Adding uncured rock?

reef3r · 10/15/2007, 04:46 PM

My tank is 37g with 40lbs of cured rock, and I have two fish, a midas blenny and a firefish. I bought the rock cured from premium aquatics, and it's been a few months and I haven't noticed many hitchhikers, even at night with a red flashlight. No bristle worms or starfish or anything like that. I want to add a little bit more rock, about 10lbs. If I got uncured rock in an attempt to get more hitchhikers, would it pollute the tank enough to cause an ammonia spike, or will my other live rock be able to handle it?

bertoni · 10/15/2007, 04:48 PM

New live rock could kill the fish and other animals in the tank. I would cure it in a tub with a heater and a powerhead before adding it to the tank.

reef3r · 10/15/2007, 04:56 PM

How could new LR kill the fish? Is it because of the ammonia? If it is, wouldn't the already cured live rock get rid of the ammonia?

natejonesis · 10/15/2007, 05:23 PM

Well it's all variable. You're adding an addition 10lbs to your current 40lbs of rock. Seems like quite a sizeable addition. Maybe your rock can handle it maybe it can't. Why would you risk it. Just do a water change, place the old water in a rubbermaid container with a powerhead and remove the possibility of having huge regrets.

reef3r · 10/15/2007, 05:31 PM

Yeah, I guess that's what I should do. Do I need a light?

reef2 · 10/15/2007, 05:34 PM

no light needed. just a power head and saltwater. u can use a heater but i never have usualy the power head keeps it warm enough.

reef3r · 10/15/2007, 05:49 PM

Thank you.

10/15/2007, 04:46 PM	#1
reef3r Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 471	Adding uncured rock? My tank is 37g with 40lbs of cured rock, and I have two fish, a midas blenny and a firefish. I bought the rock cured from premium aquatics, and it's been a few months and I haven't noticed many hitchhikers, even at night with a red flashlight. No bristle worms or starfish or anything like that. I want to add a little bit more rock, about 10lbs. If I got uncured rock in an attempt to get more hitchhikers, would it pollute the tank enough to cause an ammonia spike, or will my other live rock be able to handle it?

10/15/2007, 04:48 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	New live rock could kill the fish and other animals in the tank. I would cure it in a tub with a heater and a powerhead before adding it to the tank. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/15/2007, 04:56 PM	#3
reef3r Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 471	How could new LR kill the fish? Is it because of the ammonia? If it is, wouldn't the already cured live rock get rid of the ammonia?

10/15/2007, 05:23 PM	#4
natejonesis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 66	Well it's all variable. You're adding an addition 10lbs to your current 40lbs of rock. Seems like quite a sizeable addition. Maybe your rock can handle it maybe it can't. Why would you risk it. Just do a water change, place the old water in a rubbermaid container with a powerhead and remove the possibility of having huge regrets.

10/15/2007, 05:31 PM	#5
reef3r Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 471	Yeah, I guess that's what I should do. Do I need a light?

10/15/2007, 05:34 PM	#6
reef2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 639	no light needed. just a power head and saltwater. u can use a heater but i never have usualy the power head keeps it warm enough.

10/15/2007, 05:49 PM	#7
reef3r Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 471	Thank you.