Help with live rock

[Jeff Benner]

Hey there, I just finish setting up the salt water in my new 55 gallon tank I've never done this before I bought a four stage reverse osmosis water filter and reef coral salt I can have the salinity of the water at a .025 now I'm ready for live rock the shops around me sell for 6 to 9 dollars per pound and I know that it's ready to go right into the aquarium. My question is if I buy live rock from a guy on Craigslist who has 150 lbs for 300 in water in the tank can I place it directly into my tank he says there's no pest but said I should cook it no matter where I buy rock from, but I have fish coming this Saturday three days away and I like to get some rock in there before they come. Does anyone think it's a good idea to buy maybe $50 worth at the fish store and buy the rest off of craigslist and start cooking it.?

 

[Stolireef]

First, cancel the order on the fish. You haven't cycled your tank yet. Basic order is fill tank with water, add rock and an ammonia source, wait a few weeks until ammonia is zero and you are reading nitrates. Then, do a big water change and then add first fish.

 

[Stolireef]

As far as using rock from a fellow reefer's tank, it's OK but you need to watch out for unwanted pests. Safest approach is to buy dry dead rock and let it naturally develop a bacterial population.

 

[Jeff Benner]

As far as using rock from a fellow reefer's tank, it's OK but you need to watch out for unwanted pests. Safest approach is to buy dry dead rock and let it naturally develop a bacterial population.

Ok so cancel fish order isn't an issue

As far as using rock from a fellow reefer's tank, it's OK but you need to watch out for unwanted pests. Safest approach is to buy dry dead rock and let it naturally develop a bacterial population.

Thanks for the quick reply stolireef! Ok pushing back delivery on fish 8 weeks isn't a big deal the supplier was very nice about it, but as far as cycling the tank if I use the "used" Craigslist rock will it speed up the cycling, and is there any way to check for pest or treat his rock ( I know of rock cycling putting in big clean trash can with salt water and pump change water every 2 weeks for 6 weeks ) any other safe methods I read torching and oven kills all the good stuff .

 

[Stolireef]

Let's talk the nitrogen cycle (if you already know about this, then it'll help another new reefer). If you cook the rock, no bacteria and you need to go through the full cycle.

Assuming you start with dead rock (or cooked, oh and never ever boil rock), when you add a source of ammonia to the water (dead shrimp, Ace Hardware Janitorial Ammonia, pee in the tank...) aerobic (likes oxygen) bacteria that is all around you will very slowly start colonizing all of the surfaces in your tank including the rock. Since the rock has lots of holes (thus surface area) that's where most of the bacteria wills start growing. This bacteria will convert (technically reduce) ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates.

Deeper inside the rock, anaerobic (doesn't like oxygen) will slowly develop. This is where the nitrates are broken down into nitrogen gas which slowly bubbles out of the tank.

You can accelerate the cycle somewhat by using bottled bacteria such as Bi0-Spira or Dr. Tims. That said, the initial balance in the tank will be very delicate so you'll still have to go very very slow adding livestock. Over time, as the bacterial population grows to handle the nutrients, your tank will stabilize (figure not less than six months and many think a year).

Hope this helps.

 

[Stolireef]

Oh, and if you decide to use janitorial ammonia, make sure it doesn't have any surfactants. Ace in the redish bottle works great.

 

[NanoCrazed]

Os the rock from Craigslist, local or will they be shipping?

If shipped, and if you decide to place rock straight in tank and embrace whatever diversity comes with it, then don't worry about adding ammonia. There will be die off from the rocks, which then will provide all the ammonia you need...so you can cure your rocks and cycle your tank at same time.

Once cycled, add your fish slowly... like 1 a week until you get to you desired stocking... however, I would start with a clean up crew as your first inhabitants...

Should you want to check for pests on your rocks, get a new clean bucket and mix a hyper saline solution 1.035+ and do a quick bath...critters may hit the escape button and go to the bottom of the bucket... I usually skip this myself as I like leaving things to chance and have diversity

 

[Jeff Benner]

Let's talk the nitrogen cycle (if you already know about this, then it'll help another new reefer). If you cook the rock, no bacteria and you need to go through the full cycle.

