Building my 56 gallon Column reef tank
- Thread starter monsinour
- Start date
btldreef
Moderator
You're not alone:
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/reefs-beginners/34027-my-yellow-brittle-star-eats-everything-i-think.htmlhttp://www.reeflounge.com/showthread.php?t=20324
Yellow Brittle Star (Ophiarachna sp)
Phylum: Echinodermata, Class: Ophiuroidea
Range: Tropical Seas
Size: 8 in. Space:: 50+ gal. Reef Safe: Yes
Diet: Detritus, dead organisms, small mollusks, small fish Temperament: Peaceful Care Level: Easy
Natural History: The Yellow Brittle Star is seldom seen, despite being a common inhabitant of stony and coral-rich reefs. It can move much more quickly than typical starfish and uses tube feed to move and grab prey. It has strong jaws and can crack small snails open. Their arms are brittle and can crack off. It is a nocturnal animal.
Husbandry: The Yellow Brittle Star should be housed in an aquarium with live rock to provide hideouts. They are reclusive and nocturnal, usually only observed at night. Its actual food on the reef is unknown but they serve as good scavengers in captivity. It prefers warmer temperatures (82°F) and higher salinity (36ppt). It should be acclimated SLOWLY since it is intolerant of rapid changes in salinity or pH. This genus of starfish has been reported to eat small aquarium fish at night by dropping down onto and capturing sleeping fish.
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/reefs-beginners/34027-my-yellow-brittle-star-eats-everything-i-think.htmlhttp://www.reeflounge.com/showthread.php?t=20324
Yellow Brittle Star (Ophiarachna sp)
Phylum: Echinodermata, Class: Ophiuroidea
Range: Tropical Seas
Size: 8 in. Space:: 50+ gal. Reef Safe: Yes
Diet: Detritus, dead organisms, small mollusks, small fish Temperament: Peaceful Care Level: Easy
Natural History: The Yellow Brittle Star is seldom seen, despite being a common inhabitant of stony and coral-rich reefs. It can move much more quickly than typical starfish and uses tube feed to move and grab prey. It has strong jaws and can crack small snails open. Their arms are brittle and can crack off. It is a nocturnal animal.
Husbandry: The Yellow Brittle Star should be housed in an aquarium with live rock to provide hideouts. They are reclusive and nocturnal, usually only observed at night. Its actual food on the reef is unknown but they serve as good scavengers in captivity. It prefers warmer temperatures (82°F) and higher salinity (36ppt). It should be acclimated SLOWLY since it is intolerant of rapid changes in salinity or pH. This genus of starfish has been reported to eat small aquarium fish at night by dropping down onto and capturing sleeping fish.
monsinour
Active Member
thats awesome. Now my wife feels like crap as it was her choice on the brittle stars. I told her that because she didnt know and that the LFS guy didnt know, no one is to blame for this. We will be taking the brittle back to the LFS with a warning to them that it will eat fish and they can put it in a different tank. The problem is, my daughter is not too thrilled with the news that her orchid and purple firefish are dead and gone. It is a somber mood in the house. The only cheery thought is that the royal gramma endured what it whent through today. I have more rocks to remove from the tank to narrow down the hiding areas of the baddie.
I did check the QT earlier and it seems that i have transported a stomatella snail into the QT. It was a hitcher so I dont care if it lives or dies, but wont it eat whats on the rocks? Oh man is my tank a mess. BT, wanna road trip it up here and provide some assistance? LOL.
I did check the QT earlier and it seems that i have transported a stomatella snail into the QT. It was a hitcher so I dont care if it lives or dies, but wont it eat whats on the rocks? Oh man is my tank a mess. BT, wanna road trip it up here and provide some assistance? LOL.
btldreef
Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/580#post_3337799
thats awesome. Now my wife feels like crap as it was her choice on the brittle stars. I told her that because she didnt know and that the LFS guy didnt know, no one is to blame for this. We will be taking the brittle back to the LFS with a warning to them that it will eat fish and they can put it in a different tank. The problem is, my daughter is not too thrilled with the news that her orchid and purple firefish are dead and gone. It is a somber mood in the house. The only cheery thought is that the royal gramma endured what it whent through today. I have more rocks to remove from the tank to narrow down the hiding areas of the baddie.
