Probably not,;it may help in the cure. As long as it gets a little light the coralline should do fine.
and [welcome]
and [welcome]
Beginner's guide to Live Rock
- Thread starter Palmetto
- Start date
Andrew17030
New member
In gerneral what about rock that nnot has been in a tank with RO/DI filtration? I live in a large city and many people are "getting out". They have live rock for sale and I am wondering if this is something that I should be concerned about. Im sure that it all depends on what is in the water.
Aquarist007
New member
there is always the possibility of live rock absorbing phosphates and nitrates so it is a good practise to cure live rock separately from the display tank if you are adding more to an existing reef.
More of a concern would be if the rock was previously used with copper based medications.
Waterkeeper posted a rinse for the above case. I wish he would post it again
Base Rock
Base Rock
I just bought a tear down tank off craigslist, not sure how long it has been drained, days or weeks. I got what I think is base rock with it, mostly dried. I know I must cure it but can I also re use most sand to make my low sand bed? It must have tons of bacteria. I believe the tank crashed before it was taken down, there was a dead horseshoe crab and a few dead snails.
Anyway, when I was cleaning the tank I put what seemed like good sand in bags. The rock is mostly dry and in buckets. Where do I start, I have done tons of reading including this thread and searched for base rock. If I cure in tank will it smell really bad? It will be in my bedroom. Thanks for your help.
Dave
Base Rock
I just bought a tear down tank off craigslist, not sure how long it has been drained, days or weeks. I got what I think is base rock with it, mostly dried. I know I must cure it but can I also re use most sand to make my low sand bed? It must have tons of bacteria. I believe the tank crashed before it was taken down, there was a dead horseshoe crab and a few dead snails.
Anyway, when I was cleaning the tank I put what seemed like good sand in bags. The rock is mostly dry and in buckets. Where do I start, I have done tons of reading including this thread and searched for base rock. If I cure in tank will it smell really bad? It will be in my bedroom. Thanks for your help.
Dave
Re: Base Rock
Re: Base Rock
Dave,
Looks like your just starting down the path of this wonderfully rewarding and sometimes frustrating hobby! Welcome!
I've never used dried base rock that I wasn't completely aware of the conditions that it was exposed too...well, except for one time when I eventually found out that I couldn't keep snails or anemones alive because the dried rock I was using was from a fish store's display tank and it leeching copper. I'm always more comfortable if I can see the tank conditions. Doesn't mean you'll have issues, but I would cure the rock and moitor the conditions.
You mentioned in your other thread the following medications were found with your new tank:
Reef Safe Rally: is a copper free water treatment. Use for any tropical or marine aquarium with harmful bacteria, flukes, or oodinia (marine velvet)
E.M. Erythromycin: treats and controls a broad spectrum of bacterial fish infections in freshwater and saltwater aquariums, including: fin and tail rot, open red sores, mouth fungus (cotton mouth disease), hemorrhagic septicemia, bacterial gill disease, body slime, and furunculosis (open lesions).
UltraLife Red Slime: Algae Remover
Makes me wonder what else might have been used along with these.
Also...regarding the sand...it would be theoretically possibly to thoroughly rinse the sand in clean water and re-use it, although I don't think I would just bag it with the intention of using it later. It won't leech like live rock, but there should be a ton of dead matter in there that could give you unstable paramaters in your new tank for many months to come.
Starting a new system is frustrating enough - better to not start with too many handicaps from the get go!
Good luck!
-Eric
Re: Base Rock
Dave,
Looks like your just starting down the path of this wonderfully rewarding and sometimes frustrating hobby! Welcome!
I've never used dried base rock that I wasn't completely aware of the conditions that it was exposed too...well, except for one time when I eventually found out that I couldn't keep snails or anemones alive because the dried rock I was using was from a fish store's display tank and it leeching copper. I'm always more comfortable if I can see the tank conditions. Doesn't mean you'll have issues, but I would cure the rock and moitor the conditions.
