Looking for rock
- Thread starter bobbbm
- Start date
Bob,
Depending on what kind of rock you use, the general rule is from one to two pounds per gallon.
Adding "new" live rock to a tank that has animals in it, is really not a good idea unless you KNOW for sure that it's fully cured.
How are your Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate readings? What have you got in the tank (animals)? How much rock do you want to add?
Depending on what kind of rock you use, the general rule is from one to two pounds per gallon.
Adding "new" live rock to a tank that has animals in it, is really not a good idea unless you KNOW for sure that it's fully cured.
How are your Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate readings? What have you got in the tank (animals)? How much rock do you want to add?
1 Blonde Naso Tang
1 Yellow Tang
1 Sleeper Goby
1 Flase Perc
1 Fire Shrimp
2 Peppermint Shrimp
Turbo Snails
Hermit Crabs
1 LTA
2 175W 10K MH Bulbs
1 96W Compact Atinic
1 Piece of Bubble Coral
I know I will need a bigger tank for the Tangs but they came with the Original tank I had and my kids love them so... My Wife and I decided we are going to do a 200g in the living room so within a year they will be moved to there.
Thats about it
This is how the tank looks now except the Bubble Coral, I have been very careful not to add things fast and it has paid off, so far no spikes at all as I took all of the water/filterpads from the 55g tank I started with that was established for 3 years.
the sump has at least 30 LBS of rubble in it
I have not added rock yet because you guys have me terrified that I am going to get a cycle and kill everything LOL...
I just want some Ideas... WHat kind of rock should I get approx how much and what is the best place in your opinions to get it from?
I know I am probably driving you all crazy with questions so I am going to also post this in the public forums
:eek2:
1 Yellow Tang
1 Sleeper Goby
1 Flase Perc
1 Fire Shrimp
2 Peppermint Shrimp
Turbo Snails
Hermit Crabs
1 LTA
2 175W 10K MH Bulbs
1 96W Compact Atinic
1 Piece of Bubble Coral
I know I will need a bigger tank for the Tangs but they came with the Original tank I had and my kids love them so... My Wife and I decided we are going to do a 200g in the living room so within a year they will be moved to there.
Thats about it
This is how the tank looks now except the Bubble Coral, I have been very careful not to add things fast and it has paid off, so far no spikes at all as I took all of the water/filterpads from the 55g tank I started with that was established for 3 years.
the sump has at least 30 LBS of rubble in it
I have not added rock yet because you guys have me terrified that I am going to get a cycle and kill everything LOL...
I just want some Ideas... WHat kind of rock should I get approx how much and what is the best place in your opinions to get it from?
I know I am probably driving you all crazy with questions so I am going to also post this in the public forums
:eek2:
I'm sure you've heard it enough about the Tangs, this isn't the first time I saw you post pro actively that you are planning a larger tank. I won't even go into it, as well, why make enemies 
You have a pretty fair bio load, although the fish are still small. You still don't have much rock on hand to deal with that load, and that's why you want more. Problem is, adding rock that is any less than 100% cured will severely tax your existing biological filtration, most likely to the point of adversely effecting your animals.
Your best bet would be to find someone you can trust, preferably someone you know personally, or at least people here vouch for that's selling their established rock. Taking that route allows you to put that rock right into your tank without worries.
Buying live rock in a LFS, I would not trust ANY, I mean ANY LFS to sell me fully cured rock to put directly into the system you have right now. Put them on the spot, if they tell you it's 100% fully cured, and ready to put in your tank, ask them to let you borrow their test kits, and test the water. If their rock truly is ready to go in your tank, you will find ZERO Ammonia and ZERO Nitrite. Not almost Zero, I mean absolutely no reading. I don't believe that will ever happen in a LFS under normal circumstances.
I'm planning on breaking down my tank, and getting rid of my Fla. rock. I'll give you nice pieces, some with hairy mushrooms and polyps dirt cheap, but the hitch is, I have a flat worm problem. Unless you already have red flat worms, I don't think I want to pass this rock on to you, it wouldn't be right.
How much you need depends on how much bio load you eventually want in the tank, and which rock you want.
Aquacultured Fla. rock is nice, because they don't hurt the reef to get it. I bought twice from Gulf View, and liked them a lot.
There is another guy doing the same thing, I think it's www.tampabaysaltwater.com They get loads of good reviews as well. These guys sell rock that is heavy, and dense. Not as much surface area per lb, and because of how dense it is, you need more pounds to make a tank look like it's got enough rock in it. It does come with hitchhikers that you just don't get from rock that's been shipped from the other side of the planet. Some, people would prefer to avoid, but lots of good stuff with many colors. Many of those things don't survive curing, and most others don't seem to make it long term to live in our tanks though.
