rock swap

[schneid0c]

so my main display tank 55 gal is over run with pulsing xenia.so im swapping the rock. i bought 50 pounds of "real reef rock" i put it in a tub and plumbed it into my system. they claim this rock is live but technically dry. it has not come from the ocean. so how long till the benificial bacteria colonizzes this rock enough to swap out my old rock? any advice is helpful.

 

[Bdog4u2]

3-6 weeks. longer the better if your swapping out that much in a 55. Make sure flow is good around it

 

[Retro Reefer]

Did you order your rock from RR and was it wet when you recived it? If so it is was alive and it will cycle quickly.. There rock is "seeded" in large raceways and is basically just like real live rock without the hitchhikers. mine arrived wrapped in wet newspaper and cycled in about 10 days or so basically had a couple mini spikes never saw ammonia spike but I wasn't testing daily, did catch nitrites on the way up or down during the cycle.. Everything went to zero and nitrates are just now starting to edge up to 5ppm after 3 months with the rock, I'm also using about 1 lb per gallon.. So far I love the rock!

 

[schneid0c]

yes i got if from rr .my whole system volume is around a hundred gallons with frag tank and sump so its not just a small 55 gal display.

 

[schneid0c]

ill add this tank has been going for 2 years it is not a new system.