Help picking out live rock for a cycling tank

[AngieLikedThat]

I'm going to stop by a store today ro pick up some live rock for my tank. I'm not sure what to look for and possibly a run down on the proper steps to getting the rock in my tank. What do I look for when picking them? Will it effect my water perameters?

Also, side question- my clown hasn't been eating all his food. Would adding a hermit crab or something to help clean the tank up be a good idea?

 

[Quietman]

If you have a tank with livestock in it, you're going to need to either get clean, dry 'manufactured rock' or cure any previously wet rock. This is to prevent any organics from decomposing causing an ammonia spike which can be harmful to fish even in small amounts (tenth of ppm range - depending on pH).

Edited: One caveat, if the LFS has wet, cured rock, that might be ok, assuming you trust that's it been wet long enough to be "cured" - all organics (sponges, dead critters) are fully decomposed.

Won't go into all the wet rock/dry rock, how to cure here. Plenty of information out there. Just be aware, that unless it's cured there is no clean previously wet rock I would want in my tank. And I might have water standing by for water changes and check for ammonia for several days just in case.

Lastly...a clean up crew (CUC) is a good thing. Snails, crabs, etc. Just make sure you don't overstock the CUC and end up having to feed them.

 

[Auquanut]

^^^Yep^^^ What he said.

 

[AngieLikedThat]

If you have a tank with livestock in it, you're going to need to either get clean, dry 'manufactured rock' or cure any previously wet rock. This is to prevent any organics from decomposing causing an ammonia spike which can be harmful to fish even in small amounts (tenth of ppm range - depending on pH).

Edited: One caveat, if the LFS has wet, cured rock, that might be ok, assuming you trust that's it been wet long enough to be "cured" - all organics (sponges, dead critters) are fully decomposed.

Won't go into all the wet rock/dry rock, how to cure here. Plenty of information out there. Just be aware, that unless it's cured there is no clean previously wet rock I would want in my tank. And I might have water standing by for water changes and check for ammonia for several days just in case.

Lastly...a clean up crew (CUC) is a good thing. Snails, crabs, etc. Just make sure you don't overstock the CUC and end up having to feed them.

So to clarify my situation, I was given bad advice and am not cycling with a clown. I was advised to add a small piece of live rock along with the dry rock I have in the tank to help speed the cycle up. I love been using sachem prime to help the fish out and I added the bacteria thing as well. Does that change anything? Should I not add the live rock and just keep things as they are?

 

[Quietman]

So to clarify my situation, I was given bad advice and am not cycling with a clown. I was advised to add a small piece of live rock along with the dry rock I have in the tank to help speed the cycle up. I love been using sachem prime to help the fish out and I added the bacteria thing as well. Does that change anything? Should I not add the live rock and just keep things as they are?

No, I don't think it does. You still want to keep the ammonia production minimized and under control. You're tank is going to cycle regardless if you have fish. You actually have a hard time stopping a tank from cycling once there's even a minimal amount of food. At this point, you just don't want to overwhelm the system with too much ammonia/nitrite both of which are toxic at low levels. Too much ammonia can actually damage the bacteria as well (I don't know those levels but I think it's 2 ppm).

 

[Auquanut]

I was given bad advice and am not cycling with a clown.

So you do not have a fish in a cycling tank. Is the clown in quarantine?
Using Prime during the cycle neutralizes the ammonia which feeds the bacteria that is essential for the entire cycling process. Essentially stalling the cycle.

If the tank doesn't have any fish in it, adding live rock will absolutely speed up the cycling process. The issues there would be any hitchhikers (good or bad) that enter the tank on the live rock. If the tank does have fish, any organics from the live rock that die during transit can cause an ammonia spike (good for the cycling process, bad for the fish). Again, using prime will slow down the cycling process and negate what you're trying to achieve by adding the live rock. If that makes any sense.

 

[AngieLikedThat]

So you do not have a fish in a cycling tank. Is the clown in quarantine?
Using Prime during the cycle neutralizes the ammonia which feeds the bacteria that is essential for the entire cycling process. Essentially stalling the cycle.

If the tank doesn't have any fish in it, adding live rock will absolutely speed up the cycling process. The issues there would be any hitchhikers (good or bad) that enter the tank on the live rock. If the tank does have fish, any organics from the live rock that die during transit can cause an ammonia spike (good for the cycling process, bad for the fish). Again, using prime will slow down the cycling process and negate what you're trying to achieve by adding the live rock. If that makes any sense.

No. I was at work and didnt notice the error, sorry. I do have the clown in the tank. First time, took bad advice.

 

[Auquanut]

No. I was at work and didnt notice the error, sorry. I do have the clown in the tank. First time, took bad advice.

Okay. Here's what I would do. Can't promise complete success.
Add the live rock (actual wet, living live rock fresh from the LFS).
Discontinue using prime.
Continue adding bottled bacteria.
Monitor ammonia closely. Test, test, test. Maybe get an ammonia badge (available at most LFS)
Have fresh saltwater standing by for water changes to keep ammonia and nitrites to a minimum.
Don't sweat nitrates just yet unless they reach well over 40 ppm. Your clown can handle it and it shows the bacteria is processing the ammonia and nitrites.

Best case: Take the fish back and complete a fish-less cycle.
Hope this helps.

@Quietman. Does this look feasible to you?

 

[Quietman]

Okay. Here's what I would do. Can't promise complete success.
Add the live rock (actual wet, living live rock fresh from the LFS).
Discontinue using prime.
Continue adding bottled bacteria.
Monitor ammonia closely. Test, test, test. Maybe get an ammonia badge (available at most LFS)
Have fresh saltwater standing by for water changes to keep ammonia and nitrites to a minimum.
Don't sweat nitrates just yet unless they reach well over 40 ppm. Your clown can handle it and it shows the bacteria is processing the ammonia and nitrites.

Best case: Take the fish back and complete a fish-less cycle.
Hope this helps.

@Quietman. Does this look feasible to you?

Yes it does. Hadnt thought about asking lfs to hold fish for a couple weeks. That's a great idea.

Sorry, missed this until just now.

 

[AngieLikedThat]

Yes it does. Hadnt thought about asking lfs to hold fish for a couple weeks. That's a great idea.

Sorry, missed this until just now.

I mean it's been about two weeks is the fish still at risk? I'll have to find a closer store to hold him so I can make some calls