Aquaforest rock added to established reef?

[PegasisR]

As the title says! I just wanted to switch out some old rock for aqua forest rock or rock alike to it for more coral real estate. Should I precycle before adding or is it fine to exchange it? Thanks!

 

[A Young Reefer]

I recommend precycling it, removing the old live rock and replacing it with new dry rock could cause an imbalance in your beneficial bacterial population and microorganism. if you decide not to do that, replace the rock gradually for example; if you have 5kgs of rock replace 1kg of rock once a week. followed this when switching out my live sand with no issues. Good luck!

 

[ConnivingPigeon]

I recommend precycling it, removing the old live rock and replacing it with new dry rock could cause an imbalance in your beneficial bacterial population and microorganism. if you decide not to do that, replace the rock gradually for example; if you have 5kgs of rock replace 1kg of rock once a week. followed this when switching out my live sand with no issues. Good luck!

Hello! What does pre-cycling mean in this case? Can I put it in a bucket w/old tank water and a powerhead for a couple weeks? Or what's the right idea here

 

[Koh23]

This is old debate, I'm really not sure that there is a wrong way.....

I was never worried about bacterial population, when adding, replacing, removing..... from tank, bacterial population will grow very quickly, so, in any larger water volume, bacterial population won't be issue.....

Things that i want to keep are micro fauna, various pods, snails, stars, worms, etc.... I know that the modern approach consider this things as pests, i'm not too convinced, always think that this stuff are part of healthy ecosystem in our tanks. And if things gets out of control, then anything can be considered pests, so, if not harming anything, let it live....

Back to topic, so removing rock looking from point of bacterial population, won't do any harm in your tank. If the new rock who replace old is dry, sterile (as it can be) and clean, really, nothing wrong or unwanted will happen.

Looking from point of removing micro fauna, still, very slim chance that something will actually go wrong, i just don't feel comfortable to reduce part of this population with no real and strong reason.

Also, i'm kinda strange in opinions and views, so, cycled rock for me isn't rock with bacterial population, cycled rock is rock with established micro-macro fauna, desirable algae, coraline..... So in that term, cycling rock in bucket of water is good from point of bacterial population, useless from any other points.

Maybe the safest (mind - not saying the best) way is to put that rock in tank for some time, when life populate that rock, then impact of removing anything will be less... Not crucial, but, why bother to keep separate container for weeks, powerhead, heater...... also, keep in mind, to grow bacterial population, you'll have to feed it, so...... too much hassle with very little gain.

Newer had any issue, maybe it's weird approach, but like i said, for me, tank/rock/sand is not cycled until various life forms don't find way to spread, reproduce and maintain healthy population.

 

[A Young Reefer]

Back to topic, so removing rock looking from point of bacterial population, won't do any harm in your tank. If the new rock who replace old is dry, sterile (as it can be) and clean, really, nothing wrong or unwanted will happen.

Seriously? The bacteria is the biological filtration of his tank. Removing it all at once is gonna disturb the tank. Your nutrient levels will go whack.
To op: the method you mentioned does work and add bottled bacteria. Or you could switch the rock and keep your old rock in your sump for some time if you have one. With any method you choose make sure to switch the rock gradually.
good luck!

 

[Koh23]

Yes, seriously....

Topic is not, if i understood correctly, removing all of the rock, just some pieces.... And not leaving tank without that part of filtration, instead replacing it with new surface for bacteria....

And bacteria populates surface very quickly..... Also, there is probably more bacteria on sand (bigger surface) than on any piece of rock....

Like i said, its all matter of opinion, and very dependable on water volume, amount of life in tank.....

So, 3 fish in 500l tank vs 10 fish in 100l tank.....its easy to guess wich one is less to be impacted or dependable on every single piece of rock....

But in general, removing few pieces and replacing them with new rock will not kill anything, or cause tank to crash, as long as the new rock isnt source or any polution....