Rookie - Switching to Reef from fish only

vision619

vision619

Member
Hello all. I have had my tank now for about 4 months. I am wanting to switch over to 60% Corals - 40% Fish. I have removed all fish that are not reef safe and am starting to add LR about 20lbs at a time. My question is:
As I slowly add LR I am carefully watching my Ammonia and Nitrate levels. I haven't seen any spike in either as both have remained at 0.0. I am prepared to do a 5 gallon water change if necessary (60 Gallon tank). Does anyone know how long it should take the LR to complete the process so that I may add the next small batch? And perhaps how much I should add each time until I get the total amount I am happy with? BTW, I'm doing it this way because I don't have a 2nd tank to cure it in and my guy at the LFS said this would be fine. Just to pay attention to the levels.
 
rcoultas

rcoultas

Member
Your lfs is correct in that you can cure rock this way - how long it will take depends on how much die off there was. Did you buy the rock locally or have it shipped in? With a quick ship rock that was pre cured you can estimate three weeks give or take to be safe. If this was locally bought and pre cured rock then you may be fine in a matter of a few days. Also depnds on the amount of flow in tank & turnover rate. Definitely watch those ammonia numbers as they are deadly. Did you ever show any increase in the levels?
 
vision619

vision619

Member
Here's a shot of the bottom of my tank. Very plain jane right now. Trying to be patient. I have the base there. You can see 3 15lb LR set in. I will add 3smaller ones to the top and then finally 1 more on top of those to create a pyramid type structure. Any other ideas would be AWESOME to hear :)
 
vision619

vision619

Member
Originally Posted by rcoultas
Your lfs is correct in that you can cure rock this way - how long it will take depends on how much die off there was. Did you buy the rock locally or have it shipped in? With a quick ship rock that was pre cured you can estimate three weeks give or take to be safe. If this was locally bought and pre cured rock then you may be fine in a matter of a few days. Also depnds on the amount of flow in tank & turnover rate. Definitely watch those ammonia numbers as they are deadly. Did you ever show any increase in the levels?

Well I bought the LR from LFS. It's in big saltwater tanks but I'm not sure that would be classified as pre-cured? We went through the rocks actually smelling them and i picked the best one that had no oder at all. Does that sound crazy? I sprayed it down pretty well with the hose.
As far as filtration, I think i went overboard when I bought everything but again I am not totally sure. I am using a Cascade 1200 Canister Filter and a AquaC Remora Pro Skimmer w/ Rio 1400UL Pump. They do an awesome job. I can move things around and add water making the water in there completely cloudy and it's cleared up in about 20 minutes. (60 gallon Cube)
 
rcoultas

rcoultas

Member
So how did you aquire the rock?
Is that a foxface in the picture of your tank? Not reef safe.
If you picked up the rock locally and did not have it out of water very long then you may not have to cure it at all and thus do not need to wait. It is the die off that creates the ammonia spike. That being said I would still recomend you wait longer before adding corals and let the whole system mature a bit. Then you can start with a couple of hardy and inexpensive ones to get started. They're actually pretty easy to care for if you have a well established system and do your regular maintenance.
 
vision619

vision619

Member
No, it's a Fiji Puffer. This was a fish only system and he's the last little guy remaining that will not stay. I am stalling taking him out because he is my girlfriends favorite and she wants to wait until we are ready for corals before removing him
.
OK, awesome. I will test the water everyday and track any spikes. Hopefully it will stay the same. I'm wondering how long I should wait until decided there will be no spike (assuming there won't be)?
 
rcoultas

rcoultas

Member
You still haven't told me how the rock was aquired. Does the rock have coraline color on it or is it brownish / grayish? was there a lot of junk on the rock when you put it in or was it clean?
If there is no increase in ammonia levels within three to four days then it is unlikely there will be.
 
vision619

vision619

Member
Originally Posted by rcoultas
You still haven't told me how the rock was aquired. Does the rock have coraline color on it or is it brownish / grayish? was there a lot of junk on the rock when you put it in or was it clean?
If there is no increase in ammonia levels within three to four days then it is unlikely there will be.

Well I bought the LR from LFS. It's in big saltwater tanks but I'm not sure that would be classified as pre-cured? We went through the (more expensive) rocks actually smelling them and i picked the best one that had no oder at all. Does that sound crazy? I sprayed it down pretty well with the hose.
Actually not allot of anything came off. Not like the original rocks I put in when cycling the tank when it was new.
I think the filtration would seperate any increses fairly quickly. It's pretty good equipment (hopefully).
 
rcoultas

rcoultas

Member
OK - that sounds good - if it did not have the foul odor and simply had that ocean smell then it was pre cured more than likely. Assuming you put it into your tank within a couple of hours then you will have little or no die off and thus no cycle. With and established bacteria colony the little die off that occurs will be immediately consumed and converted - no ammonia spike. It sounds to me like you are good to go and add a little more. As I said before - start off with a couple of easy corals and enjoy - welcome to the reefer society
 
vision619

vision619

Member
Thank you so much for your help. I would like to add about 50lbs more to create a pyramid type structure. I hate having to wait!
I guess it's worth it.

I would like to start with an Anenome for my 2 clowns. Do you have any suggestions? Something fairly hardy? I would prefer green or white.
 
guinness

guinness

Member
i would be careful with an anenome. they tend to move around...i had two die in my powerheads. they can be move corals around that are not secured also. best of luck. that is how i got into my reef, after 2 years of fish only.
 
cubsfan

cubsfan

Member
what type of lighting do you have? anenome and most hard corals need powerful lighting, t5 with indv. reflectors or halides. I agree, the hardest part is the waiting
 
vision619

vision619

Member
I have 2 of these:
Product Dimensions: 2 Reflectors (23" x 5" x 2")
Dual Daylight 6,700k/10,000k: 2 x 65 watt
Dual Actinic 420nm/460nm: 2 x 65 watt
Total Watts: 130
And another 10,000K Dual Daylight/Actnic
About $300 worth of lights. I have a canopy so I couldn't go with Halide.
 
fishymaster776

fishymaster776

Member
srry dude that is not enough lighting for anenomes, anenomes need pristine water condiitons and and at least halides or t5s sorry dude.
 
vision619

vision619

Member
weird. LFS said they would be perfect? what is a T5 and why didn't I buy that? I told them money was NOT an issue. Is it because i have a canopy? these were very expensie lights!
 
nigerbang

nigerbang

Active Member
Originally Posted by vision619
weird. LFS said they would be perfect? what is a T5 and why didn't I buy that? I told them money was NOT an issue. Is it because i have a canopy? these were very expensie lights!
Sounds like you have Power Compacts..T-5's are like reg. flou. except smaller and more powerful, I have Metal Halides in my canopy..
 
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