Adding rock to established system-

[hoppy]

I Added some additional rock that has been dry for about 4 months after a friend broke down a system. I’m planning on using this rock in another system.
On a whim last night I decided to “seed” this rock and tossed it in the fuge of my main system.

Main has about 130gal total volume, about 100 pound of rock, chato, 4 fish, some easy corals, oversized skimmer. This system is about a year old.

My original thought was my established system should eat up any die off or nutrient swings- now I second guess that- it’s been in there 12 hours and will be under easy lighting in the fuge- am I headed for a disaster, should I get it out (may not be able to ID all new rock) or am I right and there may be a swing but tank should be able to take it in stride.

Please advise.

 

[Solis Reef]

How much rock did you put in it?

 

[hoppy]

Hard to say- was in a box- 8-10 pieces overall- 4 large the rest smaller-
I can confidently say a small percentage compared to what’s in the tank established. Came out of an
AIO 45.

 

[Solis Reef]

If I was you I will take half and let the bacteria in your system do it’s worked. Add the rest in two weeks. I did the same in my old 150 I add it around 30 pound at a time.

 

[WVNed]

Now you test your water and see what it did and decide if you can leave it or pull it.
Test ammonia, nitrates and phosphates.
What will happen depends on how dirty the rock was and how robust your biofilter is.

Putting it in 5 gallon buckets and covering it with water change water would do the same thing with no danger to your tank.

 

[jp_75]

I would add new rock slowly. Let the old one seed for few weeks. Neyhad problem doing that way.