LFS live rock question

new2sw776784 · 04/23/2015, 05:40 PM

So I bought some live rock (10 lbs) from a lfs and the salinity of the water they had it in was 1.046. I have tested ammonia nitrate and nitrite every other day. Test results were all 0 ppm using API tests.

Except ammonia it came out as a milky white but didn't change color. The research I have done seems that happens with 0 ammonia present. I also used a second API ammonia kit and got the same result.

My question is should I expect total die off from the salinity being so high or will it be ok? What should be my next steps. The rock was transported home in a 5 gallon bucket and all rocks covered with water. The rock was out of water no more than 15 mins.

Any help is greatly appreciate.

Cujo13 · 04/23/2015, 07:15 PM

How long has it been in your tank?

new2sw776784 · 04/23/2015, 07:35 PM

Since Saturday evening. With correct salinity 1.025 I use an ato and it only Evaps about 1/2 a cup a day. temp range is 77.4 to 79.4. Tank is a 7.5 gallon cube. With hob aquaclear 70 running carbon and a sponge for the moment. I have had 3 other tanks over the last 6 yrs I use reef crystal as a salt mix and ro/di water. First batch of water was mixed with 1 ppm ro/di. I have since changed all filters and di resin. I have had 3 other tanks and iirc by the middle of the first week I was starting to see some ammonia. But this is the first time I have used "live rock" that wasn't out of water that much.

Cujo13 · 04/23/2015, 07:52 PM

I would suspect that with that high of salinity from the LFS that there was not a lot of beneficial bacteria growing. Not sure they could tolerate it. Any life on it at all?

new2sw776784 · 04/23/2015, 07:59 PM

Not that I have noticed.

Cujo13 · 04/23/2015, 08:09 PM

Try ghost feeding the tank. It will take a few days to get the ammonia going but than you will know. Also, I believe the API test kit for ammonia should be a light tan color once the 2 additives are combined with the 5 mls of tank water. Kind of like this.

new2sw776784 · 04/23/2015, 08:16 PM

On the API that is the card I have also. I have tested 3 or 4 times since adding water and it just comes out milky. I thought it was from tests being old so I bought a new kit and get the same result. So I did some research on here about it and there were several threads about it and they all seemed to say if it was milky then it was no ammonia.

Will krill work for the ghost feeding? That is all I have on hand ATm? Thanks for the advice.

Cujo13 · 04/23/2015, 08:16 PM

Also, I just cycled a 95 gallon shallow with 90 pounds of dry rock in a week by using BIO-Spira from Instant Ocean. Love that stuff. Parameters are great, fish are in it after QT and doing great.

Cujo13 · 04/23/2015, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2sw776784

On the API that is the card I have also. I have tested 3 or 4 times since adding water and it just comes out milky. I thought it was from tests being old so I bought a new kit and get the same result. So I did some research on here about it and there were several threads about it and they all seemed to say if it was milky then it was no ammonia.

Will krill work for the ghost feeding? That is all I have on hand ATm? Thanks for the advice.

Yeah that will work or a table shrimp in a panty hose. Hose for easy removal.

new2sw776784 · 04/23/2015, 08:29 PM

I forgot till u mentioned that I am using that bio spira also. I don't know how I forgot about it.

Cujo13 · 04/23/2015, 08:48 PM

Good Luck and have fun. No other reason to be to in this hobby.

new2sw776784 · 04/24/2015, 07:10 AM

Thanks for ur advice

04/23/2015, 05:40 PM	#1
new2sw776784 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: newark ohio Posts: 383	LFS live rock question So I bought some live rock (10 lbs) from a lfs and the salinity of the water they had it in was 1.046. I have tested ammonia nitrate and nitrite every other day. Test results were all 0 ppm using API tests. Except ammonia it came out as a milky white but didn't change color. The research I have done seems that happens with 0 ammonia present. I also used a second API ammonia kit and got the same result. My question is should I expect total die off from the salinity being so high or will it be ok? What should be my next steps. The rock was transported home in a 5 gallon bucket and all rocks covered with water. The rock was out of water no more than 15 mins. Any help is greatly appreciate.

04/23/2015, 07:15 PM	#2
Cujo13 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 189	How long has it been in your tank? __________________ 140 gallon DT, 100 g sump, 20L x2 TTM, 40B QT 95 gallon shallow, 40B sump.

04/23/2015, 07:52 PM	#4
Cujo13 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 189	I would suspect that with that high of salinity from the LFS that there was not a lot of beneficial bacteria growing. Not sure they could tolerate it. Any life on it at all? __________________ 140 gallon DT, 100 g sump, 20L x2 TTM, 40B QT 95 gallon shallow, 40B sump.

04/23/2015, 08:16 PM	#8
Cujo13 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 189	Also, I just cycled a 95 gallon shallow with 90 pounds of dry rock in a week by using BIO-Spira from Instant Ocean. Love that stuff. Parameters are great, fish are in it after QT and doing great. __________________ 140 gallon DT, 100 g sump, 20L x2 TTM, 40B QT 95 gallon shallow, 40B sump.

04/23/2015, 08:48 PM	#11
Cujo13 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 189	Good Luck and have fun. No other reason to be to in this hobby. __________________ 140 gallon DT, 100 g sump, 20L x2 TTM, 40B QT 95 gallon shallow, 40B sump.

04/23/2015, 07:35 PM	#3
new2sw776784 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: newark ohio Posts: 383	Since Saturday evening. With correct salinity 1.025 I use an ato and it only Evaps about 1/2 a cup a day. temp range is 77.4 to 79.4. Tank is a 7.5 gallon cube. With hob aquaclear 70 running carbon and a sponge for the moment. I have had 3 other tanks over the last 6 yrs I use reef crystal as a salt mix and ro/di water. First batch of water was mixed with 1 ppm ro/di. I have since changed all filters and di resin. I have had 3 other tanks and iirc by the middle of the first week I was starting to see some ammonia. But this is the first time I have used "live rock" that wasn't out of water that much.

04/23/2015, 07:59 PM	#5
new2sw776784 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: newark ohio Posts: 383	Not that I have noticed.

04/23/2015, 08:29 PM	#10
new2sw776784 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: newark ohio Posts: 383	I forgot till u mentioned that I am using that bio spira also. I don't know how I forgot about it.

04/24/2015, 07:10 AM	#12
new2sw776784 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: newark ohio Posts: 383	Thanks for ur advice