Assuming you start with dead rock (or cooked, oh and never ever boil rock), when you add a source of ammonia to the water (dead shrimp, Ace Hardware Janitorial Ammonia, pee in the tank...) aerobic (likes oxygen) bacteria that is all around you will very slowly start colonizing all of the surfaces in your tank including the rock. Since the rock has lots of holes (thus surface area) that's where most of the bacteria wills start growing. This bacteria will convert (technically reduce) ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates.

Deeper inside the rock, anaerobic (doesn't like oxygen) will slowly develop. This is where the nitrates are broken down into nitrogen gas which slowly bubbles out of the tank.

You can accelerate the cycle somewhat by using bottled bacteria such as Bi0-Spira or Dr. Tims. That said, the initial balance in the tank will be very delicate so you'll still have to go very very slow adding livestock. Over time, as the bacterial population grows to handle the nutrients, your tank will stabilize (figure not less than six months and many think a year).

Hope this helps.

Thanks yes I've read about that not looking to add any additives just looking to do it naturally over time will probably add a dead shrimp this weekend and in the end of my 2nd week add some snails and live shrimp to start feeding the rock thinking during weeks 3 4 5 6 doing 5 percent water changes to decrease nitrates . Does this sound correct ?

 

[Jeff Benner]

Os the rock from Craigslist, local or will they be shipping?

If shipped, and if you decide to place rock straight in tank and embrace whatever diversity comes with it, then don't worry about adding ammonia. There will be die off from the rocks, which then will provide all the ammonia you need...so you can cure your rocks and cycle your tank at same time.

Once cycled, add your fish slowly... like 1 a week until you get to you desired stocking... however, I would start with a clean up crew as your first inhabitants...

Should you want to check for pests on your rocks, get a new clean bucket and mix a hyper saline solution 1.035+ and do a quick bath...critters may hit the escape button and go to the bottom of the bucket... I usually skip this myself as I like leaving things to chance and have diversity

Thanks for the response !! Yes the CL guy lives 30 minutes away and I would be taking it straight from inside his tank to mine! Wrapping in in damp newspaper for ride. I'm liking your idea of the hyper saline solution can I use my aqua forest reef salt to do it .... how long should I keep it in the rock in the bucket ?? Have you tried and tested yourself ??

 

[NanoCrazed]

Thanks for the response !! Yes the CL guy lives 30 minutes away and I would be taking it straight from inside his tank to mine! Wrapping in in damp newspaper for ride. I'm liking your idea of the hyper saline solution can I use my aqua forest reef salt to do it .... how long should I keep it in the rock in the bucket ?? Have you tried and tested yourself ??

Not too long -- perhaps 5 - 10 minutes... you can leave it longer since the salt concentration won't do much to the bacteria you'd want to keep. However, it will impact any hitchhikers you may want to keep so get ready to fish them out fast into normal salinity water.

I don't do this most of the time unless I something makes me suspect something bad might be attached. I get my rocks from a seller on ebay, and love the diversity on his rocks so I take all hitchhikers that may come along for ride, especially if I am starting a new tank (curing some right now as a matter of fact).

 

[beaslbob]

start or add macro algae to your system. that way the life rock is not only secondary but actually not needed.


my .02

 

[Jcm412]

Thanks for the response !! Yes the CL guy lives 30 minutes away and I would be taking it straight from inside his tank to mine! Wrapping in in damp newspaper for ride. I'm liking your idea of the hyper saline solution can I use my aqua forest reef salt to do it .... how long should I keep it in the rock in the bucket ?? Have you tried and tested yourself ??

So what happens with cycling if he buys local rock?

 

[videosilva]

Buying rock of another reefer is always cheaper. Going rate is about 2 - 3 dollars per pound depending on the seller and the quality of rock. If the tank has been established a few years you will ALWAYS get better rock then at any store. More life, critters etc. etc. etc. Buy some prime your fish will be fine to go in after a few days of the live rock being in tank. Keep temperatures low for now. Lower temperatures eq. more oxygen agitate the water aggressively for a few weeks.

As for pests you can go dead UGLY rock an wait for it to come alive and you STILL need to add a rock to seed the tank. You WILL always get pests eventually. It is just the nature of the beast. Get a wrasse at in few months when tank is settled down a bit. The wrasse will take care of any critters and maybe a little TOO much.

 

[jrwoltman]

Oh, and if you decide to use janitorial ammonia, make sure it doesn't have any surfactants. Ace in the redish bottle works great.

That's what I used to cycle my tank.

