replacing live rock thats over grown

aslmx · Nov 22, 2012

My tank is over 4 years old and the rock is covered with palys and other stuff that grows fast. Can I replace all the rock with dry rock without harming fish or corals? Its a 75 gallon with a 2" sand bed and 30 gallon sump. I was kicking the idea around of a new tank but mine is fine if I could rebuild it without a new cycle. I might have 60 to 70 lbs of rock. Ive replaced single pieces without problems but it all needs to go.

Squishie89 · Nov 23, 2012

I think replacing all the rock will indeed put your tank through a cycle, especially it being dry rock.

Socoreefer · Nov 23, 2012

+1 , got a pic ? Would like to see "overgrown " ! Lol I didn't think that was attainable

altolamprologus · Nov 23, 2012

It depends on the type of dry rock. I've added BRS reef saver dry rock to existing aquariums in small amount without problems because it doesn't have any dead matter that can be broken down. You will have problems if you take out all your existing rock at once though. What I would do is add a couple pounds of dry rock your sump every week or two so that they can be colonized by bacteria. Then take out your existing rock one piece at a time over the next couple months and put the rock from your sump in its place.

A word of caution: be careful when dealing with the palys. I partially crashed a tank after ripping out invasive palys because of the palytoxin.

aslmx · Nov 23, 2012

Thanks. I guess i ll start leaning toward a total rebuild. I ll try to get a pic up. It actually looks good, to me anyway, but Im out of room and want to try to grow new thing$.

skinz78 · Nov 23, 2012

I'd love to see a pic. Instead of rebuilding why not just start fragging here and there and selling some off?

Socoreefer · Nov 23, 2012

skinz78 said:
I'd love to see a pic. Instead of rebuilding why not just start fragging here and there and selling some off?

X 100
Good idear thar, as ya sell it off then replace it with new, rinse and repeat lol

ShawnSaucier · Nov 23, 2012

Attach a Rubbermaid tub to your sump and start seeding your dry rock first. It does take a bit for the rock to settle....

ShawnSaucier · Nov 23, 2012

And any of that, nuisance overgrown rock, the rest of us will kindly dispose of for you in our systems:bigsmile:

aslmx · Nov 23, 2012

Dont get me wrong, the stuff I get rid of will be traded, sold or given away. I would rather trade. These are not pest corals. Ive put all of these in when I was trying to fill my tank......it worked.lol

Bry · Nov 23, 2012

What fish do you have in there? From the pics it doesn't look like you have a huge bioload. I think you would be ok to replace a couple of rocks at a time. Definitely not all at once, unless you take the time to cycle your dry rock ahead of time in seperate tank or plastic container.

Great looking tank, by the way!

aslmx · Nov 23, 2012

Bry said:
What fish do you have in there? From the pics it doesn't look like you have a huge bioload. I think you would be ok to replace a couple of rocks at a time. Definitely not all at once, unless you take the time to cycle your dry rock ahead of time in seperate tank or plastic container.

Great looking tank, by the way!

scopas,small tomini, 2 clowns ,lawn mower and a scooter.....I hope I dont get a ticket from the tang patrol...

Exterminatank · Nov 23, 2012

Definitely not all at once. Check with your lfs. You can prob trade them in for an empty live rock and they will give you store credit. That's what my neighbor does with his mushroom rocks. He trades a filled rock of mushrooms and gets a live rock and store credit in return.

Mike

SeahorseKeeper · Nov 23, 2012

aslmx said:
scopas,small tomini, 2 clowns ,lawn mower and a scooter.....I hope I dont get a ticket from the tang patrol...

The tangs and lawn mower blenny graze off the rocks. I would be concerned about not having algae for them to graze off of the rocks in addition to the cycle. I would only do the switch out slowly.

Your tank looks great!!

aslmx · Nov 23, 2012

If I put dry rock in the sump. How long before its OK to use and is it OK to put a good bit in to cure.

Dan1789 · Nov 24, 2012

I think your tank looks great, is that a huge ball of candy canes?

aslmx · Nov 24, 2012

Dan1789 said:
I think your tank looks great, is that a huge ball of candy canes?

Yea my wife got it a couple of years ago. It was 6 heads when she got it. The clowns host it. If I even get near it while cleaning the female attacks. She draws blood with each bite.

Socoreefer · Nov 24, 2012

aslmx said:
Yea my wife got it a couple of years ago. It was 6 heads when she got it. The clowns host it. If I even get near it while cleaning the female attacks. She draws blood with each bite.

Vampire clown ?
Now that's awesome !

aslmx · Nov 24, 2012

Socoreefer said:
Vampire clown ?
Now that's awesome !

she came at me so hard one time that she missed and jumped out if the tank. She landed behind the tank and I had to drag her out with a broom handle across the floor. I washed her off in the sump and threw her back in. The clowns have been in the tank since the beginning.