OK finally got my LR 45 LB's from SWF

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by SH2000
http:///forum/post/2484275
yes I guess my question was would the rock be harmed if the ammonia reached a very high level like 3 ?
Personally, I'm with early, I usually watch for the .75-1.0 range tho, but the point is the same; you don't want the ammonia to do to your live rock hitchhikers what it would do to your tank inhabitants. Cure the rock nice and slow. While an ammonia level of 3 won't be terrible for the rock itself, it would certainly kill a fair number of the hitchhikers that you get with the rock (and some people even believe it will kill some of the bacteria that comes in the rock). That, imo, defeats the purpose of spending $5/lb on the stuff. It may take longer, but the benefit, in the long run, will outweigh the time it takes.

 

[sh2000]

I'm in no rush...I'll cure it for 6 weeks no rush for me at all....I continue with the daily testing and record my results..BTW it was $180 for the 50 lb's and not $5 a lb.

 

[sh2000]

My LFS sells this same premium fiji rock for $10/lb...I'll wait the 6 weeks to save $320

 

[sh2000]

Just did a test the ammonia was at 7.5 I did a 80 percent water change...Just an update I'm guessing any hitchikers good or bad are dead now with the ammonia being so high...I'll test in a few more hours to see if there is an imporovement..I'm assuming this was the spike...since I tested on wed..and it was 1.0. since the ammonia was so high after doing a 80 percent water change how long should I wait before doing another one ? test tomorrow and then wait a few days ot keep doing daily 80 percent water changes or maybe daily 25 percent water changes..???

 

[sh2000]

Update on ammonia for the rock being cured.. almost 2 hours after water change I have 2 maxi jet 1200 in there so its circulating well...
ammonia-2.5
Ph-8.2
sal-1.026
if someone read my last few post and has important info ...thanks

 

[m0nk]

You can change out up to 100% of the water if you want, this is live rock, not fish, so although there are hitchhikers, they'll usually be just fine as long as the temp and salinity are the same.

 

[sh2000]

well what now just wait a few days and do a test and see if the ammonia is going down ? It may be better to just leave it alone for a few weeks and when the params are in check wait another week to make sure b4 adding to my dt ?

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by SH2000
http:///forum/post/2485226
well what now just wait a few days and do a test and see if the ammonia is going down ? It may be better to just leave it alone for a few weeks and when the params are in check wait another week to make sure b4 adding to my dt ?
If your ammonia is 2.5, I'd change out more water now instead of leaving it alone. But once you see the ammonia stay below 1.0 then you can leave it alone, and after it drops to 0 and stays there for several days (you can ghost feed during this time, so the bacteria has "food" to expand in the rock) then yes, you'll be able to add it to the DT.

 

[sh2000]

what should you ghost feed ?
I'm just wondering I have this rock 45 lb's in a tub 25 gallons...so everytime I change out 25 gallons I use salt and I'm running low I pay around $40 for reef crystals that treats around 150 gallons and I got it today and already used 1/4 of it...if i did a 25 gallon water change for the next 3 days ill use up half my salt and that gets ezpensive...any ideas ?

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by SH2000
http:///forum/post/2485258
what should you ghost feed ?
I'm just wondering I have this rock 45 lb's in a tub 25 gallons...so everytime I change out 25 gallons I use salt and I'm running low I pay around $40 for reef crystals that treats around 150 gallons and I got it today and already used 1/4 of it...if i did a 25 gallon water change for the next 3 days ill use up half my salt and that gets ezpensive...any ideas ?
I guess it comes down to what your rock is worth to you.

Personally, I would do what it takes to make sure it stays in peak condition, but this is your rock, all we can do is give you info/suggestions.

 

[sh2000]

OK what and when do you ghost feed and what does this accomplish.. ?

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by SH2000
http:///forum/post/2485422
OK what and when do you ghost feed and what does this accomplish.. ?
Ghost feeding is like feeding your fish, but in this case there are none; hence "ghost" feeding. Basically just drop some of your fish food in there once a day.
This "feeds" the bacteria, but it will also help you determine that the bacteria is able to break down the food without it turning into ammonia. You should always ghost feed at the end of a cycle in your tanks to be sure the bacteria build-up is sufficient to support fish life, but in this case you're making sure the bacteria in the rock is sufficient to consider it cured.

 

[earlybird]

Right and just a reminder don't ghost feed until ammonia and nitrite are at zero. Generally we would ghost feed what we would feed our fish or at least the amount of food and test to make sure there is enough bacteria to break down the waste our fish will make. However you have 140lbs already so I would only ghost feed what equates to a 1/4 cube.
You still have some nice rock and you moved fast enough that you could still save some critters. Keep up with the water changes and get used to using up salt. It's like gas for the car. Keep in mind that after you introduce the rock to your DT you can go to your LFS and hand select cured rock out of their tanks. I would still QT the rock but it will be filled with life and when put in your DT it will seed your tank and rocks.

 

[sh2000]

thanks but to be honest i bought the rock for the rock not hitchikers or crabs or anything just fiji rock to match the other 120 in the dt ... i will ghost feed thanks

 

[sh2000]

update: just did 100% water change....the levels b4 the water change were
ammonia-2.5
salinity-1.027
temp-80
ph-8.0

 

[sh2000]

update after the 100 percent water change levels are
ph-8.2
sal-1.026
temp-80F
ammonia-0.25

 

[sh2000]

now just wait till levels read 0 ?

 

[sh2000]

what type of hitchikers would u expect to get from ordering 45 lb's of LR from this site ? which wuld be bad and which would be good ?
now that my ammoniais at 0.25 just wait till it reads 0 then wait a few days retest and put into the DT.

 

[earlybird]

All sorts of hitchers most good and most are microscopic. Hitchers I've found are sponges, worms, small crabs, starfish, snails, vermetid snails, pods etc.

 

[sh2000]

so now leave it till levels are 0 then wait a few days and retest then im ok to put in dt ? anything else i should do this cant spike my dt I have 45 corals in there...