Too much rock?

luxo1 · 04/19/2007, 07:09 AM

Newbie here -- 29 gallon biocube.....about 25 pounds of rock. I feel like I have too much rock !! Any comments on set-up? This is the best I could come up with so far :-)

FRONT VIEW

SIDE VIEW

BTW, I keep reading that you should have 1 to 1.5 pounds of Liverock for every gallon of water

How long should I let the tank cycle --- three to four weeks?

Thanks!

scowiii · 04/19/2007, 07:15 AM

Everyone says 1-2 lbs per gallon. Just let it cycle and do water changes when the ammonia gets over 1.0 and you should be good in a short time. But like everyone says take your time.

hmello@bermexin · 04/19/2007, 07:17 AM

Looks like you have a good amount of rock (25 lbs.) Definately not too much. If you are concerned with visually looking like too much you could take one or two pcs. and break them up a little so that you have a smaller stack. you need to let it cycle until the ammonia and nitrites read zero. At that time you will still have nitrates reading. That is the time to do the first water change to bring the nitrates down. Then add some snails and hermits if you want them. By that time you start to see some algae and diatom start to grow. Wait a week or two after adding the snails and hermits all the while measuring for nitrites and nitrates. Perform once per week 10% water changes. If all is going well and you are not getting nitrite spikes after that time you could probably add a fish. Keep us posted with pics please.

luxo1 · 04/19/2007, 07:30 AM

Thanks.....I think the 29 gallon biocube is not actually 29 gallons, but more like 24 or 25.....I wonder if the the other 4 gallons are in the back of the tank, where the filter is.
I think this weekend. I'll take a hammer and chisel and break some rock up --- I can't imagine having any room for corals and a few fish --- the rock takes up the whole tank!
I am surprised at my low chemical levels -- will take my time and let the tank cycle with nothing in it but the rock for about 3 weeks.

hmello@bermexin · 04/19/2007, 07:38 AM

I have a 29 gal bio cube too. You are right after the rocks and sand there is less than 29 gals for sure.
Here is a picture of mine.
[IMG]

[/IMG]

luxo1 · 04/19/2007, 07:42 AM

Henry: Looks good, and it looks like you have a lot less rock than me ! ? !

Is that a pump/light behind the clown fish?

uyenk · 04/19/2007, 07:50 AM

looks pretty nice for me

hmello@bermexin · 04/19/2007, 07:53 AM

There is actually 30 bls. of rock in this tank. 20 bls. of sand. The thing behind the clown is the output from the filter pump. It has what is called loc-lin on it to split it in half so that I can direct water in two differant directions. The bulb looking thing on the right end is a hydor-flo. It turns in circles to add more direction to the flow. In order to do this I removed the stock pump (243 gals per hour) and replaced it with a Rio 6hf at 350 gallons per hour.

luxo1 · 04/20/2007, 12:13 AM

bump

Avi · 04/20/2007, 04:58 AM

I really don't think you have too much rock at all. I think the real concern is more on the side of not having sufficient surfaces on which to mount the corals that you'd like to have once the tank is finished cycling an you can add livestock. I think bmello's suggestion that you break the coral up into several pieces may resolve this for you. Just do it with some deliberation as to the result being some "platforms" and nooks that you'll be able to put the coral on and stick into. This isn't all that easy to plan because of the limit to the control that that you'll have when breaking up your rock. But once that's done, you can use epoxy to set your corals on the rock...when you're ready to do that there'd be plenty of help for you here.

luxo1 · 04/20/2007, 06:11 AM

Thanks Avi.....I will break some up this weekend...I have a hammer and a screwdriver, (I hope that will work)

They are large chunks....will having the rock out of the water for any period of time kill anything?? I am already seeing lots of signs of life. I live in an apartment, and am going to have to go outside to do this.

Thanks.

Avi · 04/20/2007, 06:46 AM

Well, now that it's getting warmer...at least it is here, finally...it shouldn't be too much of a problem, though it might set the life on the rock back a little bit. But, overall, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

By the way, a chisel with a broader blade would probably make this "project" a lot easier. Sometime, depending on the softness of the rock, a screwdriver tends to just stab into the rock.

fareforce · 04/20/2007, 09:24 AM

I dont think it is to much rock. I have about 50-55 lbs in my 22 cube. Most people say that is to much, but I wanted a lot of places to mount corals. So it really comes down to what you want to do with your tank.

