a happier home at the in-laws 250g, as well as my Barbonius Anthias and Pair of Bullethole Clowns.

However, the equipment turn over cost me lots of money, Went from a Kessil to a Hydra to a Radion. Bought three different return pumps fro the AIO system to create more flow. InTank custom media baskets but most of all my Inferno BTA i bought at Reef-A-Palooza 2013 which became sushi in my mp10 bc of my inexperience with Nems.