live rock question. pic included

[l.roach]

55 gallon tank. i have about 20 lbs of rock in tank now and am adding a little at a time as i can. what can i do to get more color out of them. i am using a satellite powercompact light 2 x 65 watt. do i need to add anything to help rock? have seen other pics of rock full of color, mine just seems dull.

 

[schadiest1]

Using calcium will help coralline (purple) algae grow. Some coralline must be present though. Find a nice piece at your LFS that is covered and add that to your tank. Over time the coralline will spread.
You can also help seed the tank by using a toothbrush to lightly brush the coralline on the new rock, and that will send the "seeds" throughout the tank.

 

[l.roach]

i have been using kent marine liquid calcium but am out now. was also told to use kent marine tech cb calcium buffer part a and b. is this something anyone has used?

 

[speg]

Thats the calcium suppliment I use (parts a & b). Works fine.
I do agree you should try to get some coraline IN the tank first... it cant grow if there isnt any of it.

 

[l.roach]

how often do you add this to tank. i have no calsium test kit as of now.

 

[speg]

You need to get a test kit.
You add calcium daily to every couple days until it is at the desired ppm (400-450). There is no way of knowing you have hit that target area or gone over/under without a test kit.. and going over could be bad. I noticed that when you add half of the recommended amount for a 50 gallon aquarium (so that would mean 1 capfull of each instead of 2) that your calcium goes up around 30ppm.

 

[l.roach]

thanks

 

[schadiest1]

absolutely get a test kit. So much can happen within your tank if CA becomes too high.

 

[l.roach]

what else should i test for, i know basics ph, nitrates etc. calsium i will get seperate but any other that i need to look into?

 

[schadiest1]

I like to test for phosphates also.

 

[beth]

The lighting you have just is not going to produce the dynamic colors you want. Was that rock colorful where you got it from?

 

[l.roach]

i know i will want better lights but this is what i couls afford at time. here is a pic of rock close up. it hardly had anything on it when i got it and this is how it has been since

 

[speg]

I see rock like this selling all the time at LFS's around here... I didnt think anybody would actually buy it to tell you the truth If you are REALLY interested in colorful live rock I can give you some information on a guy with good prices that'll ship them to you no problem. It'll be kinda expensive though to ship as you probably already know.
Also your lighting isnt very powerful.. but that still doesnt mean you should see no color Coraline just doesnt exist on these brown rocks you purchased..
I found out that test kits are a very very important part of successful fish/reef/invert keeping. If you are adding ANY supplements to your tank be sure to test for them. Overdosing them could be very bad and you'll end up saving money in the long run if you spend a little now on test kits.

 

[l.roach]

send any info here or to my e mail lroach@cablelynx.com

 

[speg]

Phone: (727)938-6522
Use that number and just say you're looking for colorful live rock.. he can give you the other info himself.
I've actually been to this guys establishment and looked over his huge tubs of rock personally... and if its color you're after.. bingo.
He only sells liverock so dont bother asking about anything else.

 

[l.roach]

thanks