I am confused NOW!! Big surprise huh?

pmartin727 · 05/21/2007, 12:30 PM

I have a 30g 3 1/2 foot long tank. I now have 30lbs of live rock in it now. here is the inventroy.

30lbs of live rock.
20lbs of live sand.

3 hermit crabs

2 baby clowns no more than 1"

1 purple tip Anemone (Sorry no good with names)

1 small six line wrasse 1 1/2 "

1 bartlet anthis 3"

and about 7-8 Soft corl frags Candy coral, gorilla nips, and three different polips, green mushroom, green star pulip. (really small but nice looking).

Then tank has been doing and looking great. the fish are eating twice a day small morning feeding and med night feeding (brime ,& mises frozen cubes).

My question is after I added the live stock to the tank I think I would like a little more Live rock. I have room for about 25 more pounds comfortably. but being that I have the anthis I dont want to cut off to much of his swimming room. So I was thinking I'b add about 10-15 more pounds.

Is it wrong/ bad to add More Live rock to an already established tank?????????? Should I not add more rock???????????

pmartin727 · 05/21/2007, 12:32 PM

I am confused....I thought the more live rock the BETTER the softies will grow... Plus I am worried about the Six line wrasses diet....... I want to grow all my coral from frags at least thats the plan.

I only want to add MORE rock to make life better for the coral and fish not for the look so much.

FYI - All water specs are perfect. My cal and alk are a little high salt is 1.028, 460 cal and 9.1 alk but I was thinking I might add some hard coral later. So I think Iam okay there.

I have 15lbs on each side of the tank. =30lbs

shag26272 · 05/21/2007, 12:57 PM

You will be fine with 10-15lbs more. I would buy some base rock

http://marcorocks.com/proddetail.asp...5%23TongaShelf

1F2FRFBF · 05/21/2007, 12:58 PM

Adding more rock to an already established system may cause you to go through another cycle, which will likely produce ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, all of which can be harmful to the already-established livestock in your tank.

How long has your current system been up and running?

If you can cycle the rock separate from the main tank that would probably be the safer way to go.

If your tank is already well-established, adding a little bit of rock at a time might be an option as well. You don't want to overwhelm your system.

WaterKeeper · 05/21/2007, 12:59 PM

No problem to add rock to an existing tank. If you get it from the LFS and it is fully cured you can place it right in. If you go mail order or get other uncured rock merely cure it in separate curing containers.

pmartin727 · 05/21/2007, 01:01 PM

Do I need MORE rock or do you think I am okay here with 30lbs

UnderCoverDork · 05/21/2007, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pmartin727
Do I need MORE rock or do you think I am okay here with 30lbs

that depends..do you have any other means of filtration? skimmer? phosreactor?

i would get more LR..it can only do good

UnderCoverDork · 05/21/2007, 01:11 PM

oh, and the "purple tip anemone" is a condy i bet. Most likely bleached white and will fade to a browish color in 2-4 months...or it could be something else
i used to have one..moved around stinging other corals too much..had to get rid of it

pmartin727 · 05/21/2007, 01:12 PM

Water Params.

Calcium 460 ppm
Alkalinity 9.1 dKH
Salinity 1.028
Temp 76 - 79
pH 9.2
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrate 0 ppm
Nitrite 0

Running on

1 Rio 2600gph power head
1 CPR Back pack skimmer
sand and the 30lbs of rock

blkdrgn · 05/21/2007, 01:34 PM

i think it is 1 to 1 1/2 lbs of LR per gallons of water. I think you are fine now but it doesn't hurt to add 15lbs more. You just have to be a little concerned about the tank cycling again.
If fully cured LR you shouldn't have to worry too much. You can put them in all at once or just 5lbs at a time per week to be extra safe.
If partially cured than you will have to watch your water parameters carefully and be ready for PWCs. I would add 5lbs until water parameters are good and then add again. This would keep the spike lower. But the best would be to fully cure it in a separate tank.
The reason why some suggest you have enough LR is that you want to save some space for corals and others.

HPD Turbo · 05/21/2007, 02:08 PM

Is that Al behind your tank?

pmartin727 · 05/21/2007, 02:08 PM

No its not a condy (I know ALOT of Anemone are died for color)
However this one is not..... I am terrible at spelling so I wint even try to spell the name. But it is beautiful.

I'll post some pic when I get a better camera (Cell phone photos suck)

The anemone has been in the same spot since I put him in the tank. (3 months now) The clowns love it!

