Tank died, how to mix in live rock?

Nicholas89 · 09/14/2007, 10:25 AM

Ok, so I came back from a trip...someone was supposed to take care of my 20 gallon..didn't happen..

So, my water was down to 40%, heater fried everything. I cleaned and dipped the live rock, as well as cleaning the sand.

Now................... the tank is set up with the original live rock and its cycling again, should I add new live rock right away? Or wait for this cycle to end to add more?

(purpose of adding new live rock is to reseed life.)

mille239 · 09/14/2007, 11:06 AM

If nothing else is in there besides the old rock, I'd add the new as soon as you want. Otherwise, the old rock is going to cycle, then when you introduce the new rock, you will have another cycle as well. might as well do it all at once! good luck!

nano10 · 09/14/2007, 12:06 PM

Do it all at once, poster above is right you'll end up with a second cycle.

discocarp · 09/14/2007, 12:11 PM

I disagree. Be patient. Let the old rock cycle first.

If the purpose of the new rock is to reseed life in the old rock, you don't want the new rock to have to deal with the ammonia from the old rock cycling (and it will be a HARD cycle I bet). If you let the old rock cycle first, then it will be better equipped to deal with the cycle from the new rock, and you'll probably lose a lot less life. It will take longer this way.

wooden_reefer · 09/14/2007, 12:55 PM

I think you should cycle your old rock first. If your old rock had been enough for biological filter before the accident, it will still be enough after cycling.

How hot did it get? What is the volume and what is the power of the heater? I think not all bacteria in your tank have died. Likely some live. At any rate, if you can get some bacteria seed from an established tank, just a bit of live sand, add it to your tank.

Then add a source of ammonia. Your old rock will cycle.

Actually, if you are patient, you can simply add the source of ammonia and then test for nitrite after a week. If after 7 to 14 days, nitrite starts to surge, then there are nitrosonomas bacteria. If nitrite then drops, there are nitrobacter bacteria.

After cycling the old rock, you may want to get a small amount of uncured live rock. It will be for "biodiversity", not bacteria seeds.

discocarp · 09/14/2007, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Then add a source of ammonia. Your old rock will cycle.

My guess is the old rock WILL be a source of ammonia!

Nicholas89 · 09/14/2007, 01:02 PM

Yeah, I was thinking I should wait at least a few weeks before I add some. So I think I'm going to go with the two cycle process. Hopefully I can get some cool hitchhikers.

I'm mostly worried about having a really weak population of pods and stuff though. I miss my littler critters.

By the way, it was a 20 gallon tank, and the temperature was somewhere around 90, maybe even up to mid 90's, could bacteria survive that kind of temperature for a long period of time?

Nicholas89 · 09/14/2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by discocarp
My guess is the old rock WILL be a source of ammonia!

Yeah, I'm willing to bet a lack of ammonia will be the last of the problems for awhile.

wooden_reefer · 09/14/2007, 01:07 PM

The old rock can be a source of ammonia if ammonification (decay) of dead stuffs on it has not been completed or the water with the resulting ammonia has not been changed.

Adding some ammonia source is cheap insurance, unless the water is cloudy and decay is evident.

wooden_reefer · 09/14/2007, 01:14 PM

Actually, there is a good chance that the heat killed the livestock but very few of the bacteria. "fried everything" may be just an expression. Did you oversize your heater for the tank?

So your old rock may be still cycled!. Quite possible.

discocarp · 09/14/2007, 01:15 PM

The bacteria would probably be fine. I'm cooking rock on the porch in florida right now.

Most else on the rock would probably bite it though.

Quote:

I'm mostly worried about having a really weak population of pods and stuff though. I miss my littler critters.

Don't worry about it. I start almost all my tanks with mostly dead rock with a little bit of seed rock. The life will come.

09/14/2007, 10:25 AM	#1
Nicholas89 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 218	Tank died, how to mix in live rock? Ok, so I came back from a trip...someone was supposed to take care of my 20 gallon..didn't happen.. So, my water was down to 40%, heater fried everything. I cleaned and dipped the live rock, as well as cleaning the sand. Now................... the tank is set up with the original live rock and its cycling again, should I add new live rock right away? Or wait for this cycle to end to add more? (purpose of adding new live rock is to reseed life.)

09/14/2007, 11:06 AM	#2
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	If nothing else is in there besides the old rock, I'd add the new as soon as you want. Otherwise, the old rock is going to cycle, then when you introduce the new rock, you will have another cycle as well. might as well do it all at once! good luck! __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

09/14/2007, 12:55 PM	#5
wooden_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4,670	I think you should cycle your old rock first. If your old rock had been enough for biological filter before the accident, it will still be enough after cycling. How hot did it get? What is the volume and what is the power of the heater? I think not all bacteria in your tank have died. Likely some live. At any rate, if you can get some bacteria seed from an established tank, just a bit of live sand, add it to your tank. Then add a source of ammonia. Your old rock will cycle. Actually, if you are patient, you can simply add the source of ammonia and then test for nitrite after a week. If after 7 to 14 days, nitrite starts to surge, then there are nitrosonomas bacteria. If nitrite then drops, there are nitrobacter bacteria. After cycling the old rock, you may want to get a small amount of uncured live rock. It will be for "biodiversity", not bacteria seeds. Last edited by wooden_reefer; 09/14/2007 at 01:05 PM.

09/14/2007, 01:14 PM	#10
wooden_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4,670	Actually, there is a good chance that the heat killed the livestock but very few of the bacteria. "fried everything" may be just an expression. Did you oversize your heater for the tank? So your old rock may be still cycled!. Quite possible. Last edited by wooden_reefer; 09/14/2007 at 01:25 PM.

09/14/2007, 12:06 PM	#3
nano10 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: south jersey Posts: 620	Do it all at once, poster above is right you'll end up with a second cycle.

09/14/2007, 12:11 PM	#4
discocarp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 2,707	I disagree. Be patient. Let the old rock cycle first. If the purpose of the new rock is to reseed life in the old rock, you don't want the new rock to have to deal with the ammonia from the old rock cycling (and it will be a HARD cycle I bet). If you let the old rock cycle first, then it will be better equipped to deal with the cycle from the new rock, and you'll probably lose a lot less life. It will take longer this way.

09/14/2007, 01:02 PM	#7
Nicholas89 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 218	Yeah, I was thinking I should wait at least a few weeks before I add some. So I think I'm going to go with the two cycle process. Hopefully I can get some cool hitchhikers. I'm mostly worried about having a really weak population of pods and stuff though. I miss my littler critters. By the way, it was a 20 gallon tank, and the temperature was somewhere around 90, maybe even up to mid 90's, could bacteria survive that kind of temperature for a long period of time?

09/14/2007, 01:07 PM	#9
wooden_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4,670	The old rock can be a source of ammonia if ammonification (decay) of dead stuffs on it has not been completed or the water with the resulting ammonia has not been changed. Adding some ammonia source is cheap insurance, unless the water is cloudy and decay is evident.