introducing fla. live rock in tank

[elg]

Is there a guru out there who might know the best way to introduce Fla. live rock in a 175 oceanic bow front... new tank...with a ecosystem mud filter.
There is culupera in the sump.... been there only 2 days... and about 10 small fish.... mostly clown that have just been put and 10 # of fiji live rock.... cured........tank has not cycled yet...
Do I wait till the tank cycles?
I probably need 250-350 # of live rock.... do I put in in all at once or over time.... What about die off?
Do I buy cured.... not sure they sell it that way....or can I put in in uncured...
Not sure what the next best step would be..... Has anyone had experience with this?
sorry... ecosystem mud filter has been on about 10 days....
didn't use damsels because I didn't want to chase them around the tank when the substantial rock is introduced.
fish are small..... also this is a 175 gal tank....it should support 10 small fish while it cycles. I think.....
I can always take a few out...
But the question remains....
do I put in all the live rock at once..... I understand that this will help it cycle.... will it crash and what can I expect will die off and what do I have to do..... if things die off...clean the live rock piece by piece....
Or do I put in 50# at a time...... I think that whether I put in 50 or 100# in a time I will still get some to die off.... and just have the problem for a longer period of time....
But one of the experts here should know the answer... I think...
and I really appeciated the help

 

[elg]

sorry... ecosystem mud filter has been on about 10 days....
didn't use damsels because I didn't want to chase them around the tank when the substantial rock is introduced.
fish are small..... also this is a 175 gal tank....it should support 10 small fish while it cycles. I think.....
I can always take a few out...
But the question remains....
do I put in all the live rock at once..... I understand that this will help it cycle.... will it crash and what can I expect will die off and what do I have to do..... if things die off...clean the live rock piece by piece....
Or do I put in 50# at a time...... I think that whether I put in 50 or 100# in a time I will still get some to die off.... and just have the problem for a longer period of time....
But one of the experts here should know the answer... I think...
and I really appeciated the help

 

[tracklighter]

I have florida aquacultured live rock. When you place it in the tank, there will be a lot of die off and hence a cycle will follow. I would STRONGLY suggest that you bring the fish back, and just put the live rock in and wait out the cycle. You will have plenty of die off to start the cycle. Also, the huge ammonia spike that follows the die off will really stress the fish out.
So #1 bring the fish back.
#2 put in all the rock at once and wait for the cycle to finish. This took about 3.5 weeks for me.

 

[elg]

they should be hardy enough to live thru it... I hope....
as I said I can remove a few...
I don't think that this will effect the cycling....
my main question relates to the aquacultured rock and putting in a large quantity at one time....
but I would like to stick to those who really know what they are doing and not just someone who wants to read his post....
Thanks for you imput....
Tracklighter... I appeciate you imput and help and I will give it a try....how do I handle things that die off?
Use a toothbrush and clean in Salt H2O?
Thanks again!

 

[elg]

I'm sure that you know what you are doing....and I thank you for your comments...I did not totally dismiss what you were saying.....
maybe only 95%
if you have anything else positive to add.... just jump right in...
As I said I can reduce the fish or eliminate them as tracklighter suggested.

 

[elg]

ok.... that's sounds reasonable too...
how much rock would you add and when?
every week?... other week?
or do I test the water and go from there.
Someone at a FS told me that I run the risk of the tank crashing whether I add all the rock at one time or a little bit at a time(50#)
and I will get die off each time....that I would have to clean off whatever died.... is that right? seems like I will be cleaning rock into 2004....he suggested a toothbrush..... I think I might need an electric toothbrush if he is right....
seems like there may not be one right way.... there are so many contradictory opinions.
I had a fish only saltwater tank without live rock running for years.... no problems....
this reef stuff is a lot more complicated.... and I'm sure like everything else there is a learing curve.....but it's a shame that I am at the beginning.
Again, sincerely thanks for the suggestions and to all the others that are being helpful.
would I be better off not getting Fla. rock....which I think is prettier and get Fiji cured......or can I get Fla cured somewhere?
Thanks for the help.

 

[arkman]

If you were this elg guy you are telling us that you would keep the 10 clowns and slowly add cured rock, instead of taking the the fish out and dumping in the LR and let the LR cycle the tank (w/or without a big NH4 spike)?
Conventional wisdom (at least mine) would agree Jamesurq, no?
175 is pretty big, I've been operating under the impression that a "hard" cycle creates a more stable bio platform? is this not true?
Thanks!

 

[arkman]

elg - all the "pretty" stuff is what curing kills. Curing should be called sterilizing. FLA rock cured is just limestone. look at the pictures on tampa bay of him dumping the dry rock into the gulf.

 

[elg]

ok..... I'm getting the picture.... I'm not sure that I am any futher on than I was in the beginng....
Maybe I should have listened to that clown who was complaining about the number of clowns I have in the tank...

how do you get to keep some of the "pretty" stuff that's on the rock..... why does anybody buy it ...if it going to die.... why not just stick with marshall or fiji?
can I buy cured Florida with some "pretty" stuff?
I would think that some of the " pretty" stuff would not die.....
True or False....

 

[arkman]

Ive had sucess adding uncured FLA rock to my tank just be treating it like a new coral --- slow acclimation, etc.
Also, much of the color on the fla rock is sponge that can not be exposed to air, and prefers low light.
If I were you Id buy cured Ac rock from fiji - about $4/lb delivered. and just top it off with some uncured FLA rock.

 

[wrassecal]

Is this a joke? I'm calling the leader of the tang police and get the number of the clown police and send them over to arrest this guy.
If this is not a joke, please take those clowns back to the fish store. Obviously you have unlimited funds so save the life of some fish for goodness sake!
You are right reef is different so why do have 10 clowns in there?
Order up about 250lbs of figi, put it in your tank, let the whole thing cycle through, then you can start adding the gulf rock with all the goodies. It normally comes in smaller pieces so then if 350 lbs is your goal get 100 lbs of it and add it throughout the tank, but if I were you I'd cure it in buckets with a powerhead for a couple weeks....might even get rid of some of those mantis shrimp you'll be tearing the reef up looking for later.... Just My Opinion

 

[javatech]

http://www.simplifiedreefkeeping.com/faq/11.htm

 

[tracklighter]

I just read the thread. I love this board. I peed myself laughing as well.
Jamesurq, I also believe about 95% of what you say. LOL!!
Just kidding. I wouldn't take this seriously. The guy is just trying to get a rise out of you.
By the way, I feel pretty good now that I am an "expert." LOL
Yeah right.

 

[tracklighter]

Jamesurq and I came on this board about the same time. He has definitely gained a ton of experience, and it has shown in his posting.