liverock/filter/skimmer question

[buddy381]

So I have a 75 gallon tank with approx 25 pounds of live rock. I am in the process of setting up a DIY 29 gallon sump, but for now i only have a canister filter and powerhead running. I also have a seaclone skimmer set up(yes i know they suck, but i made some mods and I got it for free) Should I run the media in the canister until i can get another 50-75 pounds of live rock? Or should i just run the skimmer? I am poor and have to slowly add more rock and finish getting materials for my sump so that i can set it up....it may be a month or 2 before i can get more rock and the sump going. Actually i may try to make my own rock as it seems that it is not terribly expensive and doesn't look to hard.....although i know it would take a while to kure and then longer to become live.

I don't have anything in my tank right now other than saltwater, 25 pounds of rock and probably 45 pounds of crushed coral, but would love to get a couple small fish until i can afford to get the rest of the rock and sump set up.

Any suggestions?

 

[Fizz71]

I'm not a big fan of filter media, but if you can put carbon in there it's a nice polish but I don't think it's necessary (yet).

The only downside of starting to put fish in your tank would be the risk of problems from a spike later when you add more rock. Depending where you get it and what condition it got to you (shipped, lfs, another reefer) you could have some serious ammonia issues...or just a minor algea spike.

You can certainly start putting a small fish or two in your system if the ammonia and nitrite in your system are at zero now. Just figure you currently have filtration for about 20 gallon tank...so a small bioload should be ok. I'd start considering a cleanup crew too..once you start feeding things in the tank you'll want the janitors in place.

--Fizz

 

[jakleen]

if you do not have fish ,coral or invert in tank ,you can put all the rocks in a wait 6weeks for your tanks biofilter to kick in, and then do water change a put fish in slowley (quarantine first), if you alredy have fish,inverts and coral it is better to put in small amounts of live rock. no matter where you get your rock or what rock , when you get it you have to cure it,even if they say it is cured ,because there is alway die off and it will spike amonia,nitrites and kill your tank inhabitants. what i used to do when i got large amount of rock at good price i had a big garbage pale filled with salt water (correct salinity)and i would put the rock in there with a pump and aerate it for 3-4 weeks ,no light is needed when you cure rock. ,once a week i would do some water change in the pale. later i would put the cured rock in my display tank. that is what i did, may be others will give you more info. how to do it.good luck. jakleen

 

[six.line]

I personally think canisters aren't that great. They're good if they've got phosphate remover and carbon remover media, but other than that the 'floatie' filters can get clogged and need cleaning. I guess if you stay on top of them, they're all right, but at this stage in the game I'd leave it off.

I'd just add the rock, leave the skimmer on, and do a couple of water changes-- nothing special, just baste the rocks with a turkey baster to make sure all the gunk is cleaned out. Then do it again when you add your rock a second time.

Once ALL rock is in there, and cleaned of excess floating material (just by basing it and letting the skmmer do its work with water changes) THEN add fish.

Make the decision on the canister filter when you've got livestock in there. there's not much use for it now.

HTH

 

[bertoni]

I agree that adding new live rock can be risky for the animals already in the tank. I'd wait, as well.

 

[Volkman]

I'd like to backpack on this tread if I may.... I am picking up some Fiji rock (only 20-30 lbs) tonight from a friend. He has had the rock in his "curing tank" for 3-4 months, then it was in his display tank for the last couple of weeks. Do I need to QT it and basically "cure" it again? Also, how much of a spike might I incur? I have 80-90lbs currently in the tank now, along with 11 or so fish....

 

[salty55]

from my personal experience i would ditch the filter media in the canister filter. unless you change it out weekly. they are a good way to get more circulation and a place to run carbon or phosphate removal media. just make sure you clean the canister out during regular water changes. it can act as a sediment bowl and trap all sorts of gunk in the bottom which would normally stay in the tank and get eaten by janitors. this can cause nitrate ploblems and feed nuisance algae.

 

[bertoni]

Most often, live rock that has been fully cured and moved a short distance doesn't cause much of a spike. Sometimes, a sponge or the like dies on contact with air and causes major grief.

 

[Volkman]

Ok, thanks Bertoni. That is what the guy I got the rock from said too... and I think he's a pretty smart reefer so...... Just wanted to make sure. Got the rock in, and it looks sweet. Need more though... Thanks guys.

 

[bertoni]

Glad to hear things went well!