New to all of this

[madkat]

But won't it become live, just take longer to "become" live and work just like live rock?

You need both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in your tank for it to be healthy and stable. We are not saying that the limestone won't work, it is just not porous enough to sustain large colonies of bacteria.

The rock in our tanks become the filtration and they leach the inert chemicals that out coral need to live. Most of the time people use limestone for cichlid tanks. With that being said, I have 1 piece of limestone in my tank that is a base rock. It weighs in at 40lbs and I wish I would not have followed my wife and left it out.

Your tank is still new enough you can do it right and have a greater chance of success and happiness in the long run.

Ken

 

[Zswift]

Okay, I misunderstood the porous part, my bad. But thanks sooo much, amd sorry if I seemed to be rude, I am just a little frustrated cause I was hearing so many different things, but I trust you guys more since you are hobbyists and not tryinf to sell me anything

 

[Zswift]

So I called wet pets to see if I could exchange the rock for live rock or at least store credit to purchase live rock. The girl I talked to saturday who helped me chose the limestone also answered the phone. She didnt think that they did that, but said she would talk to her boss. I still have ten pounds of lr in the tank and planned on buying more this week. Hope I can exchange it

 

[madkat]

Talk to Darrell or Steve. They are both square shooters.

 

[Zswift]

The limestone is out of the tank, but I will not be able to go down there until tomorrow but I will try to talk to one of them

 

[matt9190]

Honestly, I just buy petco's off brand heater. they work fine

My tank crashed a year ago because of a petco heater. You should get an eheim.

 

[Zswift]

So I talked to Steve and hes gonna work with me with my rock issue

 

[madkat]

So I talked to Steve and hes gonna work with me with my rock issue

Just tell him Ken recommended you go with live rock instead. He will treat you well.

 

[Lytehouse]

I'm almost sure they will make the exchange

good luck

 

[Zswift]

This is my plan:
I am going to go exchange one of the really big pieces of limestone for LR. I am going to keep about 30lbs of the limestone to use as base.
I need to move the sand a little to replace the limestone where I want it.
I am going to move the sand back around the limestone, and stack the LR on top of it. I am primarily using the limestone for base rock only. I know the limestone has no real purpose in filtration, but I just do not see the point in putting good LR underneath the sand.
So I will have the 3olbs of limestone and depending on this weeks paycheck, I am hoping to get about a total of 30lbs of LR. All of this will be stacked and aquascaped in the tank.
And I only have 40lbs of sand in the tank right now, but there seems to have a good solid two inches (granted I am not the best at guessing). I also have an additional 20lbs, is 40 okay? Because if 40 is good, then I can exchange the extra sand (bag not opened) for money to go to a heater or something,
Additional purchases this weekend:
heater
timer-suggestions?

Thank you guys bunches haha

 

[blakers82]

I recommend you purchase a titanium heater. Keep breakable glass out of your tank. You can still find them relatively cheap and they shouldn't explode in your tank directly making your corals die or be very unhappy.

That happened to me.

Most any timer should do. Check that it has a three prong outlet as many heaters can have a ground prong. Early on, make sure you monitor the actual temperature in the tank and not rely on the heater's temp if it does have a readout.

 

[blakers82]

I recommend you purchase a titanium heater. Keep breakable glass out of your tank. You can still find them relatively cheap and they shouldn't explode in your tank directly making your corals die or be very unhappy.

That happened to me.

Most any timer should do. Check that it has a three prong outlet as many heaters can have a ground prong. Early on, make sure you monitor the actual temperature in the tank and not rely on the heater's temp if it does have a readout.

 

[chaderic26]

A ranco controller is a good investment too.

 

[blakers82]

A ranco controller is a good investment too.

Totally agree. My reef controller purchase was crucial to my system with the setup I run now. It's just under an RO/DI unit in terms of usefulness to the tank. Personally, an RO/DI unit is the best piece of equipment you can buy.

 

[ghellin]

Agreed hit up air water ice and get your 10% COMAS discount

 

[cody6766]

I'd get a Reef Keeper Lite for temp control. I've been using one since I put a heater in my tank with the knob unknowingly cranked up way too high. It cost me a lot of livestock and the temp controller on the RKL would have prevented that. It also does a bunch of other good stuff that you may want to use down the road. I use mine for my heater, fan and lights. It's $100 well spent.

 

[Zswift]

Agreed hit up air water ice and get your 10% COMAS discount

Can you explain please? Do not really understand haha

 

[cjilge]

Can you explain please? Do not really understand haha

If you are a COMAS member we get 10% discount at AWI.

I can tell you from experience there are 2 pcs of equipment that you survive with out but once you buy them you are Living!

1. a good quality RODI unit AWI is one of the best and is what most of us around here have

2. a controler, several to choose from and most all are expandable if you upgrade tanks or equipment later. I use the ACJR as is listed for sale on our forum and love it!

again you dont have to have them but they make your life easier and cheaper, which in turn makes the amount of time spent "working" on the tank less and more of spent enjoying the tank. My 2cents.

 

[blakers82]

Agreed hit up air water ice and get your 10% COMAS discount

That's fantastic. I've yet to take advantage of that discount and I have an AWI unit. Very cool! :thumbsup:

 

[pwhitby]

Hi Zach,

Is your plan to still go with a fish only system?

Paul.