adding live rock to new set up

Chago09 · 02/23/2008, 10:19 AM

OK here is what I am gonna do.

Take fish out of 75 gallon and put in cooler(these are safe right?) I will take the Rena XP4 filter packed with ceramic rings from the 75 and put it on the fish cooler.

Then I will take all the water and simply syphon it into the new tank, a 90 gallon drilled tank. I will then take the live sand from old tank and put into new tank. then remove 40 lbs of live rock from old and put into new tank. Then fill the remaining 30 gallons or so with new salt water mix. Turn on the sump pump and wait a bit to settle any cloudiness from the moving.

That night I will add in the fish again, the tank should idealy still be fine since the 40 lbs of live rock will always stay under water, plus the RENA XP4 will be a huge player in the bio filter once added to the 90 gallon.

1.) Now that should all work fine. My concern is I tore down teh 75 and upgraded to a 90 because I want the 90 to be a reef. So I know the laws about not running man made filtration on a reef, it should only be live rock. How much truth is there to that???

2.) I bought about 35 lbs of live rock but it has been out of water for a couple of days now. I am going to through them in a container and fill with SW and run a pump to get it all wet and ready to go. When basically the containers water levels chec out OK then that means the live rock is cycled correct???

3.) When the new live rock is cycled how do I add it to the DT?? can I just add it all at once since they are cycled and there won't be any die off since it will be out of water for like 2 seconds. Or do I need to take time adding it and how much time???

cpl40475 · 02/23/2008, 11:32 AM

I wouldnt suggest using the old sand it can cause a tremondous spike. If the new rock is still moist you will have some die off but it will be minimal. Truthfully before doing this why not cure the rock for a week or so to make sure its cycled and all die off has been removed then add all the rock together. The rena could become a nitrate factory if not maintained. But 75lbs will be really on the lowside for filtration of a 90. Are you running a skimmer and sump? The rena could be used to house carbon or phosphate removers though.
Tracy

mixed_reefer · 02/23/2008, 11:37 AM

A week will be no where near enough to cycle rock that has been out of water for a few days. The sand is a bad idea as wel, i would not move old sand.

cpl40475 · 02/23/2008, 05:48 PM

I was thinking that if it was only out for a day maybe 2 then as long as its kept moist by a wet paper or towel then a week would be fine. It may tank longer but i moved my 75 and had the rock out of water only 2 days kept it wet with a towel. I had small die off and within a week all tests were zero. Thats why i was saying a week or so.
Tracy

02/23/2008, 10:19 AM	#1
Chago09 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgetown Posts: 1,132	adding live rock to new set up OK here is what I am gonna do. Take fish out of 75 gallon and put in cooler(these are safe right?) I will take the Rena XP4 filter packed with ceramic rings from the 75 and put it on the fish cooler. Then I will take all the water and simply syphon it into the new tank, a 90 gallon drilled tank. I will then take the live sand from old tank and put into new tank. then remove 40 lbs of live rock from old and put into new tank. Then fill the remaining 30 gallons or so with new salt water mix. Turn on the sump pump and wait a bit to settle any cloudiness from the moving. That night I will add in the fish again, the tank should idealy still be fine since the 40 lbs of live rock will always stay under water, plus the RENA XP4 will be a huge player in the bio filter once added to the 90 gallon. 1.) Now that should all work fine. My concern is I tore down teh 75 and upgraded to a 90 because I want the 90 to be a reef. So I know the laws about not running man made filtration on a reef, it should only be live rock. How much truth is there to that??? 2.) I bought about 35 lbs of live rock but it has been out of water for a couple of days now. I am going to through them in a container and fill with SW and run a pump to get it all wet and ready to go. When basically the containers water levels chec out OK then that means the live rock is cycled correct??? 3.) When the new live rock is cycled how do I add it to the DT?? can I just add it all at once since they are cycled and there won't be any die off since it will be out of water for like 2 seconds. Or do I need to take time adding it and how much time??? __________________ Currently no tank!

02/23/2008, 11:32 AM	#2
cpl40475 Just hanging out Join Date: May 2007 Location: ky Posts: 786	I wouldnt suggest using the old sand it can cause a tremondous spike. If the new rock is still moist you will have some die off but it will be minimal. Truthfully before doing this why not cure the rock for a week or so to make sure its cycled and all die off has been removed then add all the rock together. The rena could become a nitrate factory if not maintained. But 75lbs will be really on the lowside for filtration of a 90. Are you running a skimmer and sump? The rena could be used to house carbon or phosphate removers though. Tracy __________________ Im just a redneck in a city slickers lifestyle Current Tank Info: WORKING ON IT

02/23/2008, 05:48 PM	#4
cpl40475 Just hanging out Join Date: May 2007 Location: ky Posts: 786	I was thinking that if it was only out for a day maybe 2 then as long as its kept moist by a wet paper or towel then a week would be fine. It may tank longer but i moved my 75 and had the rock out of water only 2 days kept it wet with a towel. I had small die off and within a week all tests were zero. Thats why i was saying a week or so. Tracy __________________ Im just a redneck in a city slickers lifestyle Current Tank Info: WORKING ON IT

02/23/2008, 11:37 AM	#3
mixed_reefer Moved On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 516	A week will be no where near enough to cycle rock that has been out of water for a few days. The sand is a bad idea as wel, i would not move old sand.