Adding Live Rock

[rstar]

Just a quick question, i plan on buying a large chunk of LR form Colby when he gets it in, and am with out a place to put it other than my main display, im planning on buying maybe 15 pounds or so and its for my 33 gallon, will it cause a major NH3 spike? Is it even safe to just add to the main display? What does eveyone on here do to their LR when getting it, I think this is a good place to start a discussion for newer folk on the subject of LR, so any and all comments would be great! Thanks and cheers!

[Jon123]

$8 - 30 gallon rubbermaid tub from Walmart
$12 -50w heater
$25 - 350gph powerhead

not having to recycle your displaytank - priceless:King:

Jon

[fishaddict]

Do NOT add the LR to your main tank. Especially if you have corals and such. Many marine fish are intolerant of the spikes (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates) that come with cycling a tank. You would be hit in the pocketbook, but the fish and inverts would pay with their lives.
Follow Jon's advice.

[scotchy]

I think that would really have to depend on what kind of shape it's in when you buy it. If you get it on the day the shipment comes in, then it will likely need a curing process before adding it to your tank. However if you were to buy stuff that has been in the tank for a while (a few weeks anyways) then I would not worry so much about it because you are only making a local trip (the rocks will only be out of water for a short time). To make it even easier, you can bring a container full of tank water with you when you pick up the rock, that way it's out of water for only minutes. That is what I have done in the past and it has worked well for me.


Scott

[Jon123]

I think that would really have to depend on what kind of shape it's in when you buy it. If you get it on the day the shipment comes in, then it will likely need a curing process before adding it to your tank. However if you were to buy stuff that has been in the tank for a while (a few weeks anyways) then I would not worry so much about it because you are only making a local trip (the rocks will only be out of water for a short time). To make it even easier, you can bring a container full of tank water with you when you pick up the rock, that way it's out of water for only minutes. That is what I have done in the past and it has worked well for me.


Scott

Also depends on how much rock and the tank volume though. For example, if your getting 40lbs of rock for a 20g tank the die-off from that short trip may still be substantial. Id highly recommend keeping it in a bucket atleast overnight to make sure its fully cured. Better safe than sorry.

Jon

[rstar]

Good comments everyone, that being said, how long should one let the rock cure before adding it to the main display?

[Jon123]

Only way to tell is with an ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate test kits. Takes anywhere from 24 hours, to a couple weeks for readings to reach 0.

Jon

[fishaddict]

Colby's rock comes straight from the ocean and is not cured/ready for aquariums. When you pick it up from his store, ask him how long to 'quarantine' it at least. After that time start testing with test kits for ammonia, nitrate and nitrite.

[Stasher]

Why not just let it cure in Colby's tank? I am sure he wuld hold it for you.

[Bayside Corals]

It's really hard for me to hold rock for people as it sells out almost as fast as I get it in!

But everyone is right the rock comes right from the Ocean and it will need to be cured. The rock does cure as it sits in my vat, but it usually doesn't last very long.

Colby
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