Keeping Live Rock Live

[Rio1969]

I picked up 68 pounds of live rock for a very good price. Currently I have it in a 20g tank with an air stone. I will need to keep it in this tank for about 2 months while I get my 110g tank set up. What do I need to do to keep the rock alive?
Some of the rock has what appears algae, can I add a small cuc to the tank?

 

[That New Guy]

Flow and temp control are all you need for the organisms to stay alive. If you want to keep the algae, you'll need light.

 

[Rio1969]

Flow and temp control are all you need for the organisms to stay alive. If you want to keep the algae, you'll need light.

Thanks, being in Houston I don't think I will be needing a heater for a while, tank is at 78 degrees, having said that I will be ordering a heater this week.
Do I need to do any testing of the water?

 

[That New Guy]

I'll leave that to the experts. I personally think as long as the temp doesn't get too high or too low, it'll live.

I'd draw a line somewhere to indicate your water level and a few times a week make sure you're topping off with fresh water so it doesn't get too concentrated.

With no fish or bio load, a monthly couple gallon water change should be sufficient to keep it from getting toxic.

 

[Rio1969]

What are these on my live rock?

 

[mcgyvr]

First is mojano anemones..
Can't tell what you are referring to in the second pic (its a bit blurry,etc..)..

 

[Rio1969]

First is mojano anemones..
Can't tell what you are referring to in the second pic (its a bit blurry,etc..)..

Thanks, here is a better photo, it is the light green stuff in the middle and slightly to the right that I an asking about.

 

[mcgyvr]

Second may be Sansibia

 

[Rio1969]

Second may be Sansibia

Are they good or bad?

 

[mcgyvr]

Are they good or bad?

As to Sansibia,
From what I've heard they aren't nearly as bad as some of the other "clove polyps/anthelia" (damn weeds),etc.. that will just grow over everything..

As to Majano, (sorry I had a typo with "mOjano" before)
Yes.. remove them..

bookmark this for future reference..
Has most of the common ones on there..
http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker.shtml

 

[Rio1969]

Thanks mcgyvr.

 

[Rio1969]

All of a sudden I have what looks like tiny starfish on the glass, looks like they are abandoning the live rock.

 

[alexmatos123]

Heater and a power head. A brute container works aswell

 

[mcgyvr]

All of a sudden I have what looks like tiny starfish on the glass, looks like they are abandoning the live rock.

Welcome to a reef tank..

The best part IMO is finding/watching the life that you didn't intentionally put there..

micro brittle stars/asterina,etc.. are common and a good sign/good inhabitant..
Soon you will see pods/worms,etc..

 

[Rio1969]

Welcome to a reef tank..

The best part IMO is finding/watching the life that you didn't intentionally put there..

micro brittle stars/asterina,etc.. are common and a good sign/good inhabitant..
Soon you will see pods/worms,etc..

I have actually already seen a micro brittle star and a worm, the worm is hiding in one of the rocks.

 

[CindyK]

I kept some live rock alive in my basement for about 2 months in rubbermaid using just a heater and powerhead. It was fun checking out the various life, not all good. The upside is you can get rid of the undesirable stuff (like the majano anemones) before they get to your DT. I had to do the same with a bunch of aptasia. I just finally moved it all to the new DT

 

[Synden]

I have a 75g tank that is packed to the brim with live rock that has been just keeping in there for over a year. It has flow and a heater and I occasionally feed some food or add a new dry rock to provide some nutrients, but other then topping it off a few times a week I dont do anything for it

First pic looks like a majano for sure, second is hard to tell but my guess is some type of clove. Cloves arent bad but can be strong growers if allowed to flourish. Majano however, is a 'kill it with fire', or kalwasser, kind of thing

 

[Rio1969]

Had the water tested, ammonia 0, nitrate 0, nitrite 0, ph 8.2 salinity 1.022 and temp. 78 degrees.
Should I be feeding the critters living on the LR?

 

[Rio1969]

I now have a powerhead going in the tank. This weekend I will attack the Majano.

 

[Capsle]

I kept my live rock in a rubber maid bin for 2 months. Just give it some flow, top up the evaporated water every once in a while and feed its some flakes every once in a while. You'll be good to go.


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