Live rock

Dave3112 · Jul 28, 2013

Looking for a small to medium piece of LR to start the biological process in the new tank. I'm using all dry Marco rock and sand so I need something to help kick off the process. I am looking for some from an algae free and pest free tank. Thanks in advance.

b9ofus · Jul 29, 2013

Found any rock yet? If not let me know.

Dave3112 · Jul 29, 2013

Not yet. I don't need much. Just a small piece.

Genesis Corals · Jul 30, 2013

Just put a raw shrimp in the tank, no need to introduce possible pests with some live rock.

Dave3112 · Jul 30, 2013

That's true. It's been so long since I've started from scratch I've almost forgotten how....thanks for reminding me!

pickupman66 · Jul 30, 2013

Dave. I have plenty of dry Marco rock

$2/lb

Sent from my Galaxy S 3 with Tapatalk.

JSB · Jul 30, 2013

Dave,

My suggestion on the shrimp is put the rock in a tub under your carport and cycle with the shrimp there. It will get NASTY smelling in just a couple of days, and you just might not want it in the house.

Dave3112 · Jul 30, 2013

pickupman66 said:
Dave. I have plenty of dry Marco rock

$2/lb

Sent from my Galaxy S 3 with Tapatalk.

Lindsey, thank for the offer. I have plenty of dry rock from all my previous tanks though. I've got the dry rock I need for this build I was just looking or a small piece of LR to start the cycle off.

Dave3112 · Jul 30, 2013

JSB said:
Dave,

My suggestion on the shrimp is put the rock in a tub under your carport and cycle with the shrimp there. It will get NASTY smelling in just a couple of days, and you just might not want it in the house.

You're right about that, Scott. I thought about the smell and was concerned so I haven't done anything yet. I may just order some GARF Grunge to get stuff kicked off. That stuff is amazing! I used it a few years ago as a booster to my existing tank and don't know why it wouldn't work as a starter.

beaslbob · Jul 30, 2013

Dave

Just use macro algaes to consume the ammonia directly and you won't get the startup cycle.

Bacteria will build up over time anyway. But in the mean time the macros will consume the ammonia so at most you will just get an initial nitrate spike. Which will drop down once the bacteria start consuming the ammonia.

my .02

H@rry · Jul 30, 2013

Dave;

I've got a softball sized piece of LR in the sump. Come get it if you want it.

Dave3112 · Jul 30, 2013

beaslbob said:
Dave

Just use macro algaes to consume the ammonia directly and you won't get the startup cycle.

Bacteria will build up over time anyway. But in the mean time the macros will consume the ammonia so at most you will just get an initial nitrate spike. Which will drop down once the bacteria start consuming the ammonia.

my .02

Thanks Bob! I will have to consider that. This system will not have a sump on it because I am trying to get the house fixed up to sell and Lindsay doesn't want me to put anymore holes in the wall.

so the macro would have to go in the tank.

Dave3112 · Jul 30, 2013

H@rry said:
Dave;

I've got a softball sized piece of LR in the sump. Come get it if you want it.

Thank you H@rry. I will try and stop by sometime this week. I'll give you a ring before I come over.

H@rry · Jul 30, 2013

Dave3112 said:
Thank you H@rry. I will try and stop by sometime this week. I'll give you a ring before I come over.

Kewl!

beaslbob · Jul 31, 2013

Dave3112 said:
Thanks Bob! I will have to consider that. This system will not have a sump on it because I am trying to get the house fixed up to sell and Lindsay doesn't want me to put anymore holes in the wall. so the macro would have to go in the tank.

Hopefully re remember my old tank and how I solved that "problem".:xd:

beaslbob · Jul 31, 2013

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beaslbob · Jul 31, 2013

beaslbob said:
deleted

Dave3112 said:
Thank you H@rry. I will try and stop by sometime this week. I'll give you a ring before I come over.

I thought you ahd h@rry were already married.

Dave3112 · Jul 31, 2013

beaslbob said:
Hopefully re remember my old tank and how I solved that "problem".:xd:

I'm not as young as I once was and my memory isn't good anymore. I've been trying to think how you had it worked out and I'm coming up blank.

beaslbob · Jul 31, 2013

Dave3112 said:
I'm not as young as I once was and my memory isn't good anymore. I've been trying to think how you had it worked out and I'm coming up blank.

I partitioned the tank so I had a macro area and a fish/coral area. Just used egg crate. In my case 3" in front of the back glass and added a couple of 2 tube shop lights behind the tank pointing forward. Nitrates dropped to unmeasureable levels in 3 weeks with phosphates following a few weeks later.

I'm sure you can come up with an even better idea.

my .02

Dave3112 · Jul 31, 2013

Now I remember!! See I just needed a little help! Ha! I will have to think on what will work for me for a little while. The tank is a cube, sort of, 24x24x20. But I'm sure I will come up with something that will work and not be too intrusive to the design of the tank. What kind of macros did you use? I like the look of caulerpa in a display but I'm afraid it would take over without a tang to keep it in check.