Rock from Figi or Marshall Island have a completely different look. It's much lighter, so it takes more to get the "pounds per gallon" thing worked out, but it's more porous, and you get better surface area, so you actually need less pounds per gallon when compared to the denser Fla. rock.
The best advice I can give you at this stage, is go out and look at tanks. Go to LFS, and check out <b><a href="http://reefkeeping.com" target="_blank">Reefkeeping Magazine</a></b> TOTM series to see what rock appeals to you. I'd tell you the same thing about lights. It has to look good to you.
Once you have a better idea of what you're looking for, helping you find it is easy
You have a pretty fair bio load, although the fish are still small. You still don't have much rock on hand to deal with that load, and that's why you want more. Problem is, adding rock that is any less than 100% cured will severely tax your existing biological filtration, most likely to the point of adversely effecting your animals.
Your best bet would be to find someone you can trust, preferably someone you know personally, or at least people here vouch for that's selling their established rock. Taking that route allows you to put that rock right into your tank without worries.
Buying live rock in a LFS, I would not trust ANY, I mean ANY LFS to sell me fully cured rock to put directly into the system you have right now. Put them on the spot, if they tell you it's 100% fully cured, and ready to put in your tank, ask them to let you borrow their test kits, and test the water. If their rock truly is ready to go in your tank, you will find ZERO Ammonia and ZERO Nitrite. Not almost Zero, I mean absolutely no reading. I don't believe that will ever happen in a LFS under normal circumstances.
I'm planning on breaking down my tank, and getting rid of my Fla. rock. I'll give you nice pieces, some with hairy mushrooms and polyps dirt cheap, but the hitch is, I have a flat worm problem. Unless you already have red flat worms, I don't think I want to pass this rock on to you, it wouldn't be right.
How much you need depends on how much bio load you eventually want in the tank, and which rock you want.
Aquacultured Fla. rock is nice, because they don't hurt the reef to get it. I bought twice from Gulf View, and liked them a lot.
There is another guy doing the same thing, I think it's www.tampabaysaltwater.com They get loads of good reviews as well. These guys sell rock that is heavy, and dense. Not as much surface area per lb, and because of how dense it is, you need more pounds to make a tank look like it's got enough rock in it. It does come with hitchhikers that you just don't get from rock that's been shipped from the other side of the planet. Some, people would prefer to avoid, but lots of good stuff with many colors. Many of those things don't survive curing, and most others don't seem to make it long term to live in our tanks though.
Rock from Figi or Marshall Island have a completely different look. It's much lighter, so it takes more to get the "pounds per gallon" thing worked out, but it's more porous, and you get better surface area, so you actually need less pounds per gallon when compared to the denser Fla. rock.
The best advice I can give you at this stage, is go out and look at tanks. Go to LFS, and check out <b><a href="http://reefkeeping.com" target="_blank">Reefkeeping Magazine</a></b> TOTM series to see what rock appeals to you. I'd tell you the same thing about lights. It has to look good to you.
Once you have a better idea of what you're looking for, helping you find it is easy
Thanks for the Info!!! LOL Well first off I have done my first tank upgrade... I had the 55 with no sump and people wanted to kill me when I said I had 2 tangs The project is already being planned I just want to make sure I have the rest of the funds to pull it off! I have the most perfect spot for the tank... The back wall of my Living room is a 10X10 Utility room with a 10' Ceiling... I will have direct access to the entire tank and In the front it will be pictureframed....
The Tangs seem very happy for now, do you think they wil be ok for the year? I want an honest opinion...
Honestly I think I would like some larger pieces and build some tunnels with the smaller one... maybe one nice center piece rock.
The project is already being planned I just want to make sure I have the rest of the funds to pull it off! I have the most perfect spot for the tank... The back wall of my Living room is a 10X10 Utility room with a 10' Ceiling... I will have direct access to the entire tank and In the front it will be pictureframed....The Tangs seem very happy for now, do you think they wil be ok for the year? I want an honest opinion...
Honestly I think I would like some larger pieces and build some tunnels with the smaller one... maybe one nice center piece rock.
I just got 40 lbs of Tonga Kaelini rock from Reefer Madness. It was $5.99/lb for the cured stuff and that INCLUDED priority overnight shipping. That was much cheaper and better quality than any LFS. The only way you will get it cheaper and the same quality locally is if someone is selling their rock. The rock in local stores are garbage, IMO. Most cure the rock in their fish system which is full of Ick and other crap you dont want. Reefer Madness has a dedicated 2500 gallon system just for rock.
Even though it was cured, there was a very small spike for a day or two because its shipped wrapped in wet newspaper. That will not work in your tank as your Tangs probably will not live through it. Why dont you just setup a Rubbermaid bin with a heater and powerhead, cure it for a day or two and then you are all set?
