Live rock...

[kaimarkhirst]

Hi guys AGAIN!!!!

Right then.

Ive purchased 15Kgs of Live Cured Fijian rock to be delivered on tuesday and, was wondering if this is going to be enough to give a good filtration without being too much.

Tank is a 28G nano.

Ive worked on the fact of 1lb to every gallon of water.

28lbs = 12.35

ive rounded this up to 15 and ordered nano pieces so theyll be more manageable.

Ive done loads of woking on this and everybody says that you should work to 1.5 per gallon, but I cant help but think that if I go with this amount, itll fill up the tank too much, and not give enough room for the fish to swim...

Sound like a good plan??

[JaredCBell]

Hi guys AGAIN!!!!

Right then.

Ive purchased 15Kgs of Live Cured Fijian rock to be delivered on tuesday and, was wondering if this is going to be enough to give a good filtration without being too much.

Tank is a 28G nano.

Ive worked on the fact of 1lb to every gallon of water.

28lbs = 12.35

ive rounded this up to 15 and ordered nano pieces so theyll be more manageable.

Ive done loads of woking on this and everybody says that you should work to 1.5 per gallon, but I cant help but think that if I go with this amount, itll fill up the tank too much, and not give enough room for the fish to swim...

Sound like a good plan??

ummm.... 1 lb to the gallon would be 28lbs. or is my math off? But if you ordered 15kg, thats 33+ lbs of live rock, which you will be perfectly fine with. Only thing is a lot of people say not to put it all in at once but to add slowly over time, which is what I am doing. Not sure which way works better.

what does a 28g tank look like? I have only seen 29g. And also, its just me but I like working with big pieces. Too many small ones becomes dangerous if you are building the wall of Jericho.

[MonkeyPox]

As a general rule, never take something from another tank and place it in your display tank. This becomes exacerbated the more you add.

You said you ordered live rock, which means it's being shipped so there will be die off. Lots of people have had bad luck when purchasing "cured" live rock as well, so make sure it's healthy and doesn't have a decay smell to it.

As far as volume of rock relative to tank size, you'll be fine.

[kaimarkhirst]

yeah I know about the dieing off bit, but Icant cure anymyself, dont ahve the facilities... The good bit is that its packed in the night, sealed then shipped so its only 24 hours out of the water max so cant imagine it being a cimplete nightmare.

Been reading about it, and ill bathe it in saltwater first, then insert into the tank, or if anybodies got any better ideas, im all ears...

Cheers

Kai

[MonkeyPox]

Good luck with your purchase

but you don't need much to cure your own live rock. a 10g tank from the fishstore, a bottle of calcium, and some lights are all you need.

[unleashed]

Only thing is a lot of people say not to put it all in at once but to add slowly over time, which is what I am doing. Not sure which way works better.

Actually, many people advise that you SHOULD put it in all at once. This is because each time you add new rock, you cause another mini cycle due to the die-off from the new rock.

Unless of course you pre-cured the new rock separately before adding it to you display

[MonkeyPox]

Do add it all at once if you are still cycling the tank or just setting it up.
Do not add it all at once if its an established tank.

Also, I would run carbon while you're adding the rock.

[coachfraley]

I would add all of the rock to your display as soon as you get it. Have your tank filled up with SW that is at your desired SG and temp. When the rock arrives, drain about a third of the water into a bucket to "make room" for the rock. Then you can use the water you just drained as a dip/detritus shake off area.

I would pull the pieces out of the box one at a time, check them over for dead macro, or anything else you want to get rid of. Shake them off in your bucket of SW, and then drop the pieces in your display.

Then you will get to wait, test, and stare at a bunch of rocks...which is a lot more fun than it sounds!

[Fishguy2727]

You can add a lot once the tank is cycled but it MUST be cured. Not cured at the store and then driven home for an hour moist, CURED. Try and get it all in now before the tank is cycled and has fish, inverts, etc.

I would go more toward 1.5 pounds per gallon. I have over two pounds per gallon in my tank. Actually in most cases unless you have huge fish they are more relaxed and more active when they have hiding places everywhere, not just a couple small piles of rocks in the tank.

[JaredCBell]

You can add a lot once the tank is cycled but it MUST be cured. Not cured at the store and then driven home for an hour moist, CURED. Try and get it all in now before the tank is cycled and has fish, inverts, etc.

I would go more toward 1.5 pounds per gallon. I have over two pounds per gallon in my tank. Actually in most cases unless you have huge fish they are more relaxed and more active when they have hiding places everywhere, not just a couple small piles of rocks in the tank.

What if you bought Cured rock at the store thats right up the street and it was in your tank in about 20 minutes?

[Fishguy2727]

If you are transporting rock that is already cured it should stay submerged the whole time. So bring a 5 gallon bucket and ask for water (preferably from the tank or system the cured rock came out of).

[kaimarkhirst]

unfortunately, its being ordered from wales, so its couriered...

The tank isnt cycled yet and has only been set up with water and substrate for 2 days now. By the time the rock arrives itll have been setup for 6 days so cycleing will only be in its infancy...

So heres my plan. (Gordon ramsay style)

Rock arrives (Hopefully not completely dry and dead)
Take 1/3 of the water out to accommodated rock.
Bath in salt water to take any dead stuff off.
Place each piece in until all is in the tank.
Wait.
Swear alot
Then water check and let it cycle for 10 days then add a crab.
Swear some more
Insult an Australian TV presenter
30 or so days later than this ill think about start adding fish (Stress THINK!!!!)
Simmer
Apologise for insult.(blush)
Serve


Phew!!!!!

[coachfraley]

Just remember there is no set time for the cycle to occur. It all depends on the rock.

[kaimarkhirst]

didnt know that and thats really helpful..

Thanks

Kai