installing live rock

[birdz]

I've seen quite a bit of variation in opinions on installing live rock into your aquarium. The rock is live so it seems to me that it would have to be acclimated like any other organism going into a new environment.

So please give me some insight into doing this, since it will be my first time. General tips are great but I've got some specific stuff I'd like to ask as well

1. What kind of acclimation should be done with rock, sitting it in equal temperature saltwater for a bit, then trickling in tank water?

2. Exposure to air. I've heard that sponges, anenomes etc cant handle open air, but I've also heard that liverock often comes shipped in damp newspaper. Do I need to get my rock into water ASAP?

3. Removing dead/stinky material. How do you determine what needs to be removed?

Thanks in advance and please forgive my naivety

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Are you adding rock to an established tank, or putting it in a new tank? Where are you getting your rock from?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I'll elaborate while waiting for your answers. Most live rock is so encrusted in dead or dying junk, that most people are more concerned about dealing with the problems that can cause, rather than trying to preserve the life that's left. Hence, people generally don't acclimate rock. If you get it from typical sources (mailorder, or from an LFS that does a poor job of handling it as most do) then any life you *might* save by acclimating it carefully will surely be long-gone.

If you are adding to a new tank, just plunk it in and wait for your cycle to happen. If adding it to an established tank, you need to cycle the rock (i.e. "cure" it) in a separate system, merely plunking it in your tank will cause a crash, unless you're adding it really slowly - i.e. only a pound or two at a time, spread out over several weeks.

 

[birdz]

oops, left out those details

brand new 55 gallon saltwater tank - my first
the rock is coming from tampa bay saltwater

 

[thegrun]

If the rock is going into a new tank, I usually take it out back; blast it with the garden hose that has a high pressure nozzle to knock off the loose stuff. Then I put it in the new tank. Play around to find a set-up you like, then drill the rock and insert plastic rods (dowels) to hold it all stable. Then add sand and water (premixed salt water). Unless you are getting premium live rock with lots of good stuff on it without dead and dying plant/animal remains, don't pamper it, clean it up and get it in water as fast as you can.

 

[birdz]

the tank is filled with saltwater and substrate, the lights and filter have been cycling for almost a month to provide a stable environment for the bacterial ecosystem to get established.

I've put in a few pinches of fish food

 

[jon1985]

Just put the rock in. Clean it up if there is any loose stuff on it. It will likely cause your tank to cycle again due to die off on the rock.

 

[tipmoff]

My suggestion is to look for Aptasia and Mantis shrimp. If you are going to have coral eventually you will want to get rid of the Aptasia first before it becomes a headache later on. If you are going to have a agreesive fish tank don't worry about the mantis shrimp. Other than that you will not want it in the tank. The rock from Tampa Bay LR is great and will have all kinds of neat stuff on and in it. I live not too far from this vendor. This rock typically comes with those 2 nusiance problems. It is aquacultered about 30 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico. Take pics of it in the tank. We would love to see it.

 

[Whys]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14837196#post14837196 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thegrun
blast it with the garden hose that has a high pressure nozzle to knock off the loose stuff.

Isn't that bit like drinking Draino to keep your bowels clean?

Only the strong survive.

 

[birdz]

I'll skip the hose, the well water here is terrible anyway

I've already installed a sediment prefilter, softener, and ro/di for the tank and also for drinking water.