Live rock leaching phosphates?

Nereaga · 12/03/2007, 03:34 PM

I have been curing 50lbs of live rock in a 30g rubbermaid bin. There is also a heater and powerhead in the bin at all times.

For the first 4 weeks I changed out 100% of the water weekly. After week 5 there was no Ammonia or Nitrites detectable. I was waiting to add this to my new tank, but money is holding me back for a week or 2. The rock has been in there for a total of 8 weeks now. I have tested the water today and there is 3.0 MG/L of phosphates!

Is leaving the rock in a bin for 8+ weeks harmful to the rock? Should I be concerned with the amount of phosphates present before adding it in my new setup?

Thanks in advance!

steven_dean17 · 12/03/2007, 10:18 PM

Are you feeding the rock?

ReefWreak · 12/03/2007, 11:20 PM

I know it's a debated topic, but I definitely believe in liverock leaching phosphates back into tanks. I had a tank that was pristine, then added 1 piece of LR from someone else's tank (kept it wet, it was moved in less than 3 hours, i.e. didn't have time to have a die-off, and no organisms present to die off) and then I put just that rock into a tank, the rock covered with algae, then the rest of the tank lit up with algae.

Really that's why you cook rock for an extended ammount of time with heavy water changes and heavy skimming. adding some phosban or rowaphos would help as well.

dendro982 · 12/06/2007, 08:34 AM

Same with my LR: kept what was left after downsizing in a rubbermaid container, flow and heater, no feeding. A lot of shedding, nitrates and phosphates.

Adding phosphate removing media near powerhead should help.

Nereaga · 12/06/2007, 09:03 PM

Alright guys Thanks. I will try and add some media.

12/03/2007, 03:34 PM	#1
Nereaga Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oley, Pa 19547 Posts: 1,513	Live rock leaching phosphates? I have been curing 50lbs of live rock in a 30g rubbermaid bin. There is also a heater and powerhead in the bin at all times. For the first 4 weeks I changed out 100% of the water weekly. After week 5 there was no Ammonia or Nitrites detectable. I was waiting to add this to my new tank, but money is holding me back for a week or 2. The rock has been in there for a total of 8 weeks now. I have tested the water today and there is 3.0 MG/L of phosphates! Is leaving the rock in a bin for 8+ weeks harmful to the rock? Should I be concerned with the amount of phosphates present before adding it in my new setup? Thanks in advance!

12/03/2007, 10:18 PM	#2
steven_dean17 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: scott depot wv. Posts: 601	Are you feeding the rock? __________________ The Dali Llama is my "Ommmmmboy" Current Tank Info: 75gal. reef

12/06/2007, 08:34 AM	#4
dendro982 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,963	Same with my LR: kept what was left after downsizing in a rubbermaid container, flow and heater, no feeding. A lot of shedding, nitrates and phosphates. Adding phosphate removing media near powerhead should help. __________________ Multiple Tank Syndrome: 15g shallow hi light - Xmas tree rocks, nps, sps, clams 6g shallow dark - sun corals collection 5g - sea apples NC12 - tube anemone 20g L - frogfish 125g - filefishes and lion Current Tank Info: 6 BB tanks: NPS, filter feeders and odd fish. LPS, sps and clams too

12/03/2007, 11:20 PM	#3
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	I know it's a debated topic, but I definitely believe in liverock leaching phosphates back into tanks. I had a tank that was pristine, then added 1 piece of LR from someone else's tank (kept it wet, it was moved in less than 3 hours, i.e. didn't have time to have a die-off, and no organisms present to die off) and then I put just that rock into a tank, the rock covered with algae, then the rest of the tank lit up with algae. Really that's why you cook rock for an extended ammount of time with heavy water changes and heavy skimming. adding some phosban or rowaphos would help as well.

12/06/2007, 09:03 PM	#5
Nereaga Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oley, Pa 19547 Posts: 1,513	Alright guys Thanks. I will try and add some media.