Adding new LR to an already established tank?

joem1cha3l · 06/03/2008, 04:30 AM

How do you guys go about this without disturbing the levels of the tank with fish already present? Can I cycle the rock in a seperate tank for 6 weeks or so with the same water parameters and then add it to mine? Let me know, thanks guys.

xJake · 06/03/2008, 04:32 AM

You should cycle the rock in another tank before adding it to an already established tank. Otherwise you'd have a tank full of dead fish and corals.

Tomorleans · 06/03/2008, 08:05 AM

I'm in the process of adding another 10 lbs to my already established tank. The LR is already cured from the LFS. I plan on adding a little at a time. I just put 2lbs in this past weekend and everything "seems" fine..

Rockhead21564 · 06/03/2008, 08:53 AM

Anyone believing that the "cured LR" from the LFS is okay should start reading more and doing less buying. When LR is shipped, moved or sold and leaves the water, it starts the dying process. It comes down to the amount of time its out of water, ie from tank to filled bucket = 30 seconds - little die off. Shipping from wholesaler in LA to anywhere = 1-2days - major die off and basically recuring it. So to be safe, always recure your rock, NEVER trust the LFS, they just want to sell it. OH, and always look at the experience of who's giving you advice. Reading still doesn't equal doing/done it

Tomorleans · 06/03/2008, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rockhead21564
Anyone believing that the "cured LR" from the LFS is okay should start reading more and doing less buying. When LR is shipped, moved or sold and leaves the water, it starts the dying process. It comes down to the amount of time its out of water, ie from tank to filled bucket = 30 seconds - little die off. Shipping from wholesaler in LA to anywhere = 1-2days - major die off and basically recuring it. So to be safe, always recure your rock, NEVER trust the LFS, they just want to sell it. OH, and always look at the experience of who's giving you advice. Reading still doesn't equal doing/done it

Even if it's been in the LR tank for over a month? It's still not cured?

Toddrtrex · 06/03/2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tomorleans
Even if it's been in the LR tank for over a month? It's still not cured?

Then it would be. If the LR has been at the LFS for that amount of time, and the travel time from LFS to tank was short, there wouldn't be any issues.

Over the years I have added a piece or two of live rock to my existing tanks with out any issue -- rock from an LFS that is.

marineaddict · 06/03/2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toddrtrex
Then it would be. If the LR has been at the LFS for that amount of time, and the travel time from LFS to tank was short, there wouldn't be any issues.

Over the years I have added a piece or two of live rock to my existing tanks with out any issue -- rock from an LFS that is.

Agreed! Give it the smell test. If it smells "clean" than you should be fine.... just add a small amount. Whenever I added rock I would add a softball size piece or 2 at a time and then wait.

How mature is your tank? The more mature the better - even if there is a small amount of die off, a mature tank will handle that much better and quicker than a "newer" tank.

Tomorleans · 06/03/2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by marineaddict
Agreed! Give it the smell test. If it smells "clean" than you should be fine.... just add a small amount. Whenever I added rock I would add a softball size piece or 2 at a time and then wait.

How mature is your tank? The more mature the better - even if there is a small amount of die off, a mature tank will handle that much better and quicker than a "newer" tank.

Curious, how long did you wait before adding another piece?

06/03/2008, 04:30 AM	#1
joem1cha3l Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,158	Adding new LR to an already established tank? How do you guys go about this without disturbing the levels of the tank with fish already present? Can I cycle the rock in a seperate tank for 6 weeks or so with the same water parameters and then add it to mine? Let me know, thanks guys.

06/03/2008, 08:53 AM	#4
Rockhead21564 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Up North Vanderbilt, Michigan Posts: 525	Anyone believing that the "cured LR" from the LFS is okay should start reading more and doing less buying. When LR is shipped, moved or sold and leaves the water, it starts the dying process. It comes down to the amount of time its out of water, ie from tank to filled bucket = 30 seconds - little die off. Shipping from wholesaler in LA to anywhere = 1-2days - major die off and basically recuring it. So to be safe, always recure your rock, NEVER trust the LFS, they just want to sell it. OH, and always look at the experience of who's giving you advice. Reading still doesn't equal doing/done it __________________ Sometimes I just don't get IT ! I want IT, but she won't let me buy anything else. Well, that she knows about anyway, Bah hahahaha Current Tank Info: 280g reef w/90g refug/reef & 90g sump;210g FOWLR W/20"Pnthr Grper,10"niger,36"zebra & 24" Tiger eels. 55g clam tank w/ 9,"8",6",5"& 4" Corceas, 9" Blue &12"orange squamosas

06/03/2008, 04:32 AM	#2
xJake Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,385	You should cycle the rock in another tank before adding it to an already established tank. Otherwise you'd have a tank full of dead fish and corals.

06/03/2008, 08:05 AM	#3
Tomorleans Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Orleans(Westbank) Posts: 226	I'm in the process of adding another 10 lbs to my already established tank. The LR is already cured from the LFS. I plan on adding a little at a time. I just put 2lbs in this past weekend and everything "seems" fine..