Live Rock question!!

realest · 09/27/2007, 10:23 PM

I have a 55gal tank that have already been setup and already do have corals and fishes in it. It has been running for about 6 weeks already.

However, i have few rocks in there that i would like to take out and replace it with better ones that i can work with.

I am also setting up a fuge tank within 2 weeks.

my question is, if i purchase new live rocks from my LFS, should i go right into it and replace the old ones with the new one i purchased?

or should i put the new ones in the fuge tank for couple of weeks before putting it in the main tank?

or what is the proper way of doing this?

Again, i do have corals and fishes in tank. So i don't want to kill anything!!

coast2coast7390 · 09/27/2007, 10:35 PM

whats the stock list

realest · 09/27/2007, 10:39 PM

i currently have (1) mandrain goby, (1) scooter blenny, (1) blue demsel, (1) clown fish, (2) cleaner shrimp, (1) emerald crab, (7) hermit crab, (5) snails, Corals .... (1) Duncan, (1) Nero Green Frog Spawn, (1) Clove, (1) Yellow Polyps, (1) unknown.

So what you guys think?

BHoffman_5 · 09/27/2007, 10:46 PM

I would let the new rock cure for one month in the fuge tank, Not add anything new to the main tank during that period, Plan my next move for the month, then switch out the rock, and go from there. Your tankis still very young and already probably at it's limit. You don't want to add any decaying matter that may be on a rock to your bioload.

coast2coast7390 · 09/27/2007, 10:47 PM

thats alot for the first month...what are the parameters
well the safest thing is to take out all of the live stock and re aquascape...

i say to take it out so that nothing gets crushed

mskohl · 09/27/2007, 10:51 PM

It really depends on the rock from the LFS and how long they've had it and had it in water.

With any liverock purchase you're going to have some die off and that will cause an ammonia spike. If it's minimal die off, the amount of ammonia may be minimal enough for your established system to handle it.

The best suggestion I can give is to purchase the rock and place it in a rubbermaid tub with a heater and a powerhead. Give it a week and test that water for ammonia and nitrites. If the readings come out good, then you are probably safe adding it to the tank. Just don't forget that the rock you are pulling out will have the nitrifying bacteria needed to convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate, etc... If you can, place the rock from the tank into the sump for awhile.

On a different note, I believe your system is too small and too young to keep a mandarin goby. If you can get him to eat prepared foods, you'll have some luck. Otherwise, he will starve.
Sorry to bring bad news, but I know from experience that to have a fish death early in the hobby can really drop your confidence.

realest · 09/27/2007, 10:56 PM

Thanks for all the input. I wondering, even tho i can place the new rock in the fuge. Isn't that is the same as placing them in the tank? because the fuge is connected to the tank?

So the best way i should do it would be place the new rock in a bucket with pump and heater for days and check water condition. If everything turns out ok, then place it in the main tank?

BHoffman_5 · 09/27/2007, 11:00 PM

I would do the bucket suggestion, since the fuge is going to be connected to the system up front. I would also set the largest fuge I could fit up.

audio101 · 09/27/2007, 11:06 PM

If the live rock is cured and has been sitting in the live rock bin for awhile then you shouldn't see any die off.

sruiz · 09/27/2007, 11:10 PM

scrub of some dead stuff and cycle in bucket/container with power heads . But i guess it just depends on how it looks when you buy it.
How much rock do you have already?? And how much are you planning on putting in?? Im not a pro either but your tank really has not been running for that long. And if you have nothing but base rock, you will most likely see a cycle with most any rock you put in your tank.

realest · 09/27/2007, 11:12 PM

ok bucket it is !! also, during the bucket time. i would imagine i should use salt water right?

sruiz · 09/27/2007, 11:20 PM

yes my friend. always use saltwater.

