Removing and adding live rock....

[WhiteTang]

Hello everyone!

I have a 16g tank that has been up and running for a little more than half year.
Everything is looking great and water chemistry is very stable.
I would like to take a big rock that I have in the display tank and change it with a couple other rocks so i can achieve a different aquascape.
Would it totally mess with my setup if I take out the rock and put in new (cured rock) from the LFS?
Since I dont own a car i will certainly have some die off transporting the live rock from the LFS home. The rock will be out of water and wrapped in wet paper for almost 1 and a half hours.
Do you think this is very risky? Or should I try it?
My concern is that I have 2 fish in the tank and I would hate to loose em.

[thegrun]

I would bring the new rock homee and cycle it in a 5 gallon bucket, after thr new rock has cycled, then you can safely exchange the rocks, otherwise you risk a new cycle which would kill your fish.

[WhiteTang]

Originally Posted by thegrun

I would bring the new rock homee and cycle it in a 5 gallon bucket, after thr new rock has cycled, then you can safely exchange the rocks, otherwise you risk a new cycle which would kill your fish.

Is it possible to add dry rock to my setup until it is live rock and THEN remove the old rock?

[thegrun]

Originally Posted by WhiteTang

Is it possible to add dry rock to my setup until it is live rock and THEN remove the old rock?

Yes, that would work also. I would give it 4 weeks and then you should be fine to remove the large rock. The tank will initially be a little low on bacteria when you do remove the old large rock, so go easy on the feeding for the first two weeks after you remove the rock.