I did check the QT earlier and it seems that i have transported a stomatella snail into the QT. It was a hitcher so I dont care if it lives or dies, but wont it eat whats on the rocks? Oh man is my tank a mess. BT, wanna road trip it up here and provide some assistance? LOL.
I'm sorry I had to be the bearer of bad news. Did any shrimp die before the starfish?
I would throw the stomatella back in the DT, just because they're good critters.
As for the firefish, yeah it's probably gone, but the Orchid could just still be hiding, they're sneaky.
If I had the time, I would come up and help you (and steal your cool macro algae!). If I come help you now, you need to come down in 10 weeks and help me move everything from this tank to the 180 in my new house! lol My friends are all scared to help because they're afraid of killing something.
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/580#post_3337799
thats awesome. Now my wife feels like crap as it was her choice on the brittle stars. I told her that because she didnt know and that the LFS guy didnt know, no one is to blame for this. We will be taking the brittle back to the LFS with a warning to them that it will eat fish and they can put it in a different tank. The problem is, my daughter is not too thrilled with the news that her orchid and purple firefish are dead and gone. It is a somber mood in the house. The only cheery thought is that the royal gramma endured what it whent through today. I have more rocks to remove from the tank to narrow down the hiding areas of the baddie.
I did check the QT earlier and it seems that i have transported a stomatella snail into the QT. It was a hitcher so I dont care if it lives or dies, but wont it eat whats on the rocks? Oh man is my tank a mess. BT, wanna road trip it up here and provide some assistance? LOL.
I'm sorry I had to be the bearer of bad news. Did any shrimp die before the starfish?
I would throw the stomatella back in the DT, just because they're good critters.
As for the firefish, yeah it's probably gone, but the Orchid could just still be hiding, they're sneaky.
If I had the time, I would come up and help you (and steal your cool macro algae!). If I come help you now, you need to come down in 10 weeks and help me move everything from this tank to the 180 in my new house! lol My friends are all scared to help because they're afraid of killing something.
monsinour
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/580#post_3337802
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/580#post_3337799
thats awesome. Now my wife feels like crap as it was her choice on the brittle stars. I told her that because she didnt know and that the LFS guy didnt know, no one is to blame for this. We will be taking the brittle back to the LFS with a warning to them that it will eat fish and they can put it in a different tank. The problem is, my daughter is not too thrilled with the news that her orchid and purple firefish are dead and gone. It is a somber mood in the house. The only cheery thought is that the royal gramma endured what it whent through today. I have more rocks to remove from the tank to narrow down the hiding areas of the baddie.
I did check the QT earlier and it seems that i have transported a stomatella snail into the QT. It was a hitcher so I dont care if it lives or dies, but wont it eat whats on the rocks? Oh man is my tank a mess. BT, wanna road trip it up here and provide some assistance? LOL.
I'm sorry I had to be the bearer of bad news. Did any shrimp die before the starfish?
I would throw the stomatella back in the DT, just because they're good critters.
As for the firefish, yeah it's probably gone, but the Orchid could just still be hiding, they're sneaky.
If I had the time, I would come up and help you (and steal your cool macro algae!). If I come help you now, you need to come down in 10 weeks and help me move everything from this tank to the 180 in my new house! lol My friends are all scared to help because they're afraid of killing something.
LOL, i have no fear of killing anything that isnt mine. LOL
The starfish let the lone skunk shrimp clean it today with no real reactions. Then again, this was when its belly was full from a $50 meal. I dont think the starfish at the smaller skunk shrimp, but whos to say now?
