Live Rock or Rics??

plateboy3293 · 10/15/2008, 08:30 PM

I setup a 90 gallon tank in March of this year. I never added any coral before this. I am going to add 57 more lbs of live rock to my tank they will be cooking for the next 2 months. They will be added about mid December. I currently have 1 clownfish, 1 cuke, 1 pompom crab, a pistol shrimp, longspined sea urchin, 1 serpent star, 1 sand sifting star, and 12 nassarius.
The nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, and phosphates are at 0. Calcium is 450, dkh 11, and ph 8.3. The tank went through the cycle during march and april.
I was wondering if I can add a couple of mushrooms or rics before the rest of the live rock is added?

Rustylugnuts · 10/15/2008, 08:41 PM

How much live rock do you have in the tank now? I would think that the shrooms and rics ought to be just fine if those params you posted stay stable.

plateboy3293 · 10/15/2008, 09:56 PM

The parameters have never really fluctuated that much except during the cycle. The tank only has LS.

ILoveReefer · 10/15/2008, 10:05 PM

Mushrooms and ric's are very hardy and great beginner corals. Lighting demand of both are low to very high. Flow requirements are low to moderate. What kind of lighting do you have?

EvMiBo · 10/15/2008, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by plateboy3293
The tank only has LS.

I feel like you'll have a small cycle if you add 50+#s of LR, considering you have 0 #s now.

pledosophy · 10/16/2008, 12:08 AM

The tank should not experience a cycle if the rock is cooked prior. You can even feed the rock a source of ammonia like fish food, or pure unscented ammonia out of the bottle a few times, to spike the ammonia to 1ppm and then let it drop to build up the bacteria colony in the rocks.

I would have no fear of adding the rics now. I stay away from most mushrooms besides rics and yumas myself because of how fast they grow and take over.

JMO

plateboy3293 · 10/16/2008, 08:12 AM

I am trying to get the mushrooms to spread I am planning on a mushroom and ricordea tank only. The lighting right know is 60 watts since I don't have any coral but I have a mh bulb 350 watts and plenty of actnics and pc to use. Anyone Know how much wattage the tank needs for shrooms?

_E_ · 10/16/2008, 08:49 AM

Shrooms are about like weeds...should survive through any small cycle that you would have when you add your rock. As for lighting, they will take about anything also. I have ones that grow in the top of my tank under a 10,000K, 400W halide and ones that grow in my sump under a 6,500K, 16W compact flo from Lowes (they are even partially shaded by chaeto too).
Eric

plateboy3293 · 10/16/2008, 09:06 AM

Thanks very much everyone!

10/15/2008, 08:30 PM	#1
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	Live Rock or Rics?? I setup a 90 gallon tank in March of this year. I never added any coral before this. I am going to add 57 more lbs of live rock to my tank they will be cooking for the next 2 months. They will be added about mid December. I currently have 1 clownfish, 1 cuke, 1 pompom crab, a pistol shrimp, longspined sea urchin, 1 serpent star, 1 sand sifting star, and 12 nassarius. The nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, and phosphates are at 0. Calcium is 450, dkh 11, and ph 8.3. The tank went through the cycle during march and april. I was wondering if I can add a couple of mushrooms or rics before the rest of the live rock is added?

10/15/2008, 08:41 PM	#2
Rustylugnuts Powdered Toast Man Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 813	How much live rock do you have in the tank now? I would think that the shrooms and rics ought to be just fine if those params you posted stay stable. __________________ And now back to my regularly scheduled lurking. Drill It! Current Tank Info: Buncha parts and tanks of various size. Nothing currently running :(

10/15/2008, 09:56 PM	#3
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	The parameters have never really fluctuated that much except during the cycle. The tank only has LS. __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

10/16/2008, 12:08 AM	#6
pledosophy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 5,290	The tank should not experience a cycle if the rock is cooked prior. You can even feed the rock a source of ammonia like fish food, or pure unscented ammonia out of the bottle a few times, to spike the ammonia to 1ppm and then let it drop to build up the bacteria colony in the rocks. I would have no fear of adding the rics now. I stay away from most mushrooms besides rics and yumas myself because of how fast they grow and take over. JMO __________________ 120g mixed reef 90g QT

10/16/2008, 08:12 AM	#7
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	I am trying to get the mushrooms to spread I am planning on a mushroom and ricordea tank only. The lighting right know is 60 watts since I don't have any coral but I have a mh bulb 350 watts and plenty of actnics and pc to use. Anyone Know how much wattage the tank needs for shrooms? __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

10/15/2008, 10:05 PM	#4
ILoveReefer Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cheektowaga Posts: 851	Mushrooms and ric's are very hardy and great beginner corals. Lighting demand of both are low to very high. Flow requirements are low to moderate. What kind of lighting do you have?

10/16/2008, 08:49 AM	#8
_E_ Professional Lurker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Du Quoin, Illinois Posts: 1,169	Shrooms are about like weeds...should survive through any small cycle that you would have when you add your rock. As for lighting, they will take about anything also. I have ones that grow in the top of my tank under a 10,000K, 400W halide and ones that grow in my sump under a 6,500K, 16W compact flo from Lowes (they are even partially shaded by chaeto too). Eric __________________ Eric "If you think things can't get worse it's probably only because you lack sufficient imagination." Current Tank Info: 140 DSA with basement sump room

10/16/2008, 09:06 AM	#9
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	Thanks very much everyone! __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow