How long does LR last

[usmc121581]

This morning I was lookin around on the boards and something hit me. My tank is 9 years old, this brought up a question that I seem to cant find an exact answer. I would say 50% of the live rock and 40% of the sand is the original stock. I upgrade from a 30 to a 180 over 9 years. The sand bed now is only a the most is 3" deep and less in other areas. I have heard of people tanks getting "old tank syndrome". Would I or should I every replace rock or sand after so many years to advert "old tank syndrome"? Or just do what I have been doing over the years and keep the rock brushed off. I have a sand shifting goby but he doesn't get everything.

 

[johnike]

Most of the rock in my system is over 20 years old, I see no reason to change it out.

 

[billdogg]

If I had to venture a guess, I think the rocks in my tank are somewhere in the vicinity of 350 million years old. I can't say for sure, because they've only been in my tanks for about 25.

That being said, it does not hurt to switch things around between tanks to help spread the biodiversity a bit. Also, if you are having a plague of one nasty thing or another, simply removing the offending rocks, allowing them to dry out, and then scrubbing them off thoroughly will sort of re-energize them for future use.

hth

 

[ACBlinky]

I don't think it's necessary to replace sand or rock over time, but it might be good to add little bits here and there -- handfuls of sand from an established (ich-free) tank, rubble from the LFS live rock bin, etc. -- to add in pods, bits of macroalgae, worms, and other tiny lifeforms.

My sandbed is very shallow and accumulates a lot of detritus, and hasn't got the depth/grain size to support the diversity of life needed for it to 'take care of itself'. I vacuum it with each water change and tend to lose just a little bit of sand each time. I'll probably end up throwing in a small bag of sand every year or two to replenish what I vacuum away, but don't have plans to ever fully replace it (or any of the rockwork).

 

[whodeydan76]

I was under the impression that its better to leave the substrate alone and let it do.its thing. I just thought if you move it around a bunch you release toxins and such...do I let my sand sifting snails, star, brittle star, and diamond goby deal with it. Just my thinking.
I bet after that ling your rocks are AMAXING looking with corraline and other colors.
.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

"liverock" appropriate for a reef aquarium is actually dead coral skeletons and NOT 350 million years old

the "rock" we use for our reef aquariums is a renewable resource that can be used indefinitely

"old tank syndrome" can be attributed to many things, among them the buildup and accumulation of PO4 in your liverock and substrate (if present)

sand sifting gobies dont solve this problem... their poop ADDS to it

<---- I'm using the same LR I started out with 20 years ago in my aquarium

PS edit: get rid of your sandbed and step up your water changeout schedule

 

[Painted skin]

OP, you didn't get a straight answer, because there is no straight answer. OTS affect people in different ways and length of time and some none at all. It depends on how well your tank was maintained over the duration. If your parameter have been fine I wouldn't worry about it.

If you do have OTS you can cook the rocks and reuse them..

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

the "rock" we use for our reef aquariums is a renewable resource that can be used indefinitely

dang straight answer!

 

[Paul B]

I have heard of people tanks getting "old tank syndrome".

My tank and much of the rock is over 40 years old. I would leave it but I do blow the gunk out of the pores with a power filter occasionally.

 

[Painted skin]

dang straight answer!

The way I see it OP had 2 part in the question. The first part referring to "old tank syndrome" 2nd part rocks lasting. I was addressing the concern for "old tank syndrome" there is no straight answer as to when "old tank syndrome" would become an issue if ever..

I do agree the rocks can be used indefinitely, hence for my statement below.

If you do have OTS you can cook the rocks and reuse them..

 

[billdogg]

"liverock" appropriate for a reef aquarium is actually dead coral skeletons and NOT 350 million years old

:spin3:I was just guessing:spin3: