Multiple ? - LR,LS cycling/ securing rock

[fishowner]

So here's the deal, I'm setting up my first marine tank and am in the process of ironing out some of the initial details. I plan to throw some plastic egg crate down, position my base rock and then add some fine sand with a top layer of live sand.
1. should i put in the live sand then wait for it to do its thing and once the tank is cycled, order the live rock....or would it be ok to add the LS as well as the LR right away?
and
2. how do you guys and gals go about securing the rocks to each other to make vertical formations?.....is it alright to just stick them together with a little aquarium grade silicone, or is that going to create unnecessary dead spots?

 

[dmjordan]

you can add the lr and ls at the same time. just make sure the tank already has saltwater in it, or have saltwater ready to go to fill up tank.
wiggle each piece of lr after you place it to make sure it is stable. glueing rocks can make it harder to move later on.

 

[mcbdz]

Originally Posted by fishowner
So here's the deal, I'm setting up my first marine tank and am in the process of ironing out some of the initial details. I plan to throw some plastic egg crate down, position my base rock and then add some fine sand with a top layer of live sand.
1. should i put in the live sand then wait for it to do its thing and once the tank is cycled, order the live rock....or would it be ok to add the LS as well as the LR right away?
and
2. how do you guys and gals go about securing the rocks to each other to make vertical formations?.....is it alright to just stick them together with a little aquarium grade silicone, or is that going to create unnecessary dead spots?

As already stated add all at the same time. You will be taking a chance of another cycle if you do it at different times. Just make sure you are ready for it whaen it arrives. Smell it and if it smells fresh should be ok. If smells like something is dead make sure you scrub it with salt water and rinse before adding. Keep close eye on Amm. levels and don't let it go above 1.0. Have water ready incase you need to do water changes to bring it down.
With live rock make sure you have 3 piontes touching and that helps stability. You can glue, epoxy, or put dowls through to stablize if needed. Problem with that is you'll have to stick with what you endup with. Most of use end up changeing aquascaping many times before happy.

 

[tarball]

If it was me, I would add the sand & water first. I would put the LR in a separate container with fresh saltwater.
I would then add sand, an slowly add mixed saltwater to tank. Not 5 gallons at a time, more like a bowl size or 44oz container. Try to avoid a sandstorm in the tank. The sand can take 2 or 3 days to settle if water is rapidly poured in.
Next is up to you, but fritz zyme#9 would be good to add to the tank at this time at appropriate level for size of tank. It will help stabilize the sand bed & help on the cycle.
Once sand has settled down, then add LR.
Its not a good idea to have the LR in the tank with a sandstorm going on.
After a day or 2 I would toss a shrimp in the tank to really kick start the cycle. If you wait for the LR to cycle the tank, they will take forever. Oh, by the way when I say, adding a shrimp too tank, i do not mean a live 1, Dead only...

After all has been done, then you can patiently watch your tank do nothing for the next 4 weeks.... Sounds like Fun..

 

[fishowner]

woo i can't wait!

hey thanks for the info guys

 

[m0nk]

Personally, if you're adding uncured (or shipped) live rock and live sand there is no need to add the raw shrimp to start the cycle. I don't like letting the ammonia get above 1.0 since it can kill some of the hitchhikers in the live rock that really make the live rock worthwhile. Adding organic matter to the mix (especially something as big as a cocktail shrimp) will cause your ammonia to spike really high really fast. If you have patience, and don't mind waiting a month to add your livestock, slower is more beneficial. IMO, just ghost feed (toss a touch of fish food in each day) and let the live rock do it's thing. It will likely help your overall tank stability in the end, since there will be more established hitchhikers living in the rock that will add to your biological filtration foundation, which is the most important aspect to the marine tank. The cocktail shrimp is great to kick off the cycle for a QT or a frag tank, since there won't be any live rock in either of those environments.