Question about adding Dry Rock

marcwake · 05/03/2014, 12:53 PM

Hello I'm looking for some opinions,
I have a 135 gallon tank with about 150lbs of live rock right now that is run to a 100 gallon rubbermaid sump in my garage. I bought 150lbs of dry rock as I am gathering parts to add a second tank that will be plumbed into the current sump. My question is what do you think is the best way to go about adding the new rock to the system. My first thought is to just rinse the new rock and add it to the sump where I have plenty of room to start seeding it ahead of the addition of the new tank. My only concern is if the rock leaches a lot of phosphate that could be annoying. I have a GFO reactor so if its not terrible I can just keep it in check with that. I could also setup a seperate tub with heater and powerhead and let it seed there where I could watch the phosphates and deal with them seperate from my existing tank. Are there any problems with adding this much dry rock to the sump that I am not thinking of?
Thanks

CJBuckeyes · 05/03/2014, 02:33 PM

As long as the rock is clean (no dead organic matter) and phosphate free, it should be fine to just add to an existing system. If it's going into a well established system and you'll be adding bio-load slowly, I wouldn't worry about seeding it first. I would just rinse it really good in tap water, then soak it in RO water for a week or two. Then I'd follow up with some soak time in heater saltwater, while monitoring phosphates.

I made some argocrete rock a few years ago and cured it in RO water for 3 months, but as soon as I added it to my tank it leeched some nasty stuff. It turned my sand bed into a solid chunk, probably caused by ph (lime?). I replaced this rock later with BRS reefsaver and had no problems.. soaked it in old saltwater, measured no phosphates, dropped it in my sump.

prickles · 05/03/2014, 05:14 PM

Check out tkeracer thread on his new rock. It made me want to follow his plan

05/03/2014, 12:53 PM	#1
marcwake Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Crescent City, CA Posts: 60	Question about adding Dry Rock Hello I'm looking for some opinions, I have a 135 gallon tank with about 150lbs of live rock right now that is run to a 100 gallon rubbermaid sump in my garage. I bought 150lbs of dry rock as I am gathering parts to add a second tank that will be plumbed into the current sump. My question is what do you think is the best way to go about adding the new rock to the system. My first thought is to just rinse the new rock and add it to the sump where I have plenty of room to start seeding it ahead of the addition of the new tank. My only concern is if the rock leaches a lot of phosphate that could be annoying. I have a GFO reactor so if its not terrible I can just keep it in check with that. I could also setup a seperate tub with heater and powerhead and let it seed there where I could watch the phosphates and deal with them seperate from my existing tank. Are there any problems with adding this much dry rock to the sump that I am not thinking of? Thanks

05/03/2014, 02:33 PM	#2
CJBuckeyes Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: San Francisco Posts: 67	As long as the rock is clean (no dead organic matter) and phosphate free, it should be fine to just add to an existing system. If it's going into a well established system and you'll be adding bio-load slowly, I wouldn't worry about seeding it first. I would just rinse it really good in tap water, then soak it in RO water for a week or two. Then I'd follow up with some soak time in heater saltwater, while monitoring phosphates. I made some argocrete rock a few years ago and cured it in RO water for 3 months, but as soon as I added it to my tank it leeched some nasty stuff. It turned my sand bed into a solid chunk, probably caused by ph (lime?). I replaced this rock later with BRS reefsaver and had no problems.. soaked it in old saltwater, measured no phosphates, dropped it in my sump.

05/03/2014, 05:14 PM	#3
prickles Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: AZ Posts: 1,138	Check out tkeracer thread on his new rock. It made me want to follow his plan