Can I Add Live rock??? Pics
- Thread starter nrr15
- Start date
jpnewreefe
Member
What size is the tank and how much rock do you have now?
You only need about 1.5LBS per gal.
Anyway buy quality rock,and its ok to add 15-20LBS then wait 3-5weeks and add the next 15-20LBS and so on.
You only need about 1.5LBS per gal.
Anyway buy quality rock,and its ok to add 15-20LBS then wait 3-5weeks and add the next 15-20LBS and so on.
nrr15
Member
The tank is 125gal. I now only have 15 pounds. Now you see why i want to add more. I have another tank to cure rock in but no light for it does it need light to cure? or just let nature take course. Does one brush the new rock clean first or leave it be? Thank you very much for your advice!
P.S. The rock in the tank is lava rock! only two pieces are live.
P.S. The rock in the tank is lava rock! only two pieces are live.
jpnewreefe
Member
buy quality live rock.They sell cleaning kits but u can use a regular soft toothbrush.Buy what you can afford add about 20lbs at a time to your main tank.Shoot for 130-185Lbs of rock.
stanlalee
Active Member
you can add cured rock bought locally (make sure its cured) or you'll have to cure any uncured or shipped rock in a seperate container/system before putting it in the tank. I added 25lbs of cured local rock months after my tank was up and running but I also only put in a piece per day and placed the rest in my saltwater mixing bin in saltwater with powerhead just to be safe (didn't want to add all 25lbs at once incase they lied and it wasn't cured. adding a little at a time and testing is more safe).
b bauer
Member
Originally Posted by renogaw
i would personally remove the lava rock when you put the new rock in. something about leaching bad chemicals and minerals into the water.
do you remember where you saw this I have some in my tank and I cant find anything in the search posts.I want to know what to test for.thanks
i would personally remove the lava rock when you put the new rock in. something about leaching bad chemicals and minerals into the water.
do you remember where you saw this I have some in my tank and I cant find anything in the search posts.I want to know what to test for.thanks
larryndana
Active Member
Originally Posted by renogaw
i would personally remove the lava rock when you put the new rock in. something about leaching bad chemicals and minerals into the water.
agreed.
Also, live rock is cheaper online. but you also don't get to pick what pieces you like. For me, i just take it into my lfs and sell it to them if i don't like it. Last time i lost 10bucks for a little over 20lbs, oh well.
i would personally remove the lava rock when you put the new rock in. something about leaching bad chemicals and minerals into the water.
agreed.
Also, live rock is cheaper online. but you also don't get to pick what pieces you like. For me, i just take it into my lfs and sell it to them if i don't like it. Last time i lost 10bucks for a little over 20lbs, oh well.
reefkprz
Active Member
here is a break down of one type of lava rocks mineral content
Nitrate Nitrogen.................................4.0 p.p.m.
Phosphorus........................................6.0 p.p.m.
Potassium.........................................59.0 p.p.m.
Zinc.........................................................6 p.p.m.
Iron..................................................10.0+ p.p.m.
Copper...............................................5.5+ p.p.m.
Magnesium.......................................2.0+ p.p.m.
Boron.................................................10.0 p.p.m.
Sulfate.................................................7.0 p.p.m.
Organic Material...........................................5%
PH.........................................................8.2 Units
Calcium..................................1.3 Meq/100 gm*
Manganese...........................0.6 Meq/100 gm*
Sodium...................................0.1 Meq/100 gm*
Cation Exchange Capacity..3.2 Meq/100 gm*
* Milli-Equivalent per 100 grams
not stuff you want to introduce to your tank willingly.
Nitrate Nitrogen.................................4.0 p.p.m.
Phosphorus........................................6.0 p.p.m.
Potassium.........................................59.0 p.p.m.
Zinc.........................................................6 p.p.m.
Iron..................................................10.0+ p.p.m.
Copper...............................................5.5+ p.p.m.
Magnesium.......................................2.0+ p.p.m.
Boron.................................................10.0 p.p.m.
Sulfate.................................................7.0 p.p.m.
Organic Material...........................................5%
PH.........................................................8.2 Units
Calcium..................................1.3 Meq/100 gm*
Manganese...........................0.6 Meq/100 gm*
Sodium...................................0.1 Meq/100 gm*
Cation Exchange Capacity..3.2 Meq/100 gm*
* Milli-Equivalent per 100 grams
not stuff you want to introduce to your tank willingly.
nrr15
Member
I have the new live rock curing in the qt tank still.
On the LAVA ROCK idea, where i live every pet store has there know-it-all people who will tell you completely different ways to do things. I will be the first to say that lava rock IMO was 80% of the reason i had a huge algae bloom after my tank started. Thanks reefkprZ for your info on the rock i am in transformation mode now to get the rock changed out. WE all know LIVE ROCK ISN'T CHEAP!!!
ONE MORE QUESTION???
I tested my amonia levels after the first day of the rock in the QR tank and it was off the charts K. Then i cleaned the rocks again with a tooth brush did a 100% water change and 12 hours later it was at 2.5ppm am i aiming for Oppm or will a small reading be O.K.?
On the LAVA ROCK idea, where i live every pet store has there know-it-all people who will tell you completely different ways to do things. I will be the first to say that lava rock IMO was 80% of the reason i had a huge algae bloom after my tank started. Thanks reefkprZ for your info on the rock i am in transformation mode now to get the rock changed out. WE all know LIVE ROCK ISN'T CHEAP!!!
ONE MORE QUESTION???
I tested my amonia levels after the first day of the rock in the QR tank and it was off the charts K. Then i cleaned the rocks again with a tooth brush did a 100% water change and 12 hours later it was at 2.5ppm am i aiming for Oppm or will a small reading be O.K.?
reefkprz
Active Member
thats nice looking LR.
aim for zero ammonia, that will indicate that the LR is breaking down more waste than it is producing. if you add it with an ammonia reading still present it will be like adding waste to your tank, thats kind of an oversimplistic explination. but it wont bve benificial to add it while it is still producing ammonia, Ideally you should have no amm or trites before you add it as at that point it will be capable of maintaining a balanced nitrogen cycle, the cycle never ends it just balances. when it gets thrown off you get ammonia spikes or trites, this should never happen in an established tank, definatly something you want to avoid when you already have livestock, in an empty tank it wouldnt be an issue, but as you have livestock patience is key.
aim for zero ammonia, that will indicate that the LR is breaking down more waste than it is producing. if you add it with an ammonia reading still present it will be like adding waste to your tank, thats kind of an oversimplistic explination. but it wont bve benificial to add it while it is still producing ammonia, Ideally you should have no amm or trites before you add it as at that point it will be capable of maintaining a balanced nitrogen cycle, the cycle never ends it just balances. when it gets thrown off you get ammonia spikes or trites, this should never happen in an established tank, definatly something you want to avoid when you already have livestock, in an empty tank it wouldnt be an issue, but as you have livestock patience is key.
