Beginner's guide to Live Rock
- Thread starter Palmetto
- Start date
blackness1
New member
hi darren,i am a newbie to the seaworld all i can say is wow great site and great responses.your knowledge is admirable.i had couple questions,does live rock and live sand need light,if yes what kind and for how long,the other question is i read on some other posts you dont need a filter if you have live rock just powerheads cause whatever waste is eaten by all the creatures that live on or inside the rock but what if your live rock dies is there a life span for it fo example fiji?
thank you
mike
thank you
mike
SugarShiki
Premium Member
I just began curing about 6.80# of LR 2 days ago...I only have a 20galLong, and it has a good amount of LR in it now, which I received from a friends established tank. This piece will be the final piece. I have it in a about a 5 gal. bucket, with a heater set at 78degrees and a 5gal. airpump with an airstone.
The ammonia is going up, and the water is beginning to smell stronger.
My question:
1) How much water needs to be changed, and should I siphon out the stuff laying on the bottom of the bucket?
2)There seems like there are quite a few orange sponges on the rock...It is Fiji rock; very porous, but does have branches on it; grouped fairly compactly. When I finally place the LR in my tank, will the move from bucket to tank cause the sponges to die, beginning another cycle?? I'd like to keep them, they are nice...
2)Do I have enough circulation with the 5gal. airpump and airstone, or do I need to get a true powerhead. I have also been turning the rock to ensure dead stuff falls to the bottom...
3)Can I put some chaeto in the bucket, or snails or something, or do I need to wait until the ammonia and nitrites go to 0?
Thanks for the help...this board has been great, even for my little 20gal...;-)
The ammonia is going up, and the water is beginning to smell stronger.
My question:
1) How much water needs to be changed, and should I siphon out the stuff laying on the bottom of the bucket?
2)There seems like there are quite a few orange sponges on the rock...It is Fiji rock; very porous, but does have branches on it; grouped fairly compactly. When I finally place the LR in my tank, will the move from bucket to tank cause the sponges to die, beginning another cycle?? I'd like to keep them, they are nice...
2)Do I have enough circulation with the 5gal. airpump and airstone, or do I need to get a true powerhead. I have also been turning the rock to ensure dead stuff falls to the bottom...
3)Can I put some chaeto in the bucket, or snails or something, or do I need to wait until the ammonia and nitrites go to 0?
Thanks for the help...this board has been great, even for my little 20gal...;-)
Radicaljbr
Active member
This thread is Palmettos, but I think I can help untill he answers.
1) I would do water changes daily with a small bucket like that. I would change almost all of it if not all of it.
2) I would get a small PH. You want circulation. Don't think the airstone is doing much.
3) Do not put any living creatures in there unless you want them daed.
Also, get all that stuff out of the bottom of the bucket when ever you do water changes. I do not believe the sponges will make it and would probably scrub them off. During each water change, take a PH and blow the rock before doing the water change. This will help clean the rock off.
Good luck, should take a couple of weeks for the cycle.
1) I would do water changes daily with a small bucket like that. I would change almost all of it if not all of it.
2) I would get a small PH. You want circulation. Don't think the airstone is doing much.
3) Do not put any living creatures in there unless you want them daed.
Also, get all that stuff out of the bottom of the bucket when ever you do water changes. I do not believe the sponges will make it and would probably scrub them off. During each water change, take a PH and blow the rock before doing the water change. This will help clean the rock off.
Good luck, should take a couple of weeks for the cycle.
Shoestring Reefer
New member
SugarShiki,
2) I've had white, green and purple sponges survive being on a rock transferred from one tank to another. I don't know if the orange ones are special in that respeck, but if they have survived this long they will probably live when transferred to your tank.
2) I've had white, green and purple sponges survive being on a rock transferred from one tank to another. I don't know if the orange ones are special in that respeck, but if they have survived this long they will probably live when transferred to your tank.
SugarShiki
Premium Member
Sounds great...I don't have an extra powerhead, so it looks like I'll have to go get one, lol!
