Adding Live Rock

[deny]

My 55gal is ready for fish, but after doing a lot of reading here, it seems I should add some LR. Can I do this now? The tank is all cycled and the water testing is perfect. The rock is so expensive and I'm just going for FOWLR. Can I add a couple lbs at a time if I have already added my fish?? Or do just a little LR and then add the fish?

 

[happyvac]

The new LR will create another cycle, killing off anything in you're tank right now. If that's what you want, go for it.
My advice would be to cure the rock in several large, separate containers. I believe mudplayerx wrote a guide on curing live rock here. Try searching for it.

 

[fedukeford]

if you buy cured live rock from the fish store, you could put in 5 lbs at a time, even if you have fish, it wont cause a cycle as long as the rock isnt shipped, or out of the water for long periods of time

 

[pallan]

if buying cured from the LFS smell the rock as well if it has a strong smell than it is not fully cured and has dieoff (do not put that in) will need to be recured
if no noticable smell other than regular tank smell that i would not worry about adding it without curing. (unless you leave it out of water for a long trip home or something like that)

 

[deny]

What do you mean by "cured" rock?? So if I find a store that sells cured live rock I can add it a piece at a time? Will this be a good thing?? or should I just forget it and keep with FO and eliminate the "HUGE" margin of error...

 

[pallan]

live rock when it is shipped goes through a die off (many orginisms in the rock and on the rock out of water die). once put in LFS tank it starts to regain its live status. over the course of time the dieoff is gone and only live rock remains If the LFS just got rock in it may be dangerous to place it in your tank. if the rock has been at LFS for some time and does not have a bad smell it may be cured already
if it smells do a search on this site for cureing process.
I reccomend Live rock as it acts a a natual filter, a place for bacteria and pods to develop and it puts your fish in a less stressfull more natual environment.

 

[deny]

ok, so now say the LR is in. My water should be testing the same..correct?? Do I have to have anything special for the tank. I have 1 powerhead and an aquac filter 500. So put in the rock (I have two LFS within 5 miles of my house) and that's it? Should I wait a few days to add the fish?? How do I know if some of the rock is dead? I sorta want to know what I'm looking for when I buy (other than the sniff test you mentioned).

 

[pallan]

read the cureing process for reccomended time lenght
Im usually in in my LFS every week so i know when they get shipments and how long its been in the tank. after its been in there tank for a week or two if i like a piece ill have it pulled out and weighed and smell for die off if everythign is ok they wrap it in some water in triple plactic bages and i go right home and add it. thats me and what i do, the cureing process or experts may disagree and reccomend all rock be cured. there is a risk in everything in this hobby when ever we cut corners we take that risk.
Curing is the way to go. just not the way i always go if i trust the LFS and smell no dieoff on the rock.
i will be ordering live rock online and when i do i will be cureing it. at this point ive only added little bits at a time.