Nanemene · 09/27/2007, 11:23 PM

Always.

realest · 09/27/2007, 11:24 PM

haha as you can tell, that was a newbie question!! I was trying to be cheap on salt!!! J/k

MinnFish · 09/28/2007, 06:00 AM

What amount of LR in there currently? That is one helluva bioload with a new tank. Slo down before you crash. This hobby is not a sprint but a marathon. Take my advice and put the brakes on. You will not regret it. Just my observation. BTW, what are your water parameters?

taillonjohn · 09/28/2007, 06:43 AM

"haha as you can tell, that was a newbie question!! I was trying to be cheap on salt!!! J/k"

Just use change-out water from your tank, that way you dont waste salt just to cure the rocks. nothing wrong with trying to find ways to be cheap

Shagsbeard · 09/28/2007, 07:18 AM

Some good advice? Slow way down. Everything. Slow down. Too many changes in too young a tank. You're already in trouble with the madarin in a young tank... I hope he's eating. I'd give your tank a good 2 months before making any additional changes like your live rock swap. These things are very sensitive to change. Even changing the dirrection of flow can upset the balance in your tank and require time to adjust.

harryk · 09/28/2007, 07:36 AM

First i would definately stop and not add any more livestock or corals to your tank. It was way too soon to add corals even with cycled rock. you tank isn't even technically established for such a heavy bioload in a short period of time. Any new rock you get should be cured in a seperate container even if your told it's cured. the cycle would just be shorter. most people don't start adding corals until they can keep fish alive for an extended period of time and are able to have stable water parameters. You should NOT have a mandarin in a 1 month old tank. you don't have enought food in there to support it unless he's eating frozen.

09/27/2007, 10:23 PM	#1
realest Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 258	Live Rock question!! I have a 55gal tank that have already been setup and already do have corals and fishes in it. It has been running for about 6 weeks already. However, i have few rocks in there that i would like to take out and replace it with better ones that i can work with. I am also setting up a fuge tank within 2 weeks. my question is, if i purchase new live rocks from my LFS, should i go right into it and replace the old ones with the new one i purchased? or should i put the new ones in the fuge tank for couple of weeks before putting it in the main tank? or what is the proper way of doing this? Again, i do have corals and fishes in tank. So i don't want to kill anything!!

09/27/2007, 10:51 PM	#6
mskohl Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Stilwell, KS Posts: 2,114	It really depends on the rock from the LFS and how long they've had it and had it in water. With any liverock purchase you're going to have some die off and that will cause an ammonia spike. If it's minimal die off, the amount of ammonia may be minimal enough for your established system to handle it. The best suggestion I can give is to purchase the rock and place it in a rubbermaid tub with a heater and a powerhead. Give it a week and test that water for ammonia and nitrites. If the readings come out good, then you are probably safe adding it to the tank. Just don't forget that the rock you are pulling out will have the nitrifying bacteria needed to convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate, etc... If you can, place the rock from the tank into the sump for awhile. On a different note, I believe your system is too small and too young to keep a mandarin goby. If you can get him to eat prepared foods, you'll have some luck. Otherwise, he will starve. Sorry to bring bad news, but I know from experience that to have a fish death early in the hobby can really drop your confidence. __________________ Current tanks: 225g mixed reef and a 75g lps and softy

09/27/2007, 11:00 PM	#8
BHoffman_5 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rio Rancho Posts: 44	I would do the bucket suggestion, since the fuge is going to be connected to the system up front. I would also set the largest fuge I could fit up. __________________ blank Current Tank Info: 46g Bowfront in early reset stages.

09/27/2007, 11:10 PM	#10
sruiz Reef'R Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Searching... Posts: 1,381	scrub of some dead stuff and cycle in bucket/container with power heads . But i guess it just depends on how it looks when you buy it. How much rock do you have already?? And how much are you planning on putting in?? Im not a pro either but your tank really has not been running for that long. And if you have nothing but base rock, you will most likely see a cycle with most any rock you put in your tank. __________________ Don't forget your water change.