You mentioned in your other thread the following medications were found with your new tank:
Reef Safe Rally: is a copper free water treatment. Use for any tropical or marine aquarium with harmful bacteria, flukes, or oodinia (marine velvet)
E.M. Erythromycin: treats and controls a broad spectrum of bacterial fish infections in freshwater and saltwater aquariums, including: fin and tail rot, open red sores, mouth fungus (cotton mouth disease), hemorrhagic septicemia, bacterial gill disease, body slime, and furunculosis (open lesions).
UltraLife Red Slime: Algae Remover
Makes me wonder what else might have been used along with these.
Also...regarding the sand...it would be theoretically possibly to thoroughly rinse the sand in clean water and re-use it, although I don't think I would just bag it with the intention of using it later. It won't leech like live rock, but there should be a ton of dead matter in there that could give you unstable paramaters in your new tank for many months to come.
Starting a new system is frustrating enough - better to not start with too many handicaps from the get go!
Good luck!
-Eric
Thanks alot for the great advice Eric!
At this point I know I am going to fully cure all the rock for quite some time.
If I do this in the DT will it smell my room up really bad?
I am going to introduce some good cured rock with mine and let it all cycle together.
powerhead, heater, time...
I need to attend some more to the tank, skimmer, and power jets, there is a little algae to scrape that the vinegar wash didn't remove and I need to soak components. I also need to reinspect the joints after moving it home. Can I apply sealant over existing sealant to reinforce, even if its ok? I'm paranoid of a leak.
Then I need to fill test and let it stand for a few days.
about the sand, If i sift it to get the big stuff will that make a difference? and should I mix it with good bagged sand or just skip the headache? It seemed clean towards the middle and especially underneath, this is what I saved.
also if you click the www above my post you can go to my tank thread so not to clutter this thread.
Thanks, Dave
At this point I know I am going to fully cure all the rock for quite some time.
If I do this in the DT will it smell my room up really bad?
I am going to introduce some good cured rock with mine and let it all cycle together.
powerhead, heater, time...
I need to attend some more to the tank, skimmer, and power jets, there is a little algae to scrape that the vinegar wash didn't remove and I need to soak components. I also need to reinspect the joints after moving it home. Can I apply sealant over existing sealant to reinforce, even if its ok? I'm paranoid of a leak.
Then I need to fill test and let it stand for a few days.
about the sand, If i sift it to get the big stuff will that make a difference? and should I mix it with good bagged sand or just skip the headache? It seemed clean towards the middle and especially underneath, this is what I saved.
also if you click the www above my post you can go to my tank thread so not to clutter this thread.
Thanks, Dave
Ourfish
New member
Great thread - very insightful!
So someone on craig's list is offering to sell me live rock that she's had in a bucket for 6 months for $2/lb. I have a 33 gallon tank and am planning to add a 10 gallon sump. Would 20 lbs of the 6 month bucketed live rock (used as base rock) and 5 lbs of healthy live rock suffice?
thanks
So someone on craig's list is offering to sell me live rock that she's had in a bucket for 6 months for $2/lb. I have a 33 gallon tank and am planning to add a 10 gallon sump. Would 20 lbs of the 6 month bucketed live rock (used as base rock) and 5 lbs of healthy live rock suffice?
thanks
Aquarist007
New member
You would be better off with 35 lbs of it.
The condition of the water in the bucket she kept the live rock in is the key here. Unless the water has been changed, the salinity monitored, the temp kept up and some flow added then there could be very reduced populations of bacteria on the rock.
Therefore I would add the rock to the tank if new and monitor ammonia and nitrates for a couple of weeks before adding inverts and fish to it.
If it is an established tank then I would only add about 5 lbs of it a week to the tank until you have added it all.
