seeding dead rock
- Thread starter NP_Reef
- Start date
It would be best to put a chunk of LR in there to seed the dry rock. You'll be getting tons more microfauna from the LR than you will from the live sand. The live sand will be full of beneficial bacteria and some microfauna, but ideally you want the biodiversity that LR offers. If you have a local reef club, you can probably get some LR from a local reefer.
saltyseaman01
In Memoriam
id also add a nice piece of live rock and a piece of shrimp to start the cycle
And set the LR on or near the top of the stack, not down under the sand. It's a good idea to have all your under-sand rock be base rock.
Another tip: I lay a sheet of eggcrate lighting grid down first, before sand, before rock, to distribute the weight of the rocks evenly and prevent them rolling.
Another tip: I lay a sheet of eggcrate lighting grid down first, before sand, before rock, to distribute the weight of the rocks evenly and prevent them rolling.
Wolverine
Premium Member
Sk8r is dead on with all points. I love the eggcrate under the rocks. I do it in all tanks I set up now. It really helps stabilize the entire structure.
:thumbsup: Every little bit of extra biofiltration helps.
C0rp
New member
I just started cycling 100# of marcos in my 75RR. I placed eggcrate down, then the rocks and carib sea, ocean direct live sand. I went to the LFS today and purchased 4 small sized (tennis ball max size) live rocks covered in coralline to help seed the tank. The guy at the LFS also scraped lots of coralline off some rocks from their tanks for me, and placed it in a small bag. I smashed up all the coralline chips with a hammer into a rough powder and sprinkled it in the tank. Idk if thats gonna help any with coralline production at all, but I figured it cant hurt anything!
I put some fish food in the tank tonight to start the cycling. I also have a bottle of Ocean Direct Bio-Spira that I guess Ill drop in the tank once I see some ammonia built up.
I put some fish food in the tank tonight to start the cycling. I also have a bottle of Ocean Direct Bio-Spira that I guess Ill drop in the tank once I see some ammonia built up.
Bigjohnwoody
New member
Does putting down the eggcrate in the tank with me only wanting to use a 2 inch sand bed gonna affect sand sifting creatures? Like gobies, jawfish, and other animals that like to bury themselves in sand? Or if I use eggcrate do I have to do a deeper sand bed than 2 inches? Sorry for the hijack but I thought it kind of applied to the thread.
aleonn
New member
Please keep us updated on the Bio-Spira. I'm going to start my cycling in the next few weeks hopefully, and wondered about that product.
john miller
New member
Why is this? I'm not doubting just trying to understand. I'm a noob.
Wolverine
Premium Member
Good LR will look better, so it's nice to have on top. Parts of the rock that are under the sand will start to look like baserock, as the coralline and other algaes die off, so it's a waste of money to bury the nicer rock. IME, it also seeds faster this way. I don't know if amphipods and such are lazy, so they go downhill, or if it's just been fluke experience, but it does seem to work faster in my hands if the seeds are in the upper part of the tank.
Wolverine
Premium Member
Depends on your lights. Coralline often doesn't do well in super bright lighting. Look in tanks that have strong MH lights, the undersides of the rocks and shaded areas will often have the densest coralline.
