Yet another Live Rock question

97wing

97wing

New Member
Well my 29 has been filled with water and 2" of sand now for about three weeks. I may have my coin up enough to order 50 lbs of live rock from here.
My question is... my tank is empty of life forms, should I just buy all 50 at once and cure it in the tank? Or should I buy half now and cure in the tank and buy half later and cure outside the tank?
If I elect to cure in the tank, how often and how much water changes are needed?
thanks
Steve
 
salt210

salt210

Active Member
I believe that since there is no fish or other life in there you would be ok curing it in the tank
 
subielover

subielover

Active Member
Put all 50 pounds in, as long as it fits, and let it cycle for 4 weeks or so. Keep testing your water regularly, about every other or every 3 days, for ammonia and nitrites and nitrates once they go up and return to zero, you are good to add some livestock. After that you can add a cuc and 2 more weeks or so after that you could add your first fish. The live rock is all you need to cycle the tank. You don't even have to keep your lights on
 
fishtk75

fishtk75

Member
Do not start your skimmer till four weeks is over then start it to pull out dead organics. No water changing if you do you will pull out good bacteria for cycling. and then wait and wait all good things take time this is one of then.
 
97wing

97wing

New Member
Another question: (I am putting all 50 lbs in aquarium with no life)
I find all types of methods to do these things...
When the rock arrives, should I fresh water dip?
Should I clean with a brush?
Should I just put it in the tank ASAP?
My salinity is correct and my temp is 79. I have (2) Koralia #2s for circulation.
I am open for suggestions from those that have been here before.
Steve
 
V

vinnyraptor

Guest
scrub it and then add. no dip. dont do any water changes till the tank is cycled and dont run skimmer till then also. run the lights normally though. and feed the tank once a day. then add a cleaner crew and go from there. good luck!
Originally Posted by 97wing
http:///forum/post/2744375
Another question: (I am putting all 50 lbs in aquarium with no life)
I find all types of methods to do these things...
When the rock arrives, should I fresh water dip?
Should I clean with a brush?
Should I just put it in the tank ASAP?
My salinity is correct and my temp is 79. I have (2) Koralia #2s for circulation.
I am open for suggestions from those that have been here before.
Steve
 
97wing

97wing

New Member
I was going to use the water that I have to drain from the tank to allow room for the rocks.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Originally Posted by 97wing
http:///forum/post/2744775
I was going to use the water that I have to drain from the tank to allow room for the rocks.
This is a good option. A little light scrubbing and rinsing prior to addition to display tank. Would add that during cycle watch ammonia level and when it gets to .5 do a 10% water change. This will help to save any life from ammonia poisoning during the cycle. Not all do this but IMO it is a good practice, will prolong the cycle a tad but well worth saving the potential life form on the rock. After all that is what you are paying a premium for. If you just wanted rock you could cycle with base rock with no hitch hikers and have the same results sans any life.
 
leopard_babe

leopard_babe

Active Member
I ordered 50 lbs of rick from here and put it in my tank yesterday. I am cycling my tank this way.
I brused off the styrofoam (i know i cant spell) and newspaper particles while the rock was in the box. I used a toothbrush.
I then added the rock to my tank, and brushed it off a little more. Lots of loose dirt came off in the tank.
Today my tank is clear, no more dirt cloud. My rock looks nice.
No lights running at this time
No skimmer running at this time
Just waiting for the ammonia spike now.
p.s- my rock from swf.com was awesome!!!
hth
lb
 
statto

statto

Member
Originally Posted by VinnyRaptor
http:///forum/post/2744437
scrub it and then add. no dip. dont do any water changes till the tank is cycled and dont run skimmer till then also. run the lights normally though. and feed the tank once a day. then add a cleaner crew and go from there. good luck!
Hello VinnyRaptor
When you say feed the tank once a day, what is it that is being fed?
Also at what point do you put in a clean up crew?
Lets say your clean up crew will comprise of 30 creatures (crabs, snails etc) do you put them all in at once or a third at a time etc etc?
Cheers
Sattto
 
V

vinnyraptor

Guest
just a pinch of flake or a small amount of brine will do. i think you should add cleaner crew right after the cycle. some think you can do it during, and some think you should wait until your tank is more etsablished.
once the cycle is done, i would drip acclimate all of them and add all of them.
Originally Posted by Statto
http:///forum/post/2758205
Hello VinnyRaptor
When you say feed the tank once a day, what is it that is being fed?
Also at what point do you put in a clean up crew?
Lets say your clean up crew will comprise of 30 creatures (crabs, snails etc) do you put them all in at once or a third at a time etc etc?
Cheers
Sattto
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
Originally Posted by Statto
http:///forum/post/2758205
Hello VinnyRaptor
When you say feed the tank once a day, what is it that is being fed?
Bacteria
Originally Posted by Statto
http:///forum/post/2758205
Also at what point do you put in a clean up crew?
I would add them just before the first fishes.
Originally Posted by Statto
http:///forum/post/2758205
Lets say your clean up crew will comprise of 30 creatures (crabs, snails etc) do you put them all in at once or a third at a time etc etc?
All at once is fine.
 
grubsnaek

grubsnaek

Active Member
by feeding he means ghost feeding. this is when you add a little waste to the tank to kick start the cycle. and to keep the cycle going.
also i would highly recommend on the cleaning crew of either all snails or all hermits.....there is a reason for this...
with adding both snails and crabs there is potential of unwanted waste. when both species are added, and the hermits out grow there shells you need to add bigger shells. this means you'll have many shells all over, not to appealing. if you do not add these larger shells, the hermits will turn to the snails and eat them just for thier shells. which in return is a waste of a snail....i personally only go with snails. and always recommend snails only.hermits cannot stick to glass, so snails a better option...hope i helped at least some what..
 
V

vinnyraptor

Guest
i agree on the hermits, especially red legged. let starfish and shrimp eat that stuff and go with a variety of snails. ceraths, turbo, astria, etc... wish i would have.
Originally Posted by grubsnaek
http:///forum/post/2758716
by feeding he means ghost feeding. this is when you add a little waste to the tank to kick start the cycle. and to keep the cycle going.
also i would highly recommend on the cleaning crew of either all snails or all hermits.....there is a reason for this...
with adding both snails and crabs there is potential of unwanted waste. when both species are added, and the hermits out grow there shells you need to add bigger shells. this means you'll have many shells all over, not to appealing. if you do not add these larger shells, the hermits will turn to the snails and eat them just for thier shells. which in return is a waste of a snail....i personally only go with snails. and always recommend snails only.hermits cannot stick to glass, so snails a better option...hope i helped at least some what..
 
97wing

97wing

New Member
I was considering a SWF reef package for the clean up crew but after reading the above posts, I am open for suggestions for crab-less cuc for my 29 gallon.
How many of which snails, starfish, etc.
 
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