I think I just got lucky or so my freinds say. I paid 40$ for him

pmartin727 · 05/21/2007, 02:15 PM

Yeah I love Mob movies......I change the back round wall paper once every 2-3 months. I basiclly cut out $5 Posters to fit the back of the tank...

I think it makes the tank look awsome ..with all the lights in the room off and just the tank lights on = Al comes to Life LOL

..Though some of you guys think is is lame!

Icefire · 05/21/2007, 06:17 PM

your salinity is just a bit high

sabbath · 05/21/2007, 07:26 PM

Did you typo is your PH 9.2????? Is so that is way to high.

pmartin727 · 05/22/2007, 08:54 AM

I did not notice that but yeah I mean to put 8.2 PH
ANd My Salinity is a little high... Not much I just did a water change so in a couple of days with a few top offs it should be around 1.026. The tank has been doing great.... I just got a new camera so I'll be posting pictures soon.

Calcium 460 ppm
Alkalinity 9.1 dKH
Salinity 1.028
Temp 76 - 79
pH 8.2
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrate 0 ppm
Nitrite 0

Running on

1 Rio 2600gph power head
1 CPR Back pack skimmer
sand and the 30lbs of rock

Saltwater_Dog · 05/22/2007, 12:37 PM

Add some base rock. It will be alot cheaper on your end.

shag26272 · 05/22/2007, 12:39 PM

same results also, 35 of my 50 lbs is base rock , you would never know , plus it looks nicer then alot of LR out there

pmartin727 · 05/22/2007, 12:45 PM

cool I'll look into that thanks

I'll be post pics just as soon as I transfer the pictures from the camera I just got to the CPU.

Thanks for the ideas !!!

shag26272 · 05/22/2007, 12:46 PM

heres the link again

http://marcorocks.com/products.asp

05/21/2007, 12:30 PM	#1
pmartin727 Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Orange County California Posts: 426	I am confused NOW!! Big surprise huh? I have a 30g 3 1/2 foot long tank. I now have 30lbs of live rock in it now. here is the inventroy. 30lbs of live rock. 20lbs of live sand. 3 hermit crabs 2 baby clowns no more than 1" 1 purple tip Anemone (Sorry no good with names) 1 small six line wrasse 1 1/2 " 1 bartlet anthis 3" and about 7-8 Soft corl frags Candy coral, gorilla nips, and three different polips, green mushroom, green star pulip. (really small but nice looking). Then tank has been doing and looking great. the fish are eating twice a day small morning feeding and med night feeding (brime ,& mises frozen cubes). My question is after I added the live stock to the tank I think I would like a little more Live rock. I have room for about 25 more pounds comfortably. but being that I have the anthis I dont want to cut off to much of his swimming room. So I was thinking I'b add about 10-15 more pounds. Is it wrong/ bad to add More Live rock to an already established tank?????????? Should I not add more rock???????????

05/21/2007, 12:32 PM	#2
pmartin727 Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Orange County California Posts: 426	Do I need more rock I am confused....I thought the more live rock the BETTER the softies will grow... Plus I am worried about the Six line wrasses diet....... I want to grow all my coral from frags at least thats the plan. I only want to add MORE rock to make life better for the coral and fish not for the look so much. FYI - All water specs are perfect. My cal and alk are a little high salt is 1.028, 460 cal and 9.1 alk but I was thinking I might add some hard coral later. So I think Iam okay there. I have 15lbs on each side of the tank. =30lbs

05/21/2007, 12:57 PM	#3
shag26272 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 3,088	You will be fine with 10-15lbs more. I would buy some base rock http://marcorocks.com/proddetail.asp...5%23TongaShelf __________________ .

05/21/2007, 12:59 PM	#5
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	No problem to add rock to an existing tank. If you get it from the LFS and it is fully cured you can place it right in. If you go mail order or get other uncured rock merely cure it in separate curing containers. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

05/21/2007, 01:01 PM	#6
pmartin727 Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Orange County California Posts: 426	So for the sake of the tank Do I need MORE rock or do you think I am okay here with 30lbs

05/21/2007, 12:58 PM	#4
1F2FRFBF Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 456	Adding more rock to an already established system may cause you to go through another cycle, which will likely produce ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, all of which can be harmful to the already-established livestock in your tank. How long has your current system been up and running? If you can cycle the rock separate from the main tank that would probably be the safer way to go. If your tank is already well-established, adding a little bit of rock at a time might be an option as well. You don't want to overwhelm your system.

