Will base rock ever become live rock?...pictures included!!!
- Thread starter jer4916
- Start date
rossim
Member
Having it in a salt water tank will eventually bring it to life. As bacteria builds up in the tank, other bacteria will start to grow on the rocks to consume the initial bacteria. This cycle continues on and on until the tank is alive and you have a working ecosystem. However, it will take some time for the rock to turn purple again (coraline algea).
teresaq1
Member
fastest way to speed up coroline growth, is to add 5 to 10 lbs of good live rock. and also, get some small pieces and scrap them with a stiff brush or knife, put the scrappings in your tank. the spoors will spread to your dead rock. I used a lot of base rock, and now about 4 months later i am already getting good growth . make sure your calcium levels are good, and plenty of light. It will come back, just takes time.
rgaskins
Member
I'm going through the exact same thing...I purchased a tank from the forums here and it came with 80 lbs of dead rock...He lived in Fla. and when the hurricanes came through he was without power for 15 days...I have 30 lbs of nice live rock I'm going to add to it...Is there any additives you guys would reccomend to help the process with the rock? Thanks all.. 
rgaskins
Member
Originally Posted by Jer4916
couple things you can do.
1. take some live rock mix it with your base..and it will spread over to the base rock and become live rock over time.
2. sell it to me.
Hi, thanks for the info...I do have 30 lbs of live rock going in with this...Man i can't wait for this to cycle...Adding water as I post...LOL.... :hilarious
couple things you can do.
1. take some live rock mix it with your base..and it will spread over to the base rock and become live rock over time.
2. sell it to me.
Hi, thanks for the info...I do have 30 lbs of live rock going in with this...Man i can't wait for this to cycle...Adding water as I post...LOL.... :hilarious
reefnut
Active Member
Originally Posted by Jer4916
good luck!...
also add calcium...it'll help....scrape the live rock so the sporese will spread to the base rock...also while doing this dont run the protein skimmer for a few days, so it can settle
At this point water changes will be all that is needed to maintain the calcium and alkalinity.
You should NOT add calcium unless you are TESTING for calcium. Then you will also need to TEST alkalinity and add if necessary. There is a balance that needs to be maintained between calcium and alkalinity so adding one w/o the other will cause more problems then anything.
good luck!...also add calcium...it'll help....scrape the live rock so the sporese will spread to the base rock...also while doing this dont run the protein skimmer for a few days, so it can settle
At this point water changes will be all that is needed to maintain the calcium and alkalinity.
You should NOT add calcium unless you are TESTING for calcium. Then you will also need to TEST alkalinity and add if necessary. There is a balance that needs to be maintained between calcium and alkalinity so adding one w/o the other will cause more problems then anything.
rgaskins
Member
Originally Posted by ReefNut
At this point water changes will be all that is needed to maintain the calcium and alkalinity.
You should NOT add calcium unless you are TESTING for calcium. Then you will also need to TEST alkalinity and add if necessary. There is a balance that needs to be maintained between calcium and alkalinity so adding one w/o the other will cause more problems then anything.
Wow...Good info...Thanks for the help....Rick
At this point water changes will be all that is needed to maintain the calcium and alkalinity.
You should NOT add calcium unless you are TESTING for calcium. Then you will also need to TEST alkalinity and add if necessary. There is a balance that needs to be maintained between calcium and alkalinity so adding one w/o the other will cause more problems then anything.
Wow...Good info...Thanks for the help....Rick