 

[Jeff Benner]

Buying rock of another reefer is always cheaper. Going rate is about 2 - 3 dollars per pound depending on the seller and the quality of rock. If the tank has been established a few years you will ALWAYS get better rock then at any store. More life, critters etc. etc. etc. Buy some prime your fish will be fine to go in after a few days of the live rock being in tank. Keep temperatures low for now. Lower temperatures eq. more oxygen agitate the water aggressively for a few weeks.

As for pests you can go dead UGLY rock an wait for it to come alive and you STILL need to add a rock to seed the tank. You WILL always get pests eventually. It is just the nature of the beast. Get a wrasse at in few months when tank is settled down a bit. The wrasse will take care of any critters and maybe a little TOO much.

Buying rock of another reefer is always cheaper. Going rate is about 2 - 3 dollars per pound depending on the seller and the quality of rock. If the tank has been established a few years you will ALWAYS get better rock then at any store. More life, critters etc. etc. etc. Buy some prime your fish will be fine to go in after a few days of the live rock being in tank. Keep temperatures low for now. Lower temperatures eq. more oxygen agitate the water aggressively for a few weeks.

As for pests you can go dead UGLY rock an wait for it to come alive and you STILL need to add a rock to seed the tank. You WILL always get pests eventually. It is just the nature of the beast. Get a wrasse at in few months when tank is settled down a bit. The wrasse will take care of any critters and maybe a little TOO much.

Thanks any good thoughts on a easy beginner coral for a few months down the road

 

[Jeff Benner]

That's what I used to cycle my tank.

That's what I used to cycle my tank.

How did it work out for you any issues ?? Did you do the full 6 week cycle with water changes weeks 3 4 5 and 6 ?

 

[Jeff Benner]

First, cancel the order on the fish. You haven't cycled your tank yet. Basic order is fill tank with water, add rock and an ammonia source, wait a few weeks until ammonia is zero and you are reading nitrates. Then, do a big water change and then add first fish.

Any recommendations on first fish I would like a pair of snow onyx clownfish and maybe a yellow tang then eventually get a reef friendly wrasse

 

[jrwoltman]

How did it work out for you any issues ?? Did you do the full 6 week cycle with water changes weeks 3 4 5 and 6 ?

My tank cycled for about 3-4 weeks, with dry Marco Rock, live sand, and ACE hardware ammonia, no other additives. In hindsight, I wish I would have logged everything. During the cycle, I did not do any water changes, I just let the bacteria in the sand get freaky and do it's thing. I finally did a water change when all levels read ZERO, before I added my first two fish, a pair of clowns. I had no issues using the ACE ammonia, except that the smallest size they had was a 1/2 gallon and I only ending up using an ounce or two, LOL.

Add fish slowly, 1-2 a month. I would definitely start with just the clowns, as damsels, they are hardier than many other fish and can handle fluctuations better than many other fish. Sorry to be a TANG POLICEMAN, but I would NOT, put a yellow tang in a 55 gallon tank, it is not big enough. However, that is entirely up to you.

Like everyone starting a tank, you want it to go quickly, add everything, fill in the rocks with corals, etc. My advice, and it will be difficult, it is for ALL of us, is don't rush anything, and take it slowly. In the end, you will have less problems and a healthier, better looking tank.

Good luck,

Jim

 

[Jeff Benner]

My tank cycled for about 3-4 weeks, with dry Marco Rock, live sand, and ACE hardware ammonia, no other additives. In hindsight, I wish I would have logged everything. During the cycle, I did not do any water changes, I just let the bacteria in the sand get freaky and do it's thing. I finally did a water change when all levels read ZERO, before I added my first two fish, a pair of clowns. I had no issues using the ACE ammonia, except that the smallest size they had was a 1/2 gallon and I only ending up using an ounce or two, LOL.

Add fish slowly, 1-2 a month. I would definitely start with just the clowns, as damsels, they are hardier than many other fish and can handle fluctuations better than many other fish. Sorry to be a TANG POLICEMAN, but I would NOT, put a yellow tang in a 55 gallon tank, it is not big enough. However, that is entirely up to you.

Like everyone starting a tank, you want it to go quickly, add everything, fill in the rocks with corals, etc. My advice, and it will be difficult, it is for ALL of us, is don't rush anything, and take it slowly. In the end, you will have less problems and a healthier, better looking tank.

Good luck,

Jim

Great thanks!