Should I Buy the Live Rock?

[Bugboy2020]

Hello Reefers! So, I just started cycling a 5 gallon tank. I recently bought about 5 pounds of live rock, but, I'm noticing something odd. This was my first experience with live rock, and I was all excited to see some fauna. But... My rock looks really dead, except for perhaps bacteria :sad1:. All I can see is some deleterious, a tiny bit of coraline, and that's it. I'm thinking about possibly ordering a pound rock from http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com, should I do it?

 

[strummerfan]

Not unless you're within driving distance of TBS. How long has the rock been in your tank?

 

[Bugboy2020]

Not unless you're within driving distance of TBS. How long has the rock been in your tank?

By the end of today, it'll been two days.

 

[kgeig001]

The main reason for getting live rock is for the bacteria and the biological filtration it provides.

 

[CafeReef]

live rock that you purchase from LFS is basically dead, or damn near dead rock. It will have bacteria in it, but truely calling it "live" rock, is honestly somewhat of a stretch.

TBS rock is truely live rock. Richard ships it in water so what you get has next to no die off. I personally believe it is worth the $$ and honestly it isnt that much more expensive than what you get from an LFS. I would personally just go with all TBS if I were going live.

 

[Bugboy2020]

Now honestly, I'm a little afraid of the critters dying off as I cycle the tank. Is this a valid fear? Should I wait til I'm nearly done cycling?

 

[CafeReef]

with TBS? if you do mostly TBS rock, you will have virtually no cycle. you would have very little die off.

 

[Bugboy2020]

with TBS? if you do mostly TBS rock, you will have virtually no cycle. you would have very little die off.

No, I've got 5 pounds of live rock already cycling. Should I let it cycle before adding the TBS?

 

[CafeReef]

how long has it been cycling? You more likely than not would be just fine adding TBS, unless you are having a massive ammonia spike when adding.

 

[Bugboy2020]

It's been cycling for about two days. I'll likely have a massive Ammonia spike within the next week or two, then Nitrites should go up. Would it be safer to order once the Nitrite cycle is in full spring?(The weather will be better for shipping as well)

 

[ljosh]

It would be better to wait till the current cycle ends. Probably get less die off on the tbs rock that way.