Cured Live Rock When Brown?

[SkyReef]

I have my live rock, live sand, salt water, and HQI lights mixing it up right now. When I purchased the live rock, the LFS told me it was cured live rock. Though very clean, the rock was not covered with brownish algae, so I had my doubts. Anyway, the rocks are turning a nice brown now. When will the live rock be ready for coral frags and anenome? Thanks.

[muttley000]

Let your tank mature at least 6 months and preferrably a year before the nem. Have you measured ammonia in the tank yet?

[Sugar Magnolia]

The ONLY way to tell if your tank is fully cycled is to test your water. Once ammonia and nitrite have reached zero and the nitrates are <20ppm you can consider your tank cycled. (rock cured)

As far as an anemone is concerned, they are best left alone until the tank is fully established, preferably a year or so in.

[muttley000]

Woops, didn't get to finish! After Ammonia and Nitrites hit zero, I would add a clean up crew and observe for 30 days before trying a hardy coral.

[SkyReef]

Originally Posted by muttley000

Let your tank mature at least 6 months and preferrably a year before the nem. Have you measured ammonia in the tank yet?

Hi, Muttley: Thanks for your reply. I haven't measured ammonia, yet. But I will in about 2 weeks. I thought I'd give it about a month cycling before fussing with that. But am I right about the browning being a sign of curing?

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

The ONLY way to tell if your tank is fully cycled is to test your water. Once ammonia and nitrite have reached zero and the nitrates are <20ppm you can consider your tank cycled. (rock cured)

As far as an anemone is concerned, they are best left alone until the tank is fully established, preferably a year or so in.

Thanks, Sugar: I'll test in a couple of weeks. I was just asking ball-park wise whether the sign of browning is a sign of curing. A year's wait for anenome will be worth it. So anenome way after live coral frags have been established. Got it.

Originally Posted by muttley000

Woops, didn't get to finish! After Ammonia and Nitrites hit zero, I would add a clean up crew and observe for 30 days before trying a hardy coral.

Thanks, Muttley. What would you put in there for a cleanup crew? Cleaner shrimp and gobies? How many? How many to add over time at what pace?

Thanks.

[Anemone]

Originally Posted by SkyReef

But am I right about the browning being a sign of curing?

No, browing is simply the presence of nutrients and light promoting the growth of algae. Both fully cured and uncured rock can "brown" like this, depending upon conditions.

Your rock is "cured" when your tank is fully cycled - ammonia and nitrites both zero. It means all the stuff that's going to "die off" on the fresh-from-the-ocean rock has, and the bacteria population has recovered enough to handle the ammonia produced.

And an appropriate clean-up crew would be a few types of snails (number dependent upon tank size) and possibly some less aggressive hermit crabs. Neither cleaner shrimp nor gobies qualify as a "clean up crew" for this discussion.

Kevin

[SkyReef]

Originally Posted by Anemone

No, browing is simply the presence of nutrients and light promoting the growth of algae. Both fully cured and uncured rock can "brown" like this, depending upon conditions.

Your rock is "cured" when your tank is fully cycled - ammonia and nitrites both zero. It means all the stuff that's going to "die off" on the fresh-from-the-ocean rock has, and the bacteria population has recovered enough to handle the ammonia produced.

And an appropriate clean-up crew would be a few types of snails (number dependent upon tank size) and possibly some less aggressive hermit crabs. Neither cleaner shrimp nor gobies qualify as a "clean up crew" for this discussion.

Kevin

Wow. Very cool, Kevin. Snails and hermit crabs. Thanks.

[muttley000]

I really like the Nassarius (sp?) snails in my tank. It's fun watching them erupt out of the sand. I don't know how big your tank is so I cant reccomend a clean up crew quatity. Besides 8 of the above I have a turbo snail, and 4 crimson leg hermits for my CUC in my 29.