I would gladly help if it can be worked into my wife's schedule. She usually takes saturdays off. I did just part with some of my macros and the tank doesnt look like it used to. I do have a little of each kind left growing and most of it has replanted itself elsewhere in the tank. Right now, I am just at a loss with what to do. The starfish is going back to the LFS. I have a feeling that moving all this rock into the QT really wont help me find the baddie as he could just move into the other rock that is left behind in the DT and I wont ever find it. I dont really want to start completely over by removing all the rock from the tank and then sifting the sand for whatever I can find. And then there is the hastle of placing all the rocks back onto the eggcrate that is under about an inch and a half of sand. I am having that,"WTF do I do now?" moment and its hitting just a little hard. I dont have space for any new tank to put all the rock in and catch the baddie. the QT is almost full and if I place more rocks in it, I probably wont be able to see anything in there. I know that i am a newb and problems are to arrise, but this is taxing and unnerving. My wife doesnt know what to do and I can tell she is nervous as I keep asking her what do I do. I know that I want to replace the missing fish and shrimp, but whats the point if they are just going to get eaten by Mr. Mystery? aarrggh!
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/580#post_3337802
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/580#post_3337799
thats awesome. Now my wife feels like crap as it was her choice on the brittle stars. I told her that because she didnt know and that the LFS guy didnt know, no one is to blame for this. We will be taking the brittle back to the LFS with a warning to them that it will eat fish and they can put it in a different tank. The problem is, my daughter is not too thrilled with the news that her orchid and purple firefish are dead and gone. It is a somber mood in the house. The only cheery thought is that the royal gramma endured what it whent through today. I have more rocks to remove from the tank to narrow down the hiding areas of the baddie.
I did check the QT earlier and it seems that i have transported a stomatella snail into the QT. It was a hitcher so I dont care if it lives or dies, but wont it eat whats on the rocks? Oh man is my tank a mess. BT, wanna road trip it up here and provide some assistance? LOL.
I'm sorry I had to be the bearer of bad news. Did any shrimp die before the starfish?
I would throw the stomatella back in the DT, just because they're good critters.
As for the firefish, yeah it's probably gone, but the Orchid could just still be hiding, they're sneaky.
If I had the time, I would come up and help you (and steal your cool macro algae!). If I come help you now, you need to come down in 10 weeks and help me move everything from this tank to the 180 in my new house! lol My friends are all scared to help because they're afraid of killing something.
LOL, i have no fear of killing anything that isnt mine. LOL
The starfish let the lone skunk shrimp clean it today with no real reactions. Then again, this was when its belly was full from a $50 meal. I dont think the starfish at the smaller skunk shrimp, but whos to say now?
I would gladly help if it can be worked into my wife's schedule. She usually takes saturdays off. I did just part with some of my macros and the tank doesnt look like it used to. I do have a little of each kind left growing and most of it has replanted itself elsewhere in the tank. Right now, I am just at a loss with what to do. The starfish is going back to the LFS. I have a feeling that moving all this rock into the QT really wont help me find the baddie as he could just move into the other rock that is left behind in the DT and I wont ever find it. I dont really want to start completely over by removing all the rock from the tank and then sifting the sand for whatever I can find. And then there is the hastle of placing all the rocks back onto the eggcrate that is under about an inch and a half of sand. I am having that,"WTF do I do now?" moment and its hitting just a little hard. I dont have space for any new tank to put all the rock in and catch the baddie. the QT is almost full and if I place more rocks in it, I probably wont be able to see anything in there. I know that i am a newb and problems are to arrise, but this is taxing and unnerving. My wife doesnt know what to do and I can tell she is nervous as I keep asking her what do I do. I know that I want to replace the missing fish and shrimp, but whats the point if they are just going to get eaten by Mr. Mystery? aarrggh!
btldreef
Moderator
I would place some rock in the QT and pick up a Rubbermaid tub and fill it with salt water and a powerhead. Raise the salt level in both the QT and the tub, yes, it will kill off some stuff, but a high salinity usually makes the bad critters show their face.
I know the feeling. I had a Xanthid crab destroying my tank for awhile and it was a nightmare. When I found the rock he was in, I stabbed the crap out of the rock,etc. It was ugly. Since then, I quarantine my rock, it sounds dumb and numerous people tease me about it, but I can't go through that again.
I know the feeling. I had a Xanthid crab destroying my tank for awhile and it was a nightmare. When I found the rock he was in, I stabbed the crap out of the rock,etc. It was ugly. Since then, I quarantine my rock, it sounds dumb and numerous people tease me about it, but I can't go through that again.
btldreef
Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/580#post_3337808
what SG do you recomend?
