Time for some More rock then Coral

bobbbm · 01/11/2007, 10:31 AM

The quick History is someone had a saltwater tank I wanted to give it a go.. Little did I know he had no idea what he was doing... I started with a 55 have since upgraded and took all the water/livestock over to a 72 with a 30 sump... and has been running for a month now. All I had was one small Diatom outbreak that is now gone..

Here are the details

1 Blonde Naso Tang
1 Yellow Tang
1 Sleeper Goby
1 Flase Perc
1 Fire Shrimp
2 Peppermint Shrimp
Turbo Snails
Hermit Crabs
1 LTA

2 175W 10K MH Bulbs
1 96W Compact Atinic

1 Piece of Bubble Coral

Prizm PRO Skimmer
Ammonia 0 PPM
Nitrate 0 PPM
PH 8.4
Calcium 500

I know I will need a bigger tank for the Tangs but they came with the Original tank I had and my kids love them so... My Wife and I decided we are going to do a 200g in the living room so within a year they will be moved to there.

Thats about it

This is how the tank looks now except the Bubble Coral, I have been very careful not to add things fast and it has paid off, so far no spikes at all as I took all of the water/filterpads from the 55g tank I started with that was established for 3 years.

the sump has at least 30 LBS of rubble in it

I have not added rock yet because you guys have me terrified that I am going to get a cycle and kill everything LOL...

I just want some Ideas... WHat kind of rock should I get approx how much and what is the best place in your opinions to get it from?

Thanks in Advance
Bob

Lizz85 · 01/11/2007, 10:42 AM

You can avoid the cycle by just letting the rock cure in a seperate container for a while, I use a rubbermaid. That way you let it die off in there before you add it to your tank. Also gives you a chance to get the nasties off of it (if any).

If that is a 72, I'd get atleast 100 lbs of liverock, if not more. The tangs will appreciate it, and so more live rock = more biological filtration, which is good anyways.

I like Fiji or Carribean rock, though the carribean is hard(er) to come by these days. Build it up so that you have some holes in it, but so that it is still stable, and you should be just fine.

bobbbm · 01/11/2007, 11:24 AM

ANy place you prefer for your live rock?

Drew Reed · 01/11/2007, 01:23 PM

You might want to consider getting your LR from a local reefer/s.
It will be a TON cheaper.

Lizz85 · 01/12/2007, 09:17 AM

I used to get liverock from my LFS before they started charging and arm and a leg for it.

You can go a little cheaper by adding 1/2 base rock, 1/2 live rock. You will sacrafice a nice look for a few months, but you'll save alot of money.

Check out marcorocks.com

I've also ordred from liveaquaria.com and been happy and have seen numerous people on anothe website order from tampabaysaltwater.com which is some really nice rock too.

dbrann11 · 01/12/2007, 11:52 AM

I ordered mine from liveaquaria, i had a massive die off so definitely cure it seperate. For me locally, rock is $6.99/lb and it looks bare, from liveaquaria it cost about $4/lb shipped and has lots of corraline and stuff.

Shagsbeard · 01/12/2007, 12:00 PM

In my area at least, there's often people selling live rock cheaply from their tanks. Cultured live rock can actually be better for your tank than stuff from the wild, and is more ecologically friendly. Buy some base rock and trade it for cultured live rock from a fellow reefer.

There are certainly other methods... but that's how I would get more rock.

I've got room in my sump for a bunch of rock, and as it matures I move it into my display and replace it with ugly base rock in the sump.

swtntrl · 01/12/2007, 02:55 PM

Can you buy or dig up any kind of base rock and scrub it clean, place it in the sump without affecting the level of anything?

01/11/2007, 10:31 AM	#1
bobbbm Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ronkonkoma NY Posts: 535	Time for some More rock then Coral The quick History is someone had a saltwater tank I wanted to give it a go.. Little did I know he had no idea what he was doing... I started with a 55 have since upgraded and took all the water/livestock over to a 72 with a 30 sump... and has been running for a month now. All I had was one small Diatom outbreak that is now gone.. Here are the details 1 Blonde Naso Tang 1 Yellow Tang 1 Sleeper Goby 1 Flase Perc 1 Fire Shrimp 2 Peppermint Shrimp Turbo Snails Hermit Crabs 1 LTA 2 175W 10K MH Bulbs 1 96W Compact Atinic 1 Piece of Bubble Coral Prizm PRO Skimmer Ammonia 0 PPM Nitrate 0 PPM PH 8.4 Calcium 500 I know I will need a bigger tank for the Tangs but they came with the Original tank I had and my kids love them so... My Wife and I decided we are going to do a 200g in the living room so within a year they will be moved to there. Thats about it This is how the tank looks now except the Bubble Coral, I have been very careful not to add things fast and it has paid off, so far no spikes at all as I took all of the water/filterpads from the 55g tank I started with that was established for 3 years. the sump has at least 30 LBS of rubble in it I have not added rock yet because you guys have me terrified that I am going to get a cycle and kill everything LOL... I just want some Ideas... WHat kind of rock should I get approx how much and what is the best place in your opinions to get it from? Thanks in Advance Bob

01/11/2007, 10:42 AM	#2
Lizz85 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 67	You can avoid the cycle by just letting the rock cure in a seperate container for a while, I use a rubbermaid. That way you let it die off in there before you add it to your tank. Also gives you a chance to get the nasties off of it (if any). If that is a 72, I'd get atleast 100 lbs of liverock, if not more. The tangs will appreciate it, and so more live rock = more biological filtration, which is good anyways. I like Fiji or Carribean rock, though the carribean is hard(er) to come by these days. Build it up so that you have some holes in it, but so that it is still stable, and you should be just fine.

01/11/2007, 11:24 AM	#3
bobbbm Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ronkonkoma NY Posts: 535	ANy place you prefer for your live rock?

01/11/2007, 01:23 PM	#4
Drew Reed Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bear lake, MI Posts: 252	You might want to consider getting your LR from a local reefer/s. It will be a TON cheaper.

01/12/2007, 09:17 AM	#5
Lizz85 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 67	I used to get liverock from my LFS before they started charging and arm and a leg for it. You can go a little cheaper by adding 1/2 base rock, 1/2 live rock. You will sacrafice a nice look for a few months, but you'll save alot of money. Check out marcorocks.com I've also ordred from liveaquaria.com and been happy and have seen numerous people on anothe website order from tampabaysaltwater.com which is some really nice rock too.

01/12/2007, 11:52 AM	#6
dbrann11 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brooklyn, CT Posts: 102	I ordered mine from liveaquaria, i had a massive die off so definitely cure it seperate. For me locally, rock is $6.99/lb and it looks bare, from liveaquaria it cost about $4/lb shipped and has lots of corraline and stuff.

01/12/2007, 12:00 PM	#7
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	In my area at least, there's often people selling live rock cheaply from their tanks. Cultured live rock can actually be better for your tank than stuff from the wild, and is more ecologically friendly. Buy some base rock and trade it for cultured live rock from a fellow reefer. There are certainly other methods... but that's how I would get more rock. I've got room in my sump for a bunch of rock, and as it matures I move it into my display and replace it with ugly base rock in the sump.

01/12/2007, 02:55 PM	#8
swtntrl Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 17	Can you buy or dig up any kind of base rock and scrub it clean, place it in the sump without affecting the level of anything?