Adding more rocks, when and what type.

[WVNed]

Yes it is a real thing. If you start a tank with all dead rock and sand you have to put everything you want in it. That is how you get coralline algae in the tank.

 

[Hemmdog]

So this is slightly off topic but, you know how the internet is always listening... so after posting my last question all my ads have been for different start up options. Dr. Tim’s has come up a lot. But I also keep seeing

LIVE CORALLINE ALGAE IN A BOTTLE

Is that a real thing? They sell it at Algae Barn and Amazon has it too.

The link didn’t work, but if that’s that purple/pink helix stuff, yea it works great. Just be patient, it will still take 2-4 months until your rocks are completely covered 100% purple.

 

[Michigan Reefer]

What would you suggest to use for bacteria? On BRS I see things like IO-BIO Spira or Red Sea Reef Mature Kit. Are they all pretty much the same or is there one that is the best to use?

I've used Microbacter7 from Brightwell Aquatics. Seemed to do the job for cycling and i've used it later on to help with a little algae outbreak.

 

[Dkeller_nc]

Yes, I would be buying new sand from my LFS probably CaribSea pink fiji or Oolite. I agree I would think it shouldn't be washed because then aren't you flushing all the good bacteria? I could be very wrong... but just at face value it seems counterproductive to the end goal with live sand.

In theory, yes. In actual practice, no. There may well be a little bit of bacteria in CaribSea's "live" products, but it's minimal at best. And there's a ton of very fine particulate matter in the bagged sand. So much so that it will cause a white-out when first put into the tank, and all that fine particulate matter will inhibit circulation in the sand bed once it's in the tank. That may cause anaerobic conditions that produce toxic hydrogen sulfide, and at the very least will be really annoying every time you or a fish kicks up the sand bed.

 

[Michigan Reefer]

This is my old dried dead rock i've curing with marine pure bio spheres from my current system. I've added five gallons of water from the tank and fresh water saltwater. I put a heater and pump in and feed reefroids and small pellets to keep the cycle going. Eventually i'll add this rock to a new tank and add it to my current system.