Even though it was cured, there was a very small spike for a day or two because its shipped wrapped in wet newspaper. That will not work in your tank as your Tangs probably will not live through it. Why dont you just setup a Rubbermaid bin with a heater and powerhead, cure it for a day or two and then you are all set?
Iammatt219
Member
As mentioned above the amount that you add depends greatly on the variety of live rock. There are and disadvantages to each type.
This is why I choose to mix Caribbean and Pacific Live Rock varieties
Whichever type I went with I would recommend curing it in a separate tank/vat with a protein skimmer.
Hth
This is why I choose to mix Caribbean and Pacific Live Rock varieties
Whichever type I went with I would recommend curing it in a separate tank/vat with a protein skimmer.
Hth
Just to ease my mind a bit I picked up 10 LBS of Branch at Aquahut at a great price! They were in an established tank and Bill said they should be fine so wish me luck I am going to wait for a local person like you just said before I buy the rest of the rock Thanks for all the help!!
Next week time for some Coral, there is one my wife wants I figure if I get it for her I get to get one I want LOL
On another note I went to another LFS today and the guy told me I HAD to have a DSB or in 4 months I would have algae and other problems... I said I thought that was just a choice as a source of filtration as I only use a little over one Inch because it is the look I like. He sais Bare bottom or DSB one or the other.. Should I be concerned?
I am going to wait for a local person like you just said before I buy the rest of the rock Thanks for all the help!! Next week time for some Coral, there is one my wife wants I figure if I get it for her I get to get one I want LOL
On another note I went to another LFS today and the guy told me I HAD to have a DSB or in 4 months I would have algae and other problems... I said I thought that was just a choice as a source of filtration as I only use a little over one Inch because it is the look I like. He sais Bare bottom or DSB one or the other.. Should I be concerned?
Fragmented 99
Member
Iammatt219
Member
even if they fully cure it there will be some die off during shipping. However, you can get some really kewl hitchikers from uncured or quick cured live rock. It is very easy to set up a small curing tank, and you could even go with a cheap air driven counter current skimmer for the curing process.
hth
hth
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Absolutely not. What is sold as fully cured (then, wrapped in newspaper and shipped around the world), is NOT ready to be put into an established tank. It's bad terminology,
Before you bought that piece of Tonga, did you ask to use his test kits, or at least ask him to do a round of tests?
No I didn't have him test it but I had a good reason, I go there alot and I know for a fact he hasn't had a rock delievery in weeks because I ask every time I am there. Also the pieces were in the tank with the Moray eel and they were there for awhile.
A bit of development tho... We piled the rock in a corner because we got back late last night and didnt want to scape... Well this morning my Anenome is on the move
I wonder if we changed the water flow and he is ****ed off..
A bit of development tho... We piled the rock in a corner because we got back late last night and didnt want to scape... Well this morning my Anenome is on the move
I wonder if we changed the water flow and he is ****ed off..
Bob,
Don't take what I say to you the wrong way. I will always try to give advice that errs on the side of caution.
You can't go wrong, if you don't put your trust 100% in anyone. I'm not saying that there is a moral issue with your LFS, but protecting your tank, and the lives of the animals you keep is ultimately on you. Once pests or problems make their way in, getting them out is never an easy task. A quick Ammonia and Nitrite test would have eliminated much of the doubt associated with new rock. Pests obviously would not be seen with a test kit.
I've made a ton of mistakes along the way, and I'll do my best to help you avoid them.
Your Anemone doesn't like something, and my guess, given the timeline, would be it's something about your new rock. He's looking for a spot it does like.
You're not going to like the next thing I tell you here....
Change in flow could cause your Anemone to start moving around, but these are not nocturnal critters, and I'm not sure a change in flow would put him on the move at night. Over night is pretty quick for an ammonia spike, but that would be the first thing I'd check for here.
Don't take what I say to you the wrong way. I will always try to give advice that errs on the side of caution.
You can't go wrong, if you don't put your trust 100% in anyone. I'm not saying that there is a moral issue with your LFS, but protecting your tank, and the lives of the animals you keep is ultimately on you. Once pests or problems make their way in, getting them out is never an easy task. A quick Ammonia and Nitrite test would have eliminated much of the doubt associated with new rock. Pests obviously would not be seen with a test kit.
I've made a ton of mistakes along the way, and I'll do my best to help you avoid them.
Your Anemone doesn't like something, and my guess, given the timeline, would be it's something about your new rock. He's looking for a spot it does like.
You're not going to like the next thing I tell you here....
Change in flow could cause your Anemone to start moving around, but these are not nocturnal critters, and I'm not sure a change in flow would put him on the move at night. Over night is pretty quick for an ammonia spike, but that would be the first thing I'd check for here.