Front pic:

Side Pic:

luxo1 · 04/21/2007, 03:33 PM

Took the hammer, took a screwdriver, broke some of it up, and now the water is cloudy as all get out. Will post a new pic, when it cleans up. One week down in the "cycle".

Avi · 04/21/2007, 03:48 PM

Don't worry at all about the cloudiness, luxo. That's just the tiny particles of rock that resulted from the splitting. It will settle down and be skimmed or filtered off very quickly.

luxo1 · 04/21/2007, 04:56 PM

Yep...thanks Avi.

Being a good boy and waiting my month before I add any life to the tank.....Man, that saltwater gets everywhere, you see little patches of salt all over the apartment when the water portion dries up!

gistsc · 04/21/2007, 08:58 PM

I think it is a matter of choice. Biologically speaking, I do not think you can have to much LR. I have 45 LBS in my 29, and I have another 20 in QT to be put in at a latter date.

Nano Chris · 04/22/2007, 07:29 AM

Looks good to me, i don't think its too much, like the rock though nice colors.

hmello@bermexin · 04/22/2007, 08:31 AM

Post a new pic with the broken up rocks. Can't wait to see how it looks now.

luxo1 · 04/22/2007, 10:42 AM

I will do that......now, I have all of this dead stuff on the rocks.....brown, dead stuff, there has always been some there, just seems to be more of it.

Brushed some of it off yesterday when I moved the rocks around...(aqua gloves are GREAT) the stuff is sitting on the live sand. I'm hoping this is what happens when you let your tank cycle and you finish curing your live rock in your tank. There is some life on the rocks as well....I'll post some pics.

---Chip

bilge rat · 04/22/2007, 11:20 AM

as others have stated i think its personnal pref. what kind of environment r u trying to create for the future inhabs. I have a 34g cad with 45lbs LR and 20lbs LS. I found that diff LR has diff mass and subsequent wt. I tried to find less dense peices for top still good surface area but cheaper and displaces less water. at any rate their are tons of pics and guides for aquascaping. im going to focus on mostly corals and inverts maybe 2-3 fish. i have about 15lbs of my total in the built in fuge in back. have fun with it...ive changed mine 4 times now and am mostly content with it...but wait...if i move that rock over to the left...and that one over there...hmmm

joshuah

luxo1 · 04/22/2007, 11:46 AM

New Rock Setup!

Brown stuff on rocks, hope it's normal during cycling....I know you can't see it very well.

NOTE: it is NOT the natural brown part of the rock.

Who is my hitchhiker, have at least two of them?

luxo1 · 04/22/2007, 12:31 PM

Oh no, one of the hitchhikers, (the snail like thing) died. He's floating in the tank... :-(

Avi · 04/22/2007, 06:56 PM

The "brown stuff" appears to be diatoms. These are very small marine animals that thrive on silicates, along with light. They are not algae but are often confused with it. In any event, like already said, it thrives on silicates and that most likely came into your tank with the sand which you have a good deal of. It will usually pass on its own and is a common occurrence in the early stages of a marine setup. Don't worry about it now. If it remains for a prolonged period of time and doesn't recede, then there are measures that can be taken to get rid of it.

luxo1 · 04/22/2007, 07:23 PM

Avi: So keep the tank running, to cycle for another three weeks? None of the water readings have changed.

04/19/2007, 07:09 AM	#1
luxo1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 418	Too much rock? Newbie here -- 29 gallon biocube.....about 25 pounds of rock. I feel like I have too much rock !! Any comments on set-up? This is the best I could come up with so far :-) FRONT VIEW SIDE VIEW BTW, I keep reading that you should have 1 to 1.5 pounds of Liverock for every gallon of water How long should I let the tank cycle --- three to four weeks? Thanks! Last edited by luxo1; 04/19/2007 at 07:31 AM.

