Starting over!

[Mike de Leon]

Hello everyone!

I have been battling an unknown cause of die offs in my new tank now for the last 10 months and have decided to start all over. This tank was an upgrade. I lost most of the corals in transition.

I have sold off most of my fish and have a handful of SPS corals that I will be taking to the lfs for credit.

Anyway, I am considering a couple of things and am not sure which route to take.

Some questions:

1. Should I cook my existing live rock or should I start with dry ones?

2. Does cooking LR get rid of all possible pests living in them?

3. If dry rock is preferrable which one would you recommend?

4. What would be the best way to establish bacteria when dry rock is used? Should I use the packaged ones (what is the best product to use?).


Any and all feedback highly appreciated! I just about threw in the towel after upgrading my tank and loosing just about everything! This would be my last attempt. PLEASE HELP A FELLOW REEFER....THANKS!

 

[tibob32]

If this were me, I'd cook it. It won't rid of all pests; apprently aiptasia can survive in little to no light conditions if there are nutriments in the water. You could nuke your rock if you're really scared of having pests, but that would kill all the bacteria. Dry rocks are a good option, but you should really seed it with live rock. but then again the risk of pests is there. reefrocks and eco-reefer (canadian vendors) both carry rocks from marcorocks.ca (us). Very interesting rocks if you ask me.

 

[Mike de Leon]

Thank you. How does one nuke their rock?

 

[TVH]

I suspect by nuke they mean microwave. The other thing I have seen suggested is to literally cook the rock. Toss it in a pot of water and boil.

I have not tried either method but the boiling method was suggested to me when we were having rock problems.

Thank you. How does one nuke their rock?

 

[rbnice1]

If you really want to start all ovger take all your rock and put it in a big rubbermaid trashcan/vat with vinegar water mix for a day or 2 then rinse it really well. Let it sit out and dry for 3-5 days then its ready to be re used.

 

[tibob32]

I did not mean microwave . There are quite a few threads. Most involve either bleach followed by dechlorinator or boiling as mentionned or vinegar. your rocks should come out of this white and clean.

 

[Mike de Leon]

I am thinking of just getting dry rocks now. I will then just seed them...

 

[Mike de Leon]

bump

 

[epleeds]

Mike,

If it were me, and I could not figure out what was going, why things were dying, I would start from scratch. If all the tests of the water proved inconclusive then I would just pay for some dry marco rock, and start the tank over. You could spend all this time and still have the same problems, if you use the same rock. And think of all the money wasted on new corals if your rock is the problem.

 

[Mike de Leon]

Thank you. That's what I am thinking. Just wondering the best way to seed it...

 

[epleeds]

I never used dry rock before but im guressing you can buy a piece of live rock from the store or get one from a friend to help seed. Might take a little longer, but you know what your working with.