Changing out rock in existing tank

Joel_155 · 04/17/2015, 03:26 PM

So I've been using the same rock for about four years now. It was given to me when I was given my old tank and sat in stagnant water for over two years. I cooked the rock (very new when doing this) for around 9 months and then setup my tank.

Fast forward four years and now my second tank I'm still using the same rock. The issue is my tank is basically a softies tank and the rock is covered in GSP and still some pulsing xenia. I've tried scrubbing this stuff of but no luck. I figure this could be a good time to cook up new rock and sell all the softies rock and replace with new rock.

Any recommendations on how to do this without nuking my tank? I was planning on getting some Marco rocks, making a good scape and them start cycling the rock in a separate tank. I figure this way I can monitor the pH level and dose lacl to combat the po4 leach. Any feedback on this? Thanks in advance.

AZRippster · 04/17/2015, 03:47 PM

I've thought about doing something similar to this as well. We have a main display tank (450) and a Red Sea Max 130D. I want to convert the Red Sea into a frag tank, but it currently holds a Mantis, Live Rock, and Coral. I want to remove all the live rock from the tank so I'm thinking I'll do a quick conversion by drilling it, running lines to a sump, and letting the old rock cycle with new rock. Hopefully this doesn't "spike" a huge cycle.

I feel ya with GSP. We had the same thing 2 years ago but fortunately got it under control pretty quick. We now have a beautiful GSP meadow on a solitary rock sitting in a sandy patch all by itself. This will prevent it's spread.

Joel_155 · 04/17/2015, 05:12 PM

Yeah I have a 60g cube so I don't have the luxury of space. Plus the rock scape was thrown together when I moved tanks. I want a custom scape without GSP

Paul B · 04/17/2015, 05:33 PM

My rock has been in my reef for 35 or so years, some over 40. No problems yet.

Joel_155 · 04/17/2015, 08:30 PM

I like the rock however I want to control the GSP and it's all over the main rock

Joel_155 · 10/11/2015, 10:17 AM

Moving forward with this plan. Getting away from GSP covered rock

Joel_155 · 10/19/2015, 08:12 PM

Question on this process. Can I simulate bioload by dosing ammonia? I did a fish less cycle on the new rock by dosing ammonia up to 1.2ppm. It took a few weeks but eventually the ammonia read 0. I don't have a nitrite test and I'm not trying to go into the details of the nitrogen cycle.

Can I add ammonia to the rock curing tank to simulate bioload? What about adding skimmer from my skimmer? I'm Confident the rock has cycled but I want to make sure our don't run into any issues with bioload. I only have four fish and think it should be okay but wanted to ask.

04/17/2015, 03:26 PM	#1
Joel_155 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,402	Changing out rock in existing tank So I've been using the same rock for about four years now. It was given to me when I was given my old tank and sat in stagnant water for over two years. I cooked the rock (very new when doing this) for around 9 months and then setup my tank. Fast forward four years and now my second tank I'm still using the same rock. The issue is my tank is basically a softies tank and the rock is covered in GSP and still some pulsing xenia. I've tried scrubbing this stuff of but no luck. I figure this could be a good time to cook up new rock and sell all the softies rock and replace with new rock. Any recommendations on how to do this without nuking my tank? I was planning on getting some Marco rocks, making a good scape and them start cycling the rock in a separate tank. I figure this way I can monitor the pH level and dose lacl to combat the po4 leach. Any feedback on this? Thanks in advance.

04/17/2015, 05:33 PM	#4
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	My rock has been in my reef for 35 or so years, some over 40. No problems yet. __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

04/17/2015, 03:47 PM	#2
AZRippster Diver & Reef Aquarium Nut Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 1,127	I've thought about doing something similar to this as well. We have a main display tank (450) and a Red Sea Max 130D. I want to convert the Red Sea into a frag tank, but it currently holds a Mantis, Live Rock, and Coral. I want to remove all the live rock from the tank so I'm thinking I'll do a quick conversion by drilling it, running lines to a sump, and letting the old rock cycle with new rock. Hopefully this doesn't "spike" a huge cycle. I feel ya with GSP. We had the same thing 2 years ago but fortunately got it under control pretty quick. We now have a beautiful GSP meadow on a solitary rock sitting in a sandy patch all by itself. This will prevent it's spread.

04/17/2015, 05:12 PM	#3
Joel_155 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,402	Yeah I have a 60g cube so I don't have the luxury of space. Plus the rock scape was thrown together when I moved tanks. I want a custom scape without GSP

04/17/2015, 08:30 PM	#5
Joel_155 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,402	I like the rock however I want to control the GSP and it's all over the main rock

10/11/2015, 10:17 AM	#6
Joel_155 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,402	Moving forward with this plan. Getting away from GSP covered rock

10/19/2015, 08:12 PM	#7
Joel_155 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,402	Question on this process. Can I simulate bioload by dosing ammonia? I did a fish less cycle on the new rock by dosing ammonia up to 1.2ppm. It took a few weeks but eventually the ammonia read 0. I don't have a nitrite test and I'm not trying to go into the details of the nitrogen cycle. Can I add ammonia to the rock curing tank to simulate bioload? What about adding skimmer from my skimmer? I'm Confident the rock has cycled but I want to make sure our don't run into any issues with bioload. I only have four fish and think it should be okay but wanted to ask.