Live rock on backorder - what to do with fallow tank?

[eschaton]

Hey guys,

I ordered my LR last night from TBS. Unfortunately weather down there hasn't been good for diving, they are backordered, and it's likely going to be a few weeks until they can air ship my rock.

I'm wondering what the heck to do with my tank now. I set everything up with the expectation I might have to plop the rock in as soon as this weekend, meaning I have the light cycle set, the heaters at the proper temperature, the water at the proper salinity, the pumps/powerheads running, a few base rocks, sand, etc. I'm a little worried just running the tank fallow for a few weeks will allow some sort of pest algae to colonize the tank. I'm unsure if there are normally algal spores floating through the air that can colonize salt water this far inland, but I did also put in an old mag-float with some dead coraline on it, meaning I could have introduced spores into my tank.

So yeah. Is it better I just turn off everything for the next few weeks - save for maybe my ATO and main pump? Would it be worthwhile to get a chaeto ball locally and introduce it into the sump fuge area?

 

[alton]

Unplug your lights and let the tank run

 

[Big G]

If you leave the lights off algae won't grow. I do this a lot on my QTs.
Chaeto needs food to survive and light. Best to wait until you have critters in the DT. Unless you want to feed the sump a bit.

 

[steallife904]

do you have a local fish store around where you could go pick up a couple of pieces now so you do not have to wait?

 

[eschaton]

do you have a local fish store around where you could go pick up a couple of pieces now so you do not have to wait?

I've looked around, and the rock here is garbage. Basically just "real reef" crap which is dyed purple with some bacteria on it. I'm looking for rocks which are loaded with life to get the tank biotope rolling.

 

[steallife904]

ya I can see that. may not hurt though to get even a couple small pieces or rubble just to get going, heck trash it or throw in sump when new stuff comes in. When you do get new stuff check it really good for hitch hikers as well ! I had a bad issue with some I ordered years ago loaded with gorilla crabs and a mantis shrimp.