04/19/2007, 07:17 AM	#3
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	Looks like you have a good amount of rock (25 lbs.) Definately not too much. If you are concerned with visually looking like too much you could take one or two pcs. and break them up a little so that you have a smaller stack. you need to let it cycle until the ammonia and nitrites read zero. At that time you will still have nitrates reading. That is the time to do the first water change to bring the nitrates down. Then add some snails and hermits if you want them. By that time you start to see some algae and diatom start to grow. Wait a week or two after adding the snails and hermits all the while measuring for nitrites and nitrates. Perform once per week 10% water changes. If all is going well and you are not getting nitrite spikes after that time you could probably add a fish. Keep us posted with pics please. __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

04/19/2007, 07:38 AM	#5
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	I have a 29 gal bio cube too. You are right after the rocks and sand there is less than 29 gals for sure. Here is a picture of mine. [IMG][/IMG] __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

04/19/2007, 07:50 AM	#7
uyenk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Indonesia Posts: 118	looks pretty nice for me __________________ something goes wrong? corals doesnt care about paramater, all they need is good, new, and right saltwater period. so... DO WATER CHANGE !!!! Current Tank Info: 2 x 50gallon reef and FO

04/19/2007, 07:53 AM	#8
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	There is actually 30 bls. of rock in this tank. 20 bls. of sand. The thing behind the clown is the output from the filter pump. It has what is called loc-lin on it to split it in half so that I can direct water in two differant directions. The bulb looking thing on the right end is a hydor-flo. It turns in circles to add more direction to the flow. In order to do this I removed the stock pump (243 gals per hour) and replaced it with a Rio 6hf at 350 gallons per hour. __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

04/19/2007, 07:15 AM	#2
scowiii Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 427	Everyone says 1-2 lbs per gallon. Just let it cycle and do water changes when the ammonia gets over 1.0 and you should be good in a short time. But like everyone says take your time.

04/19/2007, 07:30 AM	#4
luxo1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 418	Thanks.....I think the 29 gallon biocube is not actually 29 gallons, but more like 24 or 25.....I wonder if the the other 4 gallons are in the back of the tank, where the filter is. I think this weekend. I'll take a hammer and chisel and break some rock up --- I can't imagine having any room for corals and a few fish --- the rock takes up the whole tank! I am surprised at my low chemical levels -- will take my time and let the tank cycle with nothing in it but the rock for about 3 weeks.

04/19/2007, 07:42 AM	#6
luxo1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 418	Henry: Looks good, and it looks like you have a lot less rock than me ! ? ! Is that a pump/light behind the clown fish?

04/20/2007, 12:13 AM	#9
luxo1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 418	bump

04/20/2007, 04:58 AM	#10
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	I really don't think you have too much rock at all. I think the real concern is more on the side of not having sufficient surfaces on which to mount the corals that you'd like to have once the tank is finished cycling an you can add livestock. I think bmello's suggestion that you break the coral up into several pieces may resolve this for you. Just do it with some deliberation as to the result being some "platforms" and nooks that you'll be able to put the coral on and stick into. This isn't all that easy to plan because of the limit to the control that that you'll have when breaking up your rock. But once that's done, you can use epoxy to set your corals on the rock...when you're ready to do that there'd be plenty of help for you here. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

04/20/2007, 06:11 AM	#11
luxo1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 418	Thanks Avi.....I will break some up this weekend...I have a hammer and a screwdriver, (I hope that will work) They are large chunks....will having the rock out of the water for any period of time kill anything?? I am already seeing lots of signs of life. I live in an apartment, and am going to have to go outside to do this. Thanks.

04/20/2007, 06:46 AM	#12
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	Well, now that it's getting warmer...at least it is here, finally...it shouldn't be too much of a problem, though it might set the life on the rock back a little bit. But, overall, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. By the way, a chisel with a broader blade would probably make this "project" a lot easier. Sometime, depending on the softness of the rock, a screwdriver tends to just stab into the rock. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

04/20/2007, 09:24 AM	#13
fareforce Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Anchorage, AK (Alaska) Home of the frozen weasel Posts: 1,811	I dont think it is to much rock. I have about 50-55 lbs in my 22 cube. Most people say that is to much, but I wanted a lot of places to mount corals. So it really comes down to what you want to do with your tank. Front pic: Side Pic: __________________ It's not my fault!!! It was an I.D.ten.T. thing.. Gosh!!!! (ID10T) --------------------------------------------- Click the red house to see my current build thread! Current Tank Info: Current Project. 110 gallon starphire.

