Live rock needed f/t

[coralfrenzy88]

hi guys I am in need of between 35 and 60 lbs of rock. I have setup my 75 gal a few months ago and everything is doing great. Montiporas are shelfing fast, chalice are all growing rapidly and all other corals look intense. However I only have 40 lbs of rock in my tank with 2 80 gal hob filters and 29 gal sump with 1200 gph return display tank powerheads include a 5oogph powerhead and 1600 gph duel head powerhead/wavemaker. I am running t5 lights quad bulb 54w. I am worried that I don't have enough rock considering conventional knowledge but want my pod countas to grow along with bacteria so I can feed more often. I barely feed twice a week because of nitrates and slight phosphates so let me know what you think and if you have rock that seeded and live you may consider trading for frags or corals

 

[CoryC]

consider a dosing option to control your no3 and po4, like vodka or another type of organic carbon dosing to control. many people run very succesful tanks with minimal rock.

 

[coralfrenzy88]

good point...I do run carbon inserts in both ,my hob filters and also have massive turnover rate I think including my return pump and all powerhead/wavemakers I have 3500gph on a 75 gal dis[play and 29 gal sump....to put it in context im looking at a stable 10-20 ppm nitrates with twice a week feedings and .025 ppm phosphates.... corals are awesome but I sometimes have hard time with fish and im looking to start doing more sps and I know they are less tolerant of these levels. I do know that I need good protein skimmer all I have is 75 gal rated hob prism skimmer

 

[chemfisher]

I've got two pieces of rock that had a lot of coralline on them but have since been dried for about 2 weeks now if you're interested? it's only about 10 lbs total.

 

[coralfrenzy88]

yea I would be interested do you think they will leach any sort of nitrate or phosphates being dried after having live growth inside???

 

[CastAway]

If you're not running one, a good protein skimmer would be key with dosing vodka (organic carbon). This essentially puts increased number of NO3 and PO4 reducing bacteria in the water column as opposed to on surfaces, and if you don't skim it out, you can drive the number up I think. Not to be confused with carbon inserts and molecular absorption.

 

[chemfisher]

yea I would be interested do you think they will leach any sort of nitrate or phosphates being dried after having live growth inside???

I'm not sure really but I would think that you'd just have to worry about your tank going through a mini cycle with the die off

 

[coralfrenzy88]

If you're not running one, a good protein skimmer would be key with dosing vodka (organic carbon). This essentially puts increased number of NO3 and PO4 reducing bacteria in the water column as opposed to on surfaces, and if you don't skim it out, you can drive the number up I think. Not to be confused with carbon inserts and molecular absorption.

I have a crappy hob prism skimmer that doesn't do its just so im working on getting new skimmer for my sump....im thinking about the reef octopus I think was the brand with a self cleaning squeegee sytem I saw on ebay.... also I think upping my live rock would help that's why im trying to get mor I have 50 lbs in a 75 display and none in my 30 gal sump.....how do you dose vodka I normally dose myself a double at a time lol

 

[coralfrenzy88]

I'm not sure really but I would think that you'd just have to worry about your tank going through a mini cycle with the die off

im not sure if I can take that chance I have about 2500 in corals and another good chunk of change in fish....let me see what I can do I just don't want to cycle my tank any worse than it already seems to be doing consistently....I never can keep nitrate and phos down at 0 so im worried it will sky rocket if I put that in my tank

 

[chemfisher]

im not sure if I can take that chance I have about 2500 in corals and another good chunk of change in fish....let me see what I can do I just don't want to cycle my tank any worse than it already seems to be doing consistently....I never can keep nitrate and phos down at 0 so im worried it will sky rocket if I put that in my tank

OK Just let me know if you decide you want it ... it'll just be sitting around!

 

[coralfrenzy88]

ok I appreciate you posting I have a 20 gal with a big flowerhorn in it worth 300 bucks if anyone you know would be interested in him fir around 100 bucks....hes super cool but freshwater..and im trying to get him gone even though I love hum sooo much so I can start quarantining and cycling stuff for my display if I can get rid of him I would most def pick up that rock from you

 

[Wildman]

Since the rock is dry do an acid and bleach bath and you won't have to worry about a mini cycle or adding phosphates.

 

[coralfrenzy88]

Since the rock is dry do an acid and bleach bath and you won't have to worry about a mini cycle or adding phosphates.

whats that you guys are schoolin me today acid and bleach bath sounds like a disaster if im not careful

 

[Wildman]

You could boil it if you don't like chemistry. Do a search for cooking live rock. If you can't find the quantities I can look it up tonight. You mix muratic acid and water and dip the rock. Then mix bleach and water and dip. NOT together. Rince really well and you have. Clean rock to put in your tank.

 

[CoryC]

grab some microbacter7 and reef biofuel and just start dosing that, then grab a better skimmer.

 

[coralfrenzy88]

i do use microbacter I add 1 cap a week because if I add to much then I will have a cycle from bacterial die off so im slowly adding it to m,ake sure I don't over do it im glad you guys are around im learning a lot and now have tons of faith in this forum I typically am skeptical of new forums but you guys like I said are schoolin me on some things def takin notes what is a great skimmer for cost effective price maybe 200 bucks??

 

[coralfrenzy88]

mods close this thread please