09/27/2007, 11:20 PM	#12
sruiz Reef'R Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Searching... Posts: 1,381	yes my friend. always use saltwater. __________________ Don't forget your water change.

09/27/2007, 10:35 PM	#2
coast2coast7390 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 3,627	whats the stock list

09/27/2007, 10:39 PM	#3
realest Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 258	i currently have (1) mandrain goby, (1) scooter blenny, (1) blue demsel, (1) clown fish, (2) cleaner shrimp, (1) emerald crab, (7) hermit crab, (5) snails, Corals .... (1) Duncan, (1) Nero Green Frog Spawn, (1) Clove, (1) Yellow Polyps, (1) unknown. So what you guys think?

09/27/2007, 10:46 PM	#4
BHoffman_5 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rio Rancho Posts: 44	I would let the new rock cure for one month in the fuge tank, Not add anything new to the main tank during that period, Plan my next move for the month, then switch out the rock, and go from there. Your tankis still very young and already probably at it's limit. You don't want to add any decaying matter that may be on a rock to your bioload.

09/27/2007, 10:47 PM	#5
coast2coast7390 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 3,627	thats alot for the first month...what are the parameters well the safest thing is to take out all of the live stock and re aquascape... i say to take it out so that nothing gets crushed

09/27/2007, 10:56 PM	#7
realest Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 258	Thanks for all the input. I wondering, even tho i can place the new rock in the fuge. Isn't that is the same as placing them in the tank? because the fuge is connected to the tank? So the best way i should do it would be place the new rock in a bucket with pump and heater for days and check water condition. If everything turns out ok, then place it in the main tank?

09/27/2007, 11:06 PM	#9
audio101 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Napa, CA Posts: 1,091	If the live rock is cured and has been sitting in the live rock bin for awhile then you shouldn't see any die off.

09/27/2007, 11:12 PM	#11
realest Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 258	ok bucket it is !! also, during the bucket time. i would imagine i should use salt water right?

09/27/2007, 11:23 PM	#13
Nanemene Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 254	Always.

09/27/2007, 11:24 PM	#14
realest Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 258	haha as you can tell, that was a newbie question!! I was trying to be cheap on salt!!! J/k

09/28/2007, 06:00 AM	#15
MinnFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home of 10,000 lakes Posts: 917	What amount of LR in there currently? That is one helluva bioload with a new tank. Slo down before you crash. This hobby is not a sprint but a marathon. Take my advice and put the brakes on. You will not regret it. Just my observation. BTW, what are your water parameters? __________________ 33G Long, 4x54 watt T5, Tunze 6025, Tunze Osmolator ATO, Tunze Streamfilter 3163 Posts about moving an oversized fish to a bigger tank. Is like hearing every stripper is just working to pay for colle Last edited by MinnFish; 09/28/2007 at 06:06 AM.

09/28/2007, 06:43 AM	#16
taillonjohn Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 753	"haha as you can tell, that was a newbie question!! I was trying to be cheap on salt!!! J/k" Just use change-out water from your tank, that way you dont waste salt just to cure the rocks. nothing wrong with trying to find ways to be cheap __________________ John

09/28/2007, 07:18 AM	#17
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	Some good advice? Slow way down. Everything. Slow down. Too many changes in too young a tank. You're already in trouble with the madarin in a young tank... I hope he's eating. I'd give your tank a good 2 months before making any additional changes like your live rock swap. These things are very sensitive to change. Even changing the dirrection of flow can upset the balance in your tank and require time to adjust.

09/28/2007, 07:36 AM	#18
harryk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 262	First i would definately stop and not add any more livestock or corals to your tank. It was way too soon to add corals even with cycled rock. you tank isn't even technically established for such a heavy bioload in a short period of time. Any new rock you get should be cured in a seperate container even if your told it's cured. the cycle would just be shorter. most people don't start adding corals until they can keep fish alive for an extended period of time and are able to have stable water parameters. You should NOT have a mandarin in a 1 month old tank. you don't have enought food in there to support it unless he's eating frozen.