Adding dry rock to an established?
- Thread starter Napa Reefer
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Should not cause too much a problem, make sure the rock is clean but other than that you should be ok. The problem comes from live rock because lots of the living stuff dies when put into a new tank, causing ammonia and nitrates to rise. With dry rock, there is nothing alive on the rock, thus nothing to die off.
redfishbluefish
Stay Positive, Stay Productive
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Article Contributor
NJRC Member
Hospitality Award
What happens with dry rock is that the stuff that was once alive within the rock is now dead and just hanging out. Once it is put into your tank this dead stuff continues to decay releasing, among other things, nitrates and phosphates. This "release" is typically done during the curing process. You will now be curing this dry rock in you tank, so expect an increase in nitrates and phosphates.
OP
OP
Napa Reefer
Active Member
redfishbluefish
Stay Positive, Stay Productive
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Article Contributor
NJRC Member
Hospitality Award
Dry rock is dead rock. Even if it looks white and pretty, death lurks within. All dry rock needs to first be cured. You can get away with adding a relatively small amount of rock with minimal impact, but the more you add, the more nitrates and phosphates will leach out. If you have the means to handle this extra N and P, go for it.
Lenny_S
Well-Known Member
Not true of all dry rock. Reef saver for example is mined, there is absolutely nothing organic left in it. Where as dried Pukani for example is just dried live rock. And that one is especially troublesome because stuff gets very deep within it and can't be reached, so it decays. But reef saver, Marco rock, and the like which are land based quarries are totally fine.
soeminpaing
Community Member
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2015
- Messages
- 88
- Reaction score
- 45
I prefer dry rocks over live rocks. I have seen a lot of pest on certain live rocks sold at LFS. Since you are upgrading the tank why not cycle the redsea reefer with new dry rocks for a week or two before adding the rocks and fish from your 29. This is how I did with my old tank.
JasReef
Active Member
Save money and use reef saver. I just can't justify 7-10 dollars per pound on live rock.
The only exception would be something like Tampa Bay live rock. I think the extra life straight from the ocean is worth the premium price.
The only exception would be something like Tampa Bay live rock. I think the extra life straight from the ocean is worth the premium price.
pondman
Active Member
I made that mistake about dry base rock I was at my lfs and in their dry base rock bin was a couple rocks that had the very unique shape I was looking for well long story short I didn't think those two rocks would be a big deal till two days later woke to tank full of brown diatoms everywhere. This tank has been set up for about seven years now. And now I'm fighting diatoms again I'll never buy dry rock again only live from local store
OP
OP
Napa Reefer
Active Member