I'm not going to swear to it, but I believe1.03 or higher is what is recommended. I'm on no sleep, so my mind isn't completely functioning right now.
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/580#post_3337808
what SG do you recomend?
I'm not going to swear to it, but I believe1.03 or higher is what is recommended. I'm on no sleep, so my mind isn't completely functioning right now.
spanko
Active Member
Excuse me for not following completely but have you caught the starfish, or is this what you are looking to catch by taking all the rock out, or is there something else you are looking to catch?
Hyper salinity should be upwards of 1.031-1.033. It helps if you can fill a tub, put some egg crate elevated in the bottom so the egg crate is and inch or two off the floor of the tub, maybe some pcs. of PVC tube here. The water at the recommended Sg, then one by one rocks into the tub for 5 mins or so unless you see something come out. When the unwanted critters come out they hopefully will fall through the egg crate to the bottom of the tub for easier removal.
Hyper salinity should be upwards of 1.031-1.033. It helps if you can fill a tub, put some egg crate elevated in the bottom so the egg crate is and inch or two off the floor of the tub, maybe some pcs. of PVC tube here. The water at the recommended Sg, then one by one rocks into the tub for 5 mins or so unless you see something come out. When the unwanted critters come out they hopefully will fall through the egg crate to the bottom of the tub for easier removal.
monsinour
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/580#post_3337826
Excuse me for not following completely but have you caught the starfish, or is this what you are looking to catch by taking all the rock out, or is there something else you are looking to catch?
Hyper salinity should be upwards of 1.031-1.033. It helps if you can fill a tub, put some egg crate elevated in the bottom so the egg crate is and inch or two off the floor of the tub, maybe some pcs. of PVC tube here. The water at the recommended Sg, then one by one rocks into the tub for 5 mins or so unless you see something come out. When the unwanted critters come out they hopefully will fall through the egg crate to the bottom of the tub for easier removal.
not the starfish, something else. something really bad. something that we believe has eaten 2x pepps + 1x skunk + 1x purple firefish and killed 2x pepps + 1x fire shrimp. The starfish ate the orchid and I dont forsee a problem getting that out. Its big and hard to miss.
So the hypersalinity should only take about 5 minutes or so? With the salt that high it will force the baddie out in about 5 minutes? Leave it for 10 minutes just to be safe? I like the idea of eggcrate and elevated off the bottom. Theoretically, I could do this with my water change tub. Just make a batch that is way salty. Interesting. Anyone want to confirm Spanko's idea works?
Originally Posted by spanko http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/580#post_3337826
Excuse me for not following completely but have you caught the starfish, or is this what you are looking to catch by taking all the rock out, or is there something else you are looking to catch?
Hyper salinity should be upwards of 1.031-1.033. It helps if you can fill a tub, put some egg crate elevated in the bottom so the egg crate is and inch or two off the floor of the tub, maybe some pcs. of PVC tube here. The water at the recommended Sg, then one by one rocks into the tub for 5 mins or so unless you see something come out. When the unwanted critters come out they hopefully will fall through the egg crate to the bottom of the tub for easier removal.
not the starfish, something else. something really bad. something that we believe has eaten 2x pepps + 1x skunk + 1x purple firefish and killed 2x pepps + 1x fire shrimp. The starfish ate the orchid and I dont forsee a problem getting that out. Its big and hard to miss.
So the hypersalinity should only take about 5 minutes or so? With the salt that high it will force the baddie out in about 5 minutes? Leave it for 10 minutes just to be safe? I like the idea of eggcrate and elevated off the bottom. Theoretically, I could do this with my water change tub. Just make a batch that is way salty. Interesting. Anyone want to confirm Spanko's idea works?
monsinour
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/580#post_3337865
If Spanko says it....that's good enough for me
I figured, but i was looking for someone else who has tried this to confirm it works. I have done a lot to my rock to attempt to get all the critters off of it but nothing really worked. I left all the pieces of my rock sit in the air for 5 minutes over a bucket hoping things would be dropping off and nothing ever dropped off. I have now moved some pieces into the QT tank only to find a stomatella, lots and lots of featherdusters, and the royal gramma made the trip. Royal is back in DT and I know he is saying,"Curse you hand that feeds me!! I cant survive out of water, what were you thinking!!"