05/21/2007, 01:11 PM	#8
UnderCoverDork Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Detroit Posts: 429	oh, and the "purple tip anemone" is a condy i bet. Most likely bleached white and will fade to a browish color in 2-4 months...or it could be something else i used to have one..moved around stinging other corals too much..had to get rid of it

05/21/2007, 01:12 PM	#9
pmartin727 Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Orange County California Posts: 426	that depends..do you have any other means of filtration? skimmer? phosreactor? Water Params. Calcium 460 ppm Alkalinity 9.1 dKH Salinity 1.028 Temp 76 - 79 pH 9.2 Ammonia 0 ppm Nitrate 0 ppm Nitrite 0 Running on 1 Rio 2600gph power head 1 CPR Back pack skimmer sand and the 30lbs of rock

05/21/2007, 01:34 PM	#10
blkdrgn Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 250	i think it is 1 to 1 1/2 lbs of LR per gallons of water. I think you are fine now but it doesn't hurt to add 15lbs more. You just have to be a little concerned about the tank cycling again. If fully cured LR you shouldn't have to worry too much. You can put them in all at once or just 5lbs at a time per week to be extra safe. If partially cured than you will have to watch your water parameters carefully and be ready for PWCs. I would add 5lbs until water parameters are good and then add again. This would keep the spike lower. But the best would be to fully cure it in a separate tank. The reason why some suggest you have enough LR is that you want to save some space for corals and others.

05/21/2007, 02:08 PM	#11
HPD Turbo Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: I really dont know Posts: 569	Is that Al behind your tank?

05/21/2007, 02:08 PM	#12
pmartin727 Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Orange County California Posts: 426	UnderCoverDork (purple tip anemone) No its not a condy (I know ALOT of Anemone are died for color) However this one is not..... I am terrible at spelling so I wint even try to spell the name. But it is beautiful. I'll post some pic when I get a better camera (Cell phone photos suck) The anemone has been in the same spot since I put him in the tank. (3 months now) The clowns love it! I think I just got lucky or so my freinds say. I paid 40$ for him

05/21/2007, 02:15 PM	#13
pmartin727 Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Orange County California Posts: 426	HPD Turbo....Is that Al behind your tank? Yeah I love Mob movies......I change the back round wall paper once every 2-3 months. I basiclly cut out $5 Posters to fit the back of the tank... I think it makes the tank look awsome ..with all the lights in the room off and just the tank lights on = Al comes to Life LOL ..Though some of you guys think is is lame!

05/21/2007, 06:17 PM	#14
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	your salinity is just a bit high __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

05/21/2007, 07:26 PM	#15
sabbath Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Twin City's Mn. Posts: 1,771	Did you typo is your PH 9.2????? Is so that is way to high.

05/22/2007, 08:54 AM	#16
pmartin727 Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Orange County California Posts: 426	TYPO YEAH I did not notice that but yeah I mean to put 8.2 PH ANd My Salinity is a little high... Not much I just did a water change so in a couple of days with a few top offs it should be around 1.026. The tank has been doing great.... I just got a new camera so I'll be posting pictures soon. Calcium 460 ppm Alkalinity 9.1 dKH Salinity 1.028 Temp 76 - 79 pH 8.2 Ammonia 0 ppm Nitrate 0 ppm Nitrite 0 Running on 1 Rio 2600gph power head 1 CPR Back pack skimmer sand and the 30lbs of rock

05/22/2007, 12:37 PM	#17
Saltwater_Dog Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Isle, Louisiana Posts: 375	Add some base rock. It will be alot cheaper on your end. __________________ GO TIGERS!!!!! Current Tank Info: 100 gal, 160 lbs Live Rock, 120 lbs Live Sand, Octopus HOB Skimmer, PC Lighting, 2-Koralia 3's, 2-Max Jett 900's, Filter Guys Ocean Wave + RO/DI 75gpd

05/22/2007, 12:39 PM	#18
shag26272 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 3,088	same results also, 35 of my 50 lbs is base rock , you would never know , plus it looks nicer then alot of LR out there __________________ .

05/22/2007, 12:45 PM	#19
pmartin727 Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Orange County California Posts: 426	base rock HUH cool I'll look into that thanks I'll be post pics just as soon as I transfer the pictures from the camera I just got to the CPU. Thanks for the ideas !!!

05/22/2007, 12:46 PM	#20
shag26272 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 3,088	heres the link again http://marcorocks.com/products.asp __________________ .