Acclimating live rock.

James5214 · Jul 17, 2022

So I'm picking up premium live rock from tbs live rock they harvest rock right out of the gulf of Mexico. What is the best course to take on acclimating this live rock to my tank? Really excited to be finally adding real live biodiversity to my tank and watch it mature. But if anyone can give me some tips of best way to acclimate this LR to my tank would be appreciated. Thanks!

Anemone_Fanatic · Jul 17, 2022

Because TBS rock is shipped in water, there shouldn't be much die-off. Just pop it in the tank, and let the cycle begin.

OfficeReefer · Jul 17, 2022

Yeah, if you're looking for whatever exists in the ocean, I would put it right in the tank. I would monitor for any traces of ammonia and nitrites and consider at least a 50% water change if they are present with any new tank. Sometimes those rocks aren't always as fresh as they seem.

jabberwock · Jul 17, 2022

I am leaning towards starting my 25 lagoon with genuine live rock. I started my last tank with dry rock (algae farm), and still got pests anyway, so I figured, what the heck! Embrace the biodiversity. I will be curious to know how it goes for you. Best of luck!

James5214 · Jul 17, 2022

The tank has been up and running for 5 months almost. I live in Tampa. So I'm picking up locally from their warehouse. I guess I will just plop in my tank as soon as I get home. It's about a 40 minute drive from the warehouse back home.

James5214 · Jul 17, 2022

It's a 20L I have 3 gallons of pre mixed red sea coral pro. But my tank has been cycled. And has fish and corals in it but I will still be watching all of my parameters. If I need more water tomorrow is Monday and I can run to LFS

Gedxin · Jul 17, 2022

Like others said, test for ammonia and nitrates daily. Change water frequently based on those values. Really depends on how much rock and your water volume.

James5214 · Jul 17, 2022

I'm getting 4lbs of premium rock. And I have a 20L

James5214 · Jul 17, 2022

As I already have about 20lbs of dry rock in tank already because my LFS didn't have live rock for sale and I didn't know about tbs live rock

wtdenk · Jul 17, 2022

Put my TBS order in a 5g observation tank first. Plan on keeping it there for a few weeks before I add to display. You're gonna love it. Looks great!

James5214 · Jul 17, 2022

wtdenk said:
Put my TBS order in a 5g observation tank first. Plan on keeping it there for a few weeks before I add to display. You're gonna love it. Looks great!

I'm very excited to add it to my tank as I know how much live rock can benefit a biome

jabberwock · Jul 17, 2022

Looks like there may be some vermited snails on the top. Maybe you want to scrape them off before it goes in the tank?

Aquavaj · Jul 17, 2022

If you transport them wet then you should be able to just drop them in if you don't really care about hitchhikers.

James5214 · Jul 18, 2022

I put them straight into my tank and yea I have read about the hitch hikers but everyone seems to say that the pros of LR far out weighs the cons of LR which only con I have ever seen or herd of was hitch hikers and most people said they just delt with it. I'm very excited to watch my bio grow

James5214 · Jul 18, 2022

Here's the LR from Tampa Bay salt. If anyone is in the Tampa Bay area I suggested contacting TBS they do local pickups and as low as a few pounds. As I only got 4lbs of premium LR because I already have 20lbs in my tank and just wanted to seed my tank with LR. Very very excited. Wish all the rocks were as purple and colorful as the one big chunk but oh well I'm sure they are loaded with stuff.

Tiki_Reef · Jul 18, 2022

James5214 said:
The tank has been up and running for 5 months almost. I live in Tampa. So I'm picking up locally from their warehouse. I guess I will just plop in my tank as soon as I get home. It's about a 40 minute drive from the warehouse back home.

I also live in Tampa and that is exactly what I did.

LiverockRocks · Jul 22, 2022

OfficeReefer said:
Yeah, if you're looking for whatever exists in the ocean, I would put it right in the tank. I would monitor for any traces of ammonia and nitrites and consider at least a 50% water change if they are present with any new tank. Sometimes those rocks aren't always as fresh as they see

jabberwock said:

Looks like there may be some vermited snails on the top. Maybe you want to scrape them off before it goes in the tank?

Click to expand...

@jabberwock
No vermetid snails come on TBS rock. Most likely it is a sponge or macro on the rock.

LiverockRocks · Jul 22, 2022

OfficeReefer said:
Yeah, if you're looking for whatever exists in the ocean, I would put it right in the tank. I would monitor for any traces of ammonia and nitrites and consider at least a 50% water change if they are present with any new tank. Sometimes those rocks aren't always as fresh as they seem.

We harvest and ship weekly, so TBS rocks are as fresh.

James5214 · Jul 22, 2022

Thank you guys so much for the LR. It's doing good in the tank and never had a jump in nitrates or ammonia! It is loaded with fuzzy stuff and more. Hopefully my hermit crabs and snails didn't eat it all off ahaha

bnord · Jul 22, 2022

OfficeReefer said:
Yeah, if you're looking for whatever exists in the ocean, I would put it right in the tank. I would monitor for any traces of ammonia and nitrites and consider at least a 50% water change if they are present with any new tank. Sometimes those rocks aren't always as fresh as they seem.

The nose knows….