NanoCube-boy
New member
i see
"cleaning" Live rock question
- Thread starter Hightower33
- Start date
Hightower33
New member
Its in the tub and it smells already and looks mirky light brown.
Probably do a water change soon, then put in a piece of live rock in to help start the good bacteria.
Probably do a water change soon, then put in a piece of live rock in to help start the good bacteria.
Gordonious
Active member
How many lbs of LR are we talking about again and about how many gallons of water would this container hold?
Hightower33
New member
About 35lbs of rock. Tub is 20gallons, and its half full, so that the ciruculation output is at the top of the water for aeration.
Hightower33
New member
Here is another synopsis told from a experienced hobbyist.
He mentioned that light should be added so that any good life will grow, and multiply thereby eventually overcoming all "evil" stuff.
Probably take a while, but the theory is perhaps that it jumps starts it.
He mentioned that light should be added so that any good life will grow, and multiply thereby eventually overcoming all "evil" stuff.
Probably take a while, but the theory is perhaps that it jumps starts it.
Hightower33
New member
Hair algae is not an issue any more. All of that fell off from the freshwater and no light, and being outside.
I think the issue now is any invisible to the naked eye bad stuff, and the Phosphate that has leaked into the rock to leach it back out.
I think the issue now is any invisible to the naked eye bad stuff, and the Phosphate that has leaked into the rock to leach it back out.
Hightower33
New member
If you place a light over it, doesnt that start a growing process to some of the good stuff? Or what if some cheato is placed in there to eat up the PO4 and nutrients as an additional way of export.
SaltyDr
New member
You could put some chaeto in there, but probably not necessary since you will probably be doing massive water changes. That should export a lot of the "bad" stuff. I wouldn't think much photosynthetic "good" stuff survived so I would hold off on the light for a while to limit the regrowth of hair algae. If you are going to "seed" the rock with a piece from the LFS then that probably has some coralline, etc and after that and when you have better water quality I would light it. When you put it in your tank try to get a few more pieces of cured LR that will have more beneficial things on it that can then seed the "base" rock that it cured but except for bacteria pretty devoid of life. In a few months with good water quality and light it should all look fantastic. Try to get a few pics to document the process. Good luck.
Rustylugnuts
Powdered Toast Man
I think SaltyDr has it nailed. imho the light isnt as important as the soak in regularly changed saltwater (at tank temp pH etc... i would guess skimming to be optional at this point. dilute dliute!).
Turkey basting or running a power head over the rock before water changes would help eliminate some of the finer debris that scrubbing would miss. After a few days or weeks (depending on levels of phosphates & ammonia) or after adding LR, bring the lights in to play. Keep testing till your desired parameters are established then add to display tank.
Turkey basting or running a power head over the rock before water changes would help eliminate some of the finer debris that scrubbing would miss. After a few days or weeks (depending on levels of phosphates & ammonia) or after adding LR, bring the lights in to play. Keep testing till your desired parameters are established then add to display tank.
Hightower33
New member
Update
Update
Its been a little over a week now, and there is not much stuff coming off the rocks anymore. There is ) ammonia, however there is a good amount of nitrate and phosphate right now.
I've decided to add a light to it and add a ball of cheato as a means of exporting the phosphate and excessive nutrients. Im sure it will grow quick.
Update
Its been a little over a week now, and there is not much stuff coming off the rocks anymore. There is ) ammonia, however there is a good amount of nitrate and phosphate right now.
I've decided to add a light to it and add a ball of cheato as a means of exporting the phosphate and excessive nutrients. Im sure it will grow quick.
Hightower33
New member
UPDATE
UPDATE
Ok,
Its been 2 1/2 weeks with weekly water changes.
end of 1st week- 0 Ammonia Substantial phosphate
end of 2nd week no nitrite test kit, but substantial nitrate and phosphate
during 2nd week, I added light 24 hours and a ball of cheato, and a piece of LR of my tank to seed the rest.
1 week later from that point- Nitrate is 2.5 and phosphate is down to 0.5 !
This is great. It has progressed quite quickly. Wife is nagging how long this is going to be in the room.
I think that this rock will be ready to add to the tank soon. Any thoughts?
There is not much visible life, nor much coraline, however I think that process will be greatly sped up if it was added to the tank so long as the phosphate and nitrate are quite low to nil.
UPDATE
Ok,
Its been 2 1/2 weeks with weekly water changes.
end of 1st week- 0 Ammonia Substantial phosphate
end of 2nd week no nitrite test kit, but substantial nitrate and phosphate
during 2nd week, I added light 24 hours and a ball of cheato, and a piece of LR of my tank to seed the rest.
1 week later from that point- Nitrate is 2.5 and phosphate is down to 0.5 !
This is great. It has progressed quite quickly. Wife is nagging how long this is going to be in the room.
I think that this rock will be ready to add to the tank soon. Any thoughts?
There is not much visible life, nor much coraline, however I think that process will be greatly sped up if it was added to the tank so long as the phosphate and nitrate are quite low to nil.
NanoCube-boy
New member
It's okay for nitrate level, but I'm not sure about phosphate, I'm sure it's low enough to add in the tank.
Do you have anything in the tank your adding in?
Do you have anything in the tank your adding in?
Hightower33
New member
Its going into my established tank. 2yrs old. It has a boatload of coraline and other stuff.
I dont want the rock to be sitting around more than it has too so wife doesnt get to upset. Those of you who are married, know what IM talking about.
NanoCube-boy
New member
I think you should place the LR in slowly because you can change the nitrogen cycle. Try place two or three of 3lb rock per day.
Hightower33
New member
0 Ammonia and almost no nitrate. I dont have a nitrite kit. Is it safe to assume that nitrite is taken care of as well since nitrate was very high and now its down to practically nothing?
Gordonious
Active member
Probably. If the Ammonia and Nitrate have been close to 0 and you trust your test kit and they have stayed there over a week period then you can pretty much assume there is no Nitrites in the system.
A large amount of Nitrate can't be present for an extended period of time with out some detectable amount of Nitrite showing up. It is also pretty safe to assume there isn't a large amount of new Nitrate if there has been no ammonia for it to have come from. If that makes sense. This is my opinion.
A large amount of Nitrate can't be present for an extended period of time with out some detectable amount of Nitrite showing up. It is also pretty safe to assume there isn't a large amount of new Nitrate if there has been no ammonia for it to have come from. If that makes sense. This is my opinion.
Hightower33
New member
Well there was large amounts of ammonia on the initial die off, from getting the rock from outside in a bucket of rain water. But having it sit in water for 3weeks seem to have done the trick, along with WC of course.
Bottom line, I think I am safe in putting the rest of the rock in the main tank now. I tested for phosphate again, and its practically zilch from what I can tell. Wish they would make the color charts easier to read.
All the other test kits are sailfert which is trustworthy as far as Im concerned.
Bottom line, I think I am safe in putting the rest of the rock in the main tank now. I tested for phosphate again, and its practically zilch from what I can tell. Wish they would make the color charts easier to read.
All the other test kits are sailfert which is trustworthy as far as Im concerned.
SaltyDr
New member
You have probably waited long enough. I wouldn't add all of the rock at once. If you could spread it out over a week or so, and check your tanks parameters daily to make sure there is no spike you should be fine. that rock will look great in no time. Take some pictures when you put it in and in a few months.
Gordonious
Active member
Yeah, time to start adding it slowly and take pics. We wanna see. 
Jon
Jon