I know that nothing in life is sure fire, but I want to try the method that is as sure fire as it can be.
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/580#post_3337865
If Spanko says it....that's good enough for me
I figured, but i was looking for someone else who has tried this to confirm it works. I have done a lot to my rock to attempt to get all the critters off of it but nothing really worked. I left all the pieces of my rock sit in the air for 5 minutes over a bucket hoping things would be dropping off and nothing ever dropped off. I have now moved some pieces into the QT tank only to find a stomatella, lots and lots of featherdusters, and the royal gramma made the trip. Royal is back in DT and I know he is saying,"Curse you hand that feeds me!! I cant survive out of water, what were you thinking!!"
I know that nothing in life is sure fire, but I want to try the method that is as sure fire as it can be.
spanko
Active Member
We all know who Robert (Bob) Fenner is, right? He says, ""If baiting, trapping has not worked... I would go the route of dismantling the system systematically, dipping each piece of rock (pH adjusted freshwater will be fine or hypersalinity seawater...) and locate, eradicate this nuisance once and for all."
From the seahorse site.
"To use this technique, simply place your newly arrived live rock in an inert container filled with saltwater at a specific gravity of 1.035 to 1.040 for one minute before you cure it. Invertebrates cannot tolerate rapid changes in salinity, so all the mobile inverts in the rock will immediately abandon there hidey-holes and bale out of the rock like rats deserting a sinking ship. After a full minute in this extra-salty bath, the evacuation will be complete, and you can remove the now pest-free live rock and sort your catch. Cull the invertebrates left behind in dipping container, discarding the pests you don't want while retrieving any of the refugees you might like to add to your system. One full minute in the hypersalinity is enough to drive out all the active invertebrates such as mantis shrimp (Stomatopods), crabs, and assorted worms of every description, yet this brief period of immersion will not harm encrusting organisms or sessile life."
Live Aquaria says
"Submerse the new rock into a bucket filled with saltwater with a specific gravity of 1.035 to 1.040 for one minute. Any invertebrates including mantis shrimp, bristle worms, and crabs will quickly evacuate from the rock and into the bucket of water." and "Remove the live rock from the bucket and sort through the invertebrates in the bucket. Determine those you want to add to your system and discard unwanted pests. Bristle worms still attached to the rock can be removed with a pair of needle-nosed pliers or tweezers. This technique can be used to remove unwanted pests before or after curing your newly arrived live rock."
It is the sudden change in salinity that causes them to come scurrying out of their hidey holes.
From the seahorse site.
"To use this technique, simply place your newly arrived live rock in an inert container filled with saltwater at a specific gravity of 1.035 to 1.040 for one minute before you cure it. Invertebrates cannot tolerate rapid changes in salinity, so all the mobile inverts in the rock will immediately abandon there hidey-holes and bale out of the rock like rats deserting a sinking ship. After a full minute in this extra-salty bath, the evacuation will be complete, and you can remove the now pest-free live rock and sort your catch. Cull the invertebrates left behind in dipping container, discarding the pests you don't want while retrieving any of the refugees you might like to add to your system. One full minute in the hypersalinity is enough to drive out all the active invertebrates such as mantis shrimp (Stomatopods), crabs, and assorted worms of every description, yet this brief period of immersion will not harm encrusting organisms or sessile life."
Live Aquaria says
"Submerse the new rock into a bucket filled with saltwater with a specific gravity of 1.035 to 1.040 for one minute. Any invertebrates including mantis shrimp, bristle worms, and crabs will quickly evacuate from the rock and into the bucket of water." and "Remove the live rock from the bucket and sort through the invertebrates in the bucket. Determine those you want to add to your system and discard unwanted pests. Bristle worms still attached to the rock can be removed with a pair of needle-nosed pliers or tweezers. This technique can be used to remove unwanted pests before or after curing your newly arrived live rock."
It is the sudden change in salinity that causes them to come scurrying out of their hidey holes.
monsinour
Active Member
great info spanko. Looks like I dont need to use the tub i have for waterchanges. I can make up about 4 gallons in a bucket and do that.
