Base Rock question?????? (And an algae question)

steri · 01/05/2007, 11:30 AM

I have 45 lbs LR in my tank right now. I know I need to get at least another 25-30 lbs. My tank looks like it's just about finished cycling. My numbers: PH 8.3, Amm 0, Trites 0, Trates about 5, Salinity 1.0245.

I was wondering, what if I got the rest of the rock for my tank in base rock? How long would it take the base rock to become LR?

My concern is the pet store tells me their LR is cured, but they sell it for $4/pound, and they go through it like water, so I know I can't count on it to be cured more then a week. This was fine with me while the numbers was going up and down during teh cycle, but now that they seem to be leveling off, I don't want to take the chance of the tank going through another cycle. I don't have a trash bin or anything set up to cure the rock myself, so that's what got me thinking about base rock. Any thoughts on it?

Question number 2:

I have a ton of thin layered rusty colored carpet looking algae on my sand. I used to have it on my LR, but the snails I have so far seem to be taking care of it, but they don't seem to do anything about the sand (I got four cheato snails free when I ordered my LS). What phosphate remover would you guys recommend, or better yet, what sand cleaners (crabs, snails, ect) would take care of this problem for me? The LPS keeps telling me snails and hermits will do it, but I don't know if I agree with him. I plan on getting a cleaning crew next week, so I figured I would check with RC before buying what hte LFS tells me to buy.

The LPS is recommending Pink Turbo Snails and Mexican Turbo snails for my tank, but at the store, about 90% of the turbos I see are on the glass and that is not where my algae problem is.

I'm very interested in your thoughts.

zoomfish1 · 01/05/2007, 11:50 AM

You can add the live rock slowly, 1 or 2 pieces at a time without much of a spike. You may get a little, but not enough to do harm.

As far as base rock, should take about 6 weeks to start showing color. That is what I add when I want more rock. In fact my tank has been running for a few years now and I just added 4 pieces of base rock to the structure.

All tanks go thru a new tank syndrome situation. There are specific snails that will help rid the algea, cerith I believe is one, can't remember the other (getting old, loosing memory function).

You're right about the turbo snails, they won't do much for the substrait, but will be good to have in the future. One thing I personally would stay away from in a clean up crew are hermit crabs. Again, further down the road a few would serve a purpose, but initially, not. Stay with the snails.

Just my opinions based on what worked for me.

BurntOutReefer · 01/05/2007, 11:58 AM

depending on the quality of your base rock anywhere from 1 month to a year.....

01/05/2007, 11:30 AM	#1
steri Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Aurora, IL. Posts: 2,361	Base Rock question?????? (And an algae question) I have 45 lbs LR in my tank right now. I know I need to get at least another 25-30 lbs. My tank looks like it's just about finished cycling. My numbers: PH 8.3, Amm 0, Trites 0, Trates about 5, Salinity 1.0245. I was wondering, what if I got the rest of the rock for my tank in base rock? How long would it take the base rock to become LR? My concern is the pet store tells me their LR is cured, but they sell it for $4/pound, and they go through it like water, so I know I can't count on it to be cured more then a week. This was fine with me while the numbers was going up and down during teh cycle, but now that they seem to be leveling off, I don't want to take the chance of the tank going through another cycle. I don't have a trash bin or anything set up to cure the rock myself, so that's what got me thinking about base rock. Any thoughts on it? Question number 2: I have a ton of thin layered rusty colored carpet looking algae on my sand. I used to have it on my LR, but the snails I have so far seem to be taking care of it, but they don't seem to do anything about the sand (I got four cheato snails free when I ordered my LS). What phosphate remover would you guys recommend, or better yet, what sand cleaners (crabs, snails, ect) would take care of this problem for me? The LPS keeps telling me snails and hermits will do it, but I don't know if I agree with him. I plan on getting a cleaning crew next week, so I figured I would check with RC before buying what hte LFS tells me to buy. The LPS is recommending Pink Turbo Snails and Mexican Turbo snails for my tank, but at the store, about 90% of the turbos I see are on the glass and that is not where my algae problem is. I'm very interested in your thoughts.

01/05/2007, 11:50 AM	#2
zoomfish1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 1,659	You can add the live rock slowly, 1 or 2 pieces at a time without much of a spike. You may get a little, but not enough to do harm. As far as base rock, should take about 6 weeks to start showing color. That is what I add when I want more rock. In fact my tank has been running for a few years now and I just added 4 pieces of base rock to the structure. All tanks go thru a new tank syndrome situation. There are specific snails that will help rid the algea, cerith I believe is one, can't remember the other (getting old, loosing memory function). You're right about the turbo snails, they won't do much for the substrait, but will be good to have in the future. One thing I personally would stay away from in a clean up crew are hermit crabs. Again, further down the road a few would serve a purpose, but initially, not. Stay with the snails. Just my opinions based on what worked for me. __________________ Zoomfish Current Tank Info: 75g RR, dsb w/90 lbs sand, 150 lb live rock, anemone & LPS tank

01/05/2007, 11:58 AM	#3
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	depending on the quality of your base rock anywhere from 1 month to a year.....