Seeding rock

Vanquishxxxx · 04/10/2007, 08:38 PM

A buddy of mine is looking to start a 20g tank, he has rock but it isnt live. Can i give him maybe like 1/2LB of rock and let that seed the other rock over the course of a month?

IslandCrow · 04/10/2007, 08:51 PM

I couldn't tell you how long it will take, but yes that will indeed work. I believe the rule is to have the base rock on the bottom and live rock on the top, but I can't remember for sure, and it may not make a difference with such a small amount anyway. If you're both using sand, you could give him a cup or so of your sand as well, and that'll help.

reefshadow · 04/10/2007, 08:53 PM

Sure, this isn't a problem. A little sand from your system will help too. If you have lots of coralline covering the walls of your tank you can scrape some off into a baggie and crumble it into his tank as well.

The more true live rock you are able to put in with dead, the faster things will probably spread, but even a small amount will have beneficial organisms on/in it that will migrate to dead rock.

Vanquishxxxx · 04/11/2007, 12:17 AM

thought so thanks, just wanted to make sure

oct2274 · 04/11/2007, 01:10 AM

just scratch some off the live rock and scatter it around the aquarium. Make sure his alk, calcium, and magnesium levels are all in check and he'll have coraline everywhere in no time! People overlook magnesium levels and if that is off it will dramatically reduce the coraline growth.

04/10/2007, 08:38 PM	#1
Vanquishxxxx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island Posts: 998	Seeding rock A buddy of mine is looking to start a 20g tank, he has rock but it isnt live. Can i give him maybe like 1/2LB of rock and let that seed the other rock over the course of a month?

04/10/2007, 08:51 PM	#2
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	I couldn't tell you how long it will take, but yes that will indeed work. I believe the rule is to have the base rock on the bottom and live rock on the top, but I can't remember for sure, and it may not make a difference with such a small amount anyway. If you're both using sand, you could give him a cup or so of your sand as well, and that'll help. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

04/10/2007, 08:53 PM	#3
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	Sure, this isn't a problem. A little sand from your system will help too. If you have lots of coralline covering the walls of your tank you can scrape some off into a baggie and crumble it into his tank as well. The more true live rock you are able to put in with dead, the faster things will probably spread, but even a small amount will have beneficial organisms on/in it that will migrate to dead rock. __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

04/11/2007, 12:17 AM	#4
Vanquishxxxx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island Posts: 998	thought so thanks, just wanted to make sure

04/11/2007, 01:10 AM	#5
oct2274 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,347	just scratch some off the live rock and scatter it around the aquarium. Make sure his alk, calcium, and magnesium levels are all in check and he'll have coraline everywhere in no time! People overlook magnesium levels and if that is off it will dramatically reduce the coraline growth.