Thanks for the advice everyone!
Shiki
Thanks for the advice everyone!
Shiki
I agree Mike. I'd leave the sponges in place as long as they are not turning black Adriana. If they made it this far they will probably OK. The encrusting sponges found on LR are not injured as much by atmospheric exposure as a typical free standing sponge.
ehat exactly is needed to cure(external)?
ehat exactly is needed to cure(external)?
Hi everyone, excellent post by the way...i have a 50 gallon establised tank that is roughly 2 years old, here is my question- I dont have enough rock in the tank now, So after reading this post i obviouly need to cure or cycle my rock outside of my tank and then add later. What is needed so that i can do this at home? I see when you go to the LFS they have the tubs with the running water and actinic light on their rocks, Is there a benefit from buying fiji from them? Can i add that rock right to my tank since it was already in their tubs? Or do i still have to put it in an outside tank forawhile? Please be specific about what i will need to get this going(like tub size, lights, watermovers)? also what lights will work? the only lights i have are the ones above my tank currently which is a coralife pc(10000k and the actinics which are both 96watts) is there a cheap light setup i can use or get to do this? Thanks in advance for the replys, this site is truely helpful when it comes to an exciting and delicate hobby. :rollface:
ehat exactly is needed to cure(external)?
Hi everyone, excellent post by the way...i have a 50 gallon establised tank that is roughly 2 years old, here is my question- I dont have enough rock in the tank now, So after reading this post i obviouly need to cure or cycle my rock outside of my tank and then add later. What is needed so that i can do this at home? I see when you go to the LFS they have the tubs with the running water and actinic light on their rocks, Is there a benefit from buying fiji from them? Can i add that rock right to my tank since it was already in their tubs? Or do i still have to put it in an outside tank forawhile? Please be specific about what i will need to get this going(like tub size, lights, watermovers)? also what lights will work? the only lights i have are the ones above my tank currently which is a coralife pc(10000k and the actinics which are both 96watts) is there a cheap light setup i can use or get to do this? Thanks in advance for the replys, this site is truely helpful when it comes to an exciting and delicate hobby. :rollface:
Hi Newdude
You really don't need a lot for an outside the tank curing set-up--
If your curing vats are under 2' deep just a couple of shoplights will do the trick. Get the common daylight type that have an output in the 5500-6500 K range. They are cheap. If you have multiple vats you can use them for about 8 hours on one vat then switch to another. This way you can handle three curing vats with one set of lights.
Curing vats should be only about Ã"šÃ‚¾ full of rock. More space is even better if you can do it. Water changes, and I know you may hear different, are a big help. I like to see 25% or more done each day. Those who tell you different need to go back and study their nitrogen chemistry again. The same goes for skimming. Skim away. There is plenty of decaying protein around for all to have some :rolleye1: during a cycle. Removing all you can will only help. A HOB skimmer is ideal on a curing vat.
I'd put even LFS cultured rock in a curing vat for a few days before adding it to the tank. This allows you to test for ammonia and, if present, hold it till it is gone. Something I have never done is Quarantine (article) LR but Steve Pro makes a good case for it in that article.
Teremei,
My poor old eyes believe they detect some coralline in that picture. It is not a lot but it will spread with time. I can't tell about other critters. I'd be tempted to see if I could find a real nice piece of "display" rock to add to that batch and help seed it.
You really don't need a lot for an outside the tank curing set-up--
- Some shallow curing vats
- A heater
- A powerhead for circulation
- Some normal output daylight fluorescent
- A GFCI to plug everything into Safely
If your curing vats are under 2' deep just a couple of shoplights will do the trick. Get the common daylight type that have an output in the 5500-6500 K range. They are cheap. If you have multiple vats you can use them for about 8 hours on one vat then switch to another. This way you can handle three curing vats with one set of lights.