Aquarist007
New member
Yes, just expect a possible further curing and cycling of bacteria with it. So monitor for ammonia and nitrates just like you would do with uncurred or partly cured reef rock
I agree with the information you've been given by capn_hylinur...however...in my opinion rock that's been kept in a bucket for 6 months, especially if the temp & salinity weren't monitored, water wasn't changed, flow wasn't sufficient & rock wasn't fed is essentially useless and should be priced as dead/dry rock @ $0.50 - $1.00 pound.
-Eric
Durbelethwen
New member
This may be a stupid question, but I have yet to find a proper answer in my reading various sources :reading: is there a general rule of thumb for how much live rock to put in a tank per gallon?
I am thinking of cycling my future nano reef with live rock and I am wondering how much I should use? I am also keeping in mind that after it is done cycling I will be placing a Ricordea Mushroom that is sold on a live rock, a Purple mushroom Polyp which is advertised as arriving on a rock (no indication of whether it is a live rock or not, probably not) and a live rock encased by turtle grass (I'm buying it for the turtle grass).
Thank you for reading my stupid question.
I am thinking of cycling my future nano reef with live rock and I am wondering how much I should use? I am also keeping in mind that after it is done cycling I will be placing a Ricordea Mushroom that is sold on a live rock, a Purple mushroom Polyp which is advertised as arriving on a rock (no indication of whether it is a live rock or not, probably not) and a live rock encased by turtle grass (I'm buying it for the turtle grass).
Thank you for reading my stupid question.
Mr. Fish
New member
There is no rule of thumb because everyone likes the look of something different. I personally like tanks with open sand beds more than a tank packed full of LR. I would say on average people use 1-2 lbs of LR per gallon, but its really up to your personal taste.
Aquarist007
New member
I think the amount of live rock you have should be in proportion to the bioload you have or intend to keep in your tank.
IMO you can't have too much live rock and the one pound or better per gallon seems to work for reefers with big bioloads
One should remember that all the rock does not need to be in the display tank--it can be just as effective anywhere in the water column---sump or refugium for eg.
You really have to experiment with your own system. If your nitrates start to rise later on when you add more fish then you should add more live rock(full cured ad cyled) at that time etc.
IMO you can't have too much live rock and the one pound or better per gallon seems to work for reefers with big bioloads
One should remember that all the rock does not need to be in the display tank--it can be just as effective anywhere in the water column---sump or refugium for eg.
You really have to experiment with your own system. If your nitrates start to rise later on when you add more fish then you should add more live rock(full cured ad cyled) at that time etc.
Durbelethwen
New member
So can I cycle a six gallon tank with three pounds of rock? I want to make sure I have room for the plants and sessile inverts that I am planning on placing which will have their own rocks.
Durbelethwen
New member
Help, I am trying to cycle
Help, I am trying to cycle
Yesterday I bought 3-5 pounds of Figi live rock from my local fish store to start to cycle my six gallon nano reef. I also bought approximately 10 pounds of what was marked as live sand. This morning I checked the ammonia level in the tank and it was in the zero range. It had been about 19 hours since I put them in. Can anyone enlighten me about what to expect?
I hope that everything that I bought was as live as reported because I spent 44.11 on them not including tax.:fun2:
Help, I am trying to cycle
Yesterday I bought 3-5 pounds of Figi live rock from my local fish store to start to cycle my six gallon nano reef. I also bought approximately 10 pounds of what was marked as live sand. This morning I checked the ammonia level in the tank and it was in the zero range. It had been about 19 hours since I put them in. Can anyone enlighten me about what to expect?
I hope that everything that I bought was as live as reported because I spent 44.11 on them not including tax.:fun2:
Durbelethwen
New member
Since nobody replied to my earlier post I went back to my LFS to by a nitrate testing kit and to ask about the rock and sand. The person in charge of saltwater aquatics said that the rock was already fully cured and the tank is ready for a fish. He also told me that I should "feed it" with ammonia. Can any one here give me a suggestion of what to put in the tank until my first animal gets here? Thank you.
Reeflover09
New member
Say i want to add live rock piece by piece each time i have to cure it or can i just add it to the show tank?