Oh but wait. where do I put the rock when its done with its bath? I cant put it back into the DT as there will be untreated rocks in there that things can move around to. I know for a fact that my QT cannot hold all of the rock. Should I make 4 gallons of ~1.037 water for dipping and then have my waterchange tub setup with 1.025 water for a "holding" system? Oh good lord, I think i will have to make two trips to sprawlmart.
Oh but wait. where do I put the rock when its done with its bath? I cant put it back into the DT as there will be untreated rocks in there that things can move around to. I know for a fact that my QT cannot hold all of the rock. Should I make 4 gallons of ~1.037 water for dipping and then have my waterchange tub setup with 1.025 water for a "holding" system? Oh good lord, I think i will have to make two trips to sprawlmart.
monsinour
Active Member
I do all of my great thinking outside when I am smoking and thought of this beauty.
I have to dip all of my rocks in this hypersalinity solution right?
what will this do to the corals I have? Should I leave the corals in the DT?
How do I move the sand around to be sure that the base rock is back on the eggcrate that I have on the bottom of my tank?
This pretty much means that i have to completely redo all of the rockwork in my tank yes?
I have to dip all of my rocks in this hypersalinity solution right?
what will this do to the corals I have? Should I leave the corals in the DT?
How do I move the sand around to be sure that the base rock is back on the eggcrate that I have on the bottom of my tank?
This pretty much means that i have to completely redo all of the rockwork in my tank yes?
spanko
Active Member
Sorry not to be of some real help here but here is my opinion. I would think the abrupt change in salinity would cause some type of osmotic shock at the cellular level in the coral and would not be a good thing. However I don't know enough to say that this would happen within a few minutes.
I will endeavor to do some more investigation here but may not have any info quickly. I will however, if I find some, post it here so that we all have a better understanding.
Sorry.
I will endeavor to do some more investigation here but may not have any info quickly. I will however, if I find some, post it here so that we all have a better understanding.
Sorry.
monsinour
Active Member
No worries. If i cant get an answer from searching or here, then I will do my best to break the glue and leave the coral in the tank. The bubble is held down and I should be able to get at it with a screwdriver to pry it off the rock without breaking any part of the skeleton. The zoa is held in a little better and that might be an issue. the xenia was attached to a shell and I wedged the shell into a hole in the rock. I should be able to get that out no problems. I have a feeling I wont be able to do this today as the schedule is too hectic to even return the starfish today. Looks like tomorrow. I do have to get the water first though.
gemmy
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/580#post_3337930
so i figure i gotta redo the rock work. leave the corals in the DT. dip all of the rocks. but i am left with "how do i move the sand to ensure secure rock placement when i am done?"
I had to do something similar when I had some issues with my 55. This is what I did with no issues, however people will disagree with my methods and it may cause issues (this is my disclaimer). I pushed the sand forward to the front of the tank and then when the rock was in place I pushed the sand back in place. Now, it is never recommended to disturb the sand bed, but it was necessary. I also got some fresh live sand from my LFS and added it when I was done and added a half dose of BioSpira to prevent any issues from causing a mini cycle. This worked for me.
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380344/building-my-56-gallon-column-reef-tank/580#post_3337930
so i figure i gotta redo the rock work. leave the corals in the DT. dip all of the rocks. but i am left with "how do i move the sand to ensure secure rock placement when i am done?"
I had to do something similar when I had some issues with my 55. This is what I did with no issues, however people will disagree with my methods and it may cause issues (this is my disclaimer). I pushed the sand forward to the front of the tank and then when the rock was in place I pushed the sand back in place. Now, it is never recommended to disturb the sand bed, but it was necessary. I also got some fresh live sand from my LFS and added it when I was done and added a half dose of BioSpira to prevent any issues from causing a mini cycle. This worked for me.
spanko
Active Member
For the most part you can "wiggle" the rock down into the sand and the sand will displace from underneath it. You are gonna want to be careful here so you don't do a lot of mixing up of the sand and causing the nastiness in it to be released into the water column and cause any large spike in ammonia.