Curing vats should be only about Ã"šÃ‚¾ full of rock. More space is even better if you can do it. Water changes, and I know you may hear different, are a big help. I like to see 25% or more done each day. Those who tell you different need to go back and study their nitrogen chemistry again. The same goes for skimming. Skim away. There is plenty of decaying protein around for all to have some :rolleye1: during a cycle. Removing all you can will only help. A HOB skimmer is ideal on a curing vat.
I'd put even LFS cultured rock in a curing vat for a few days before adding it to the tank. This allows you to test for ammonia and, if present, hold it till it is gone. Something I have never done is Quarantine (article) LR but Steve Pro makes a good case for it in that article.
Teremei,
My poor old eyes believe they detect some coralline in that picture. It is not a lot but it will spread with time. I can't tell about other critters. I'd be tempted to see if I could find a real nice piece of "display" rock to add to that batch and help seed it.
Shoestring Reefer
New member
Display rock is "real pretty" rock, stuff that looks like the rock we all want to have. If you put some in with old, barren dry base rock (reef safe) or live rock that died off because it took 7 days to ship, the life on the display rock will spread to the lifeless stuff (ie, seed it) and in time it will all look good.Teremei said:
Teremei
New member
I got back from the LFS they didn't have any reall deep slimy colors. But it did have alot of purple in it. I've rearanged my LR too so there is much more space inbetween them.
I picked up something called carib-sea Purple Up. What are your thoughts on this product and would it be ok for my FOWLR? What test kits should I get if I use this?
I picked up something called carib-sea Purple Up. What are your thoughts on this product and would it be ok for my FOWLR? What test kits should I get if I use this?
Reefdiver77
Premium Member
Curing Questions
Curing Questions
I am new to reefing and sat up my 35 gal tank 18 days ago. I have 40 lbs of aragonite sand. I ordered 60lbs of Haitian Live Rock(uncured) and placed 45lbs of this in my tank 18 days ago. I have a CPR Backpack II Skimmer, Mag 1200 PH, 15 gallon sump. The rock had lots of sponges, tunicates and corraline of all colors as well as a featherduster and a worm I saw on it. However, my ammonia has been 0 since day1. SG 1.025. PH 7.9-8.4. Nitrates
2 in beg and 10 now. Nitrites from 0-1 and at 0 now. Temp 78-80. I have noted no bad smell. The sponges seem to have rotted off, I have not seen the featherduster from day one, no sign of the "peanut" worm. Most of the corraline has bleached due to lighting. However, some of the dark red appears to be reapperaing. I have had 2 hermit crabs in there since day one and they are doing fine. Both have moulted. I added 2 blue/green cromis 4 days ago and the crab got one. The other is doing fine. I have questions:
1: When should I expect an ammonia spike?
2: Is there anything I need to do differently to speed up the curing time? Or should I let nature take its course?
TIA
:rollface: :rollface:
Curing Questions
I am new to reefing and sat up my 35 gal tank 18 days ago. I have 40 lbs of aragonite sand. I ordered 60lbs of Haitian Live Rock(uncured) and placed 45lbs of this in my tank 18 days ago. I have a CPR Backpack II Skimmer, Mag 1200 PH, 15 gallon sump. The rock had lots of sponges, tunicates and corraline of all colors as well as a featherduster and a worm I saw on it. However, my ammonia has been 0 since day1. SG 1.025. PH 7.9-8.4. Nitrates
2 in beg and 10 now. Nitrites from 0-1 and at 0 now. Temp 78-80. I have noted no bad smell. The sponges seem to have rotted off, I have not seen the featherduster from day one, no sign of the "peanut" worm. Most of the corraline has bleached due to lighting. However, some of the dark red appears to be reapperaing. I have had 2 hermit crabs in there since day one and they are doing fine. Both have moulted. I added 2 blue/green cromis 4 days ago and the crab got one. The other is doing fine. I have questions:
1: When should I expect an ammonia spike?
2: Is there anything I need to do differently to speed up the curing time? Or should I let nature take its course?
TIA
:rollface: :rollface:
