Live Rock

grouper25 · 01/06/2007, 08:22 AM

I have about 140 lbs of very nice live aquacultured Florida rock with lots of growth I just received two days ago sitting a tub with 45 gallons of satwater, light and flow. I need to do a water change quickly but am using my R/O system to fill my 220 which is 3/4 full.

The question is can I use regular tap water to do the water change instead of sacrificing another 45 gallons of r/o water which I want to continue putting in my tank???? Would this hurt the live rock???

I would plan to place the live rock in the big tank in two days.
Thanks mates,
G25

alizarin · 01/06/2007, 08:38 AM

A rule of thumb in the hobby is not to do things quickly... why do you need to do a water change if you're presumedly going to put your rock in a new tank soon?

BUT, to answer your question - Everybody's local water supply is different but it can have chlorine, choloramine (including ammonia when it breaks down), nutrients, and maybe copper from pipes. If you're confidient at your ability to remove the chorline (and ammonia) you'll probably just encourage algae to grow which wouldn't be a big deal if it's only a few days.

Personally I'd use the R/O water if I had to do a water change.

grouper25 · 01/06/2007, 08:47 AM

The reason for the water change was that my amonia was high in the tub. If I used 45 gallons of r/o, that sets me back 1.3 days from getting the big tank filled since my r/o system only produces 35 gallons per day. Just thought the amonia would be killing all the good stuff on my live rock.
Thanks,
G25

Vitaly · 01/06/2007, 10:40 AM

Do you need to do a 100% water change...you could just do a 20% today (9 gallons) and then another 20% in another day or two; thereby reducing your water consumption.

The other option to consider is buying RO/DI water from your local LFS or grocery store (some have self fill stations...29 cents a gallon at Meijer here in IL).

I am not sure what critters you have on your rock, but assuming it is just the typical bacteria populations, coralline algae, sponges, pods, etc...I think they are rather hardy and survive the nastiness of the cycle.

When I was cycling my rock, the ammonia was elavated, but I do not concenr myself to mcuh with it. I took it as a sign of the cycling processs. Did an ocassional 10% water change to help keep to from getting too high, and then waited for it to complete on it own.

01/06/2007, 08:22 AM	#1
grouper25 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: nj Posts: 523	Live Rock I have about 140 lbs of very nice live aquacultured Florida rock with lots of growth I just received two days ago sitting a tub with 45 gallons of satwater, light and flow. I need to do a water change quickly but am using my R/O system to fill my 220 which is 3/4 full. The question is can I use regular tap water to do the water change instead of sacrificing another 45 gallons of r/o water which I want to continue putting in my tank???? Would this hurt the live rock??? I would plan to place the live rock in the big tank in two days. Thanks mates, G25 __________________ Grouper25 Current Tank Info: 220 FOWLR, 75 Reef, 55 Exotix Zoas

01/06/2007, 08:47 AM	#3
grouper25 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: nj Posts: 523	The reason for the water change was that my amonia was high in the tub. If I used 45 gallons of r/o, that sets me back 1.3 days from getting the big tank filled since my r/o system only produces 35 gallons per day. Just thought the amonia would be killing all the good stuff on my live rock. Thanks, G25 __________________ Grouper25 Current Tank Info: 220 FOWLR, 75 Reef, 55 Exotix Zoas

01/06/2007, 10:40 AM	#4
Vitaly Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 1,300	Do you need to do a 100% water change...you could just do a 20% today (9 gallons) and then another 20% in another day or two; thereby reducing your water consumption. The other option to consider is buying RO/DI water from your local LFS or grocery store (some have self fill stations...29 cents a gallon at Meijer here in IL). I am not sure what critters you have on your rock, but assuming it is just the typical bacteria populations, coralline algae, sponges, pods, etc...I think they are rather hardy and survive the nastiness of the cycle. When I was cycling my rock, the ammonia was elavated, but I do not concenr myself to mcuh with it. I took it as a sign of the cycling processs. Did an ocassional 10% water change to help keep to from getting too high, and then waited for it to complete on it own. __________________ Vitaly A. Stepensky Current Tank Info: 110 gallon reef

01/06/2007, 08:38 AM	#2
alizarin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 869	A rule of thumb in the hobby is not to do things quickly... why do you need to do a water change if you're presumedly going to put your rock in a new tank soon? BUT, to answer your question - Everybody's local water supply is different but it can have chlorine, choloramine (including ammonia when it breaks down), nutrients, and maybe copper from pipes. If you're confidient at your ability to remove the chorline (and ammonia) you'll probably just encourage algae to grow which wouldn't be a big deal if it's only a few days. Personally I'd use the R/O water if I had to do a water change.