04/21/2007, 03:33 PM	#14
luxo1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 418	Took the hammer, took a screwdriver, broke some of it up, and now the water is cloudy as all get out. Will post a new pic, when it cleans up. One week down in the "cycle".

04/21/2007, 03:48 PM	#15
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	Don't worry at all about the cloudiness, luxo. That's just the tiny particles of rock that resulted from the splitting. It will settle down and be skimmed or filtered off very quickly. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

04/21/2007, 04:56 PM	#16
luxo1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 418	Yep...thanks Avi. Being a good boy and waiting my month before I add any life to the tank.....Man, that saltwater gets everywhere, you see little patches of salt all over the apartment when the water portion dries up!

04/21/2007, 08:58 PM	#17
gistsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: California, USA Posts: 131	I think it is a matter of choice. Biologically speaking, I do not think you can have to much LR. I have 45 LBS in my 29, and I have another 20 in QT to be put in at a latter date. __________________ 29 gal tank LPS w/10 gal fuge 60 lbs LR Shallow sand bed started 3/1/2007 Current Tank Info: 29 gal reef

04/22/2007, 07:29 AM	#18
Nano Chris Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,758	Looks good to me, i don't think its too much, like the rock though nice colors. __________________ Chris ------- 34 Gallon Red Sea Max 130! Setup (Just got back into the hobby) Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon RedSeaMax!

04/22/2007, 08:31 AM	#19
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	Post a new pic with the broken up rocks. Can't wait to see how it looks now. __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

04/22/2007, 10:42 AM	#20
luxo1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 418	I will do that......now, I have all of this dead stuff on the rocks.....brown, dead stuff, there has always been some there, just seems to be more of it. Brushed some of it off yesterday when I moved the rocks around...(aqua gloves are GREAT) the stuff is sitting on the live sand. I'm hoping this is what happens when you let your tank cycle and you finish curing your live rock in your tank. There is some life on the rocks as well....I'll post some pics. ---Chip

04/22/2007, 11:20 AM	#21
bilge rat Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Golden, Colorado Posts: 142	as others have stated i think its personnal pref. what kind of environment r u trying to create for the future inhabs. I have a 34g cad with 45lbs LR and 20lbs LS. I found that diff LR has diff mass and subsequent wt. I tried to find less dense peices for top still good surface area but cheaper and displaces less water. at any rate their are tons of pics and guides for aquascaping. im going to focus on mostly corals and inverts maybe 2-3 fish. i have about 15lbs of my total in the built in fuge in back. have fun with it...ive changed mine 4 times now and am mostly content with it...but wait...if i move that rock over to the left...and that one over there...hmmm joshuah __________________ my priorities have changed... priority #1. everything else can wait priority #2. see priority #1 reef madness...its very contagious Current Tank Info: 34g sw

04/22/2007, 11:46 AM	#22
luxo1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 418	New rock formation and Mystery friend New Rock Setup! Brown stuff on rocks, hope it's normal during cycling....I know you can't see it very well. NOTE: it is NOT the natural brown part of the rock. Who is my hitchhiker, have at least two of them?

04/22/2007, 12:31 PM	#23
luxo1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 418	Oh no, one of the hitchhikers, (the snail like thing) died. He's floating in the tank... :-(

04/22/2007, 06:56 PM	#24
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	The "brown stuff" appears to be diatoms. These are very small marine animals that thrive on silicates, along with light. They are not algae but are often confused with it. In any event, like already said, it thrives on silicates and that most likely came into your tank with the sand which you have a good deal of. It will usually pass on its own and is a common occurrence in the early stages of a marine setup. Don't worry about it now. If it remains for a prolonged period of time and doesn't recede, then there are measures that can be taken to get rid of it. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

04/22/2007, 07:23 PM	#25
luxo1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 418	Avi: So keep the tank running, to cycle for another three weeks? None of the water readings have changed.