ReefPup
Community Member
So I plan on seeding the rock with 5lbs out of the 30lbs in the tank would I still have to leave the lights off for 3 to 4 months or could I maybe get away with 1 month?
New tank setup timeline
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ShakeyGizzard
RedNeck Member
The lights off for 3 to 4 months is what gives your biome the head start to be big and strong. It will need this to out compete the bad guys for space. You will still have the ambient light in the room the tank is in. Patience is the key to get the tank going the best way.
GatorGreg
Well-Known Member
I don’t know if someone has mentioned it yet. But in a brand new dry rock tank, with not a lot of livestock. Doing 15% water changes weekly.
You need to watch your nutrients very carefully and keep them registering. EVERY SINGLE tank I set up this way I was doing too many water changes too early. Bottomed out the nutrients and got Dino’s. Three tanks in a row. Ever since I realized what I was doing. My reefing enjoyment has improved tremendously. In my current setup my tank was so nutrient limited that I had to dose it to keep it barely registering on Hanna checkers for the entire first month it was setup
You need to watch your nutrients very carefully and keep them registering. EVERY SINGLE tank I set up this way I was doing too many water changes too early. Bottomed out the nutrients and got Dino’s. Three tanks in a row. Ever since I realized what I was doing. My reefing enjoyment has improved tremendously. In my current setup my tank was so nutrient limited that I had to dose it to keep it barely registering on Hanna checkers for the entire first month it was setup
GatorGreg
Well-Known Member
You’re not going to get the same biodiversity supercharge from Carbisea liferock or Marco Rock that your LFS has had wet in a tub for a month or two as you would ordering some ocean rock.
Lavey29
10K Club member
Yes real live wet ocean rock is best
Lavey29
10K Club member
I would order a few wet pieces from here and bucket cure them for a month as your tank is running lights off. You can check for any bad hitch hikers that way. Then add them to yoyr tank the second month and turn lights on the third month.
GatorGreg
Well-Known Member
It was obnoxiously expensive but I went all Aussie ocean rock on my 80g. I absolutely can’t wait to go pick it up from the airport at the end of the month. It’s already paid for. But he recommended letting him do his 3 to 4 week cure. I imagine there’s some die off on the plane ride across the ocean.
Formulator
Valuable Member
I think it depends on the LFS. Mine has some great live rock that I know is far older than a few months. That said, I don’t have experience with the other stuff to compare to.
Lavey29
10K Club member
But you will see the benefits for sure down the line
ReefPup
Community Member
Ok so if I'm understanding correctly I should put in my Marco rock scape and start the tank with turbo start. Simultaneously I should start bucket curing the 5lbs from TBS. After 1 month add the cured live rock and then leave the lights on for one month more. Then switch the lights into acclimation mode?
jabberwock
2500 Club Member
= real ocean live rock. The pests are easy to deal with compared to nuisance algae...
jabberwock
2500 Club Member
Don't bucket cure TBS live rock. There is no need to do this. Ask them how to do it.
Last piece of advice, don't do clownfish. They are evil.
Lavey29
10K Club member
That would be my approach but ask Tampa Bay the best method they recommend for curing their rock once you receive it. Keep in mind, once your tank is cycled you can add fish. They don't need light. Just wait on corals a few months.
Gribbles
Active Member
I agree with everyone here that live rock is a great choice, even a little bit like you're considering. Well worth it.
I do want to add tho that using marco rock is not all the doom and gloom everyone says it is. It's not going to hex your tank and make dinos a guaranteed thing. Perfectly acceptable to take things nice and slow if that's what you want.
You will quite probably still have risk associated re: acquiring pests through frags, cuc even with dry rock
I do want to add tho that using marco rock is not all the doom and gloom everyone says it is. It's not going to hex your tank and make dinos a guaranteed thing. Perfectly acceptable to take things nice and slow if that's what you want.
You will quite probably still have risk associated re: acquiring pests through frags, cuc even with dry rock
