please show off your tank with Real Reef Rock

[Azedenkae]

If I cycle the rock outside for While will it affect anything when I change it

Not really, no. Provided it is cycled properly.

 

[GoReefin]

Will be adding some tonga branching live rock as well

 

[GHOSTLY]

How long should I cycle it for? Also can I dry it out than cycle it? I want you in work with it outside to build a scape

 

[GoReefin]

Drying it completely out will kill the live bacteria and will take longer to cycle. You don't have to cycle a tank that uses established live rock.

 

[GHOSTLY]

How long can live rock stay out of water? I want to scape it and epoxy it

 

[GoReefin]

How long can live rock stay out of water? I want to scape it and epoxy it

It can stay out for several hours. Just make sure it stays damp

 

[GHOSTLY]

What’s the best epoxy for binding rock

 

[GoReefin]

What’s the best epoxy for binding rock

Any reef safe epoxy would work. I used fluval for mine.

 

[GHOSTLY]

I’ll pick up live rock today and leave it in a bucket for a few weeks

 

[Jekyl]

I’ll pick up live rock today and leave it in a bucket for a few weeks

You will still need to provide circulation and a heat source. May want to ghost feed along the way if sitting for a while.

 

[zalick]

Inspired by Paul’s post above, Real reef rock on a real reef in Indonesia.

 

[GHOSTLY]

thats a cute fish. Also how long would Caribsea Life rock take to cycle before I could put it in my tank

 

[Hermie]

Just bite the bullet and change the rocks now before its too late

 

[Hermie]

thats a cute fish. Also how long would Caribsea Life rock take to cycle before I could put it in my tank

Put it in immediately once you buy it just rinse it off. If you aquascape it bfore putting it in the tank, jut rinse it off or put it straight in afterwards, there's no need to cycle rock just to put it in a tank.

 

[GHOSTLY]

Put it in immediately once you buy it just rinse it off. If you aquascape it bfore putting it in the tank, jut rinse it off or put it straight in afterwards, there's no need to cycle rock just to put it in a tank.

but its dry rock. I have 20 pounds of rock and ill be switching over. Won't I lose my coral since I'm getting rid of so much bacteria?

 

[zalick]

but its dry rock. I have 20 pounds of rock and ill be switching over. Won't I lose my coral since I'm getting rid of so much bacteria?

I’m confused as to what you are trying to do. You have rock in the tank you want to get rid of and replace with 100% dry rock?

 

[GHOSTLY]

I’m confused as to what you are trying to do. You have rock in the tank you want to get rid of and replace with 100% dry rock?

recap. I have 20 pounds of marco rock. I hate my scape and my rock colour and want to change it out for live rock. Live rocks too expensive so I settle on caribsea life Rock. Now Im asking how long to cure and cycle caribsea life rock

 

[zalick]

recap. I have 20 pounds of marco rock. I hate my scape and my rock colour and want to change it out for live rock. Live rocks too expensive so I settle on caribsea life Rock. Now Im asking how long to cure and cycle caribsea life rock

I’d put it in a brute with a heater, pump and salt water. Put a piece of your current rock with it. Feed the brute daily with the same amount you feed your tank.

Should be good to go after a month for a full swap as far as bacteria goes. This is kind of up @brandon429 alley. He might have more precise timing.

 

[Jekyl]

recap. I have 20 pounds of marco rock. I hate my scape and my rock colour and want to change it out for live rock. Live rocks too expensive so I settle on caribsea life Rock. Now Im asking how long to cure and cycle caribsea life rock

I still think you should be patient and let it be. New rock will end up covered in algae anyway

 

[zalick]

I still think you should be patient and let it be. New rock will end up covered in algae anyway

@GHOSTLY - this is absolutely correct. Your new rock will be covered in algae and you won’t see the color for a long time.

if you want different shapes, then swapping it makes sense. But it will be covered in algae for a long time.