live rock question...

[jwalsh]

Can I add more live rock to my tank after its been running for 4 months if its cured all the way? Or is this going to cause a spike regardless?

 

[TeamTrash]

From what I've read it will cause a spike. Why not just add base rock as it will turn live by sitting in the tank for a while?

 

[jwalsh]

I was hoping to get some rock with some other colors of coroline on them as the rock I have now just has dark purple, light purple, pink and red. I was hoping to get some yellow and orange as well. I did find a place that sells these stips of coroline so you can use them as a starter to get a certain color you want. Maybe ill just go with base rock and some of those cultures

 

[AquaRick]

Depending on the size of your tank, the size of the rock you want to add, you may or may not get a spike. Adding new live rock shouldn't create that large a spike especially if you've been running for 4 months. Feel free to add move live rock I say.

 

[jwalsh]

Its a 29 gal and I want to add 25 lbs. But its already cured so I can't for see a problem. I got a 5" deep sand bed also

 

[AquaRick]

You'll be fine. Just add the rock. You're not going to have much dieoff from that amount of live rock.

 

[jwalsh]

Cool thanks for the advice

 

[uscamaro]

If you're getting it from LFS, keep it fully submerged in water the whole trip home; only touching air to move from tank>bucket>tank.

If you're having it shipped to you, it will have die-off and cause a spike. Best thing to do then would be to re-cure it using water from your PWC until the water passes all tests.

 

[TWEDM1]

From what I've read it will cause a spike. Why not just add base rock as it will turn live by sitting in the tank for a while?

True story..

 

[jwalsh]

Alright thanks for the advice I don't want it to hurt my fish and inverts

 

[jwalsh]

Alright thanks for the advice I don't want it to hurt my fish and inverts

 

[austinsdad]

The definition of "fully cured" means there is no die-off and will not cause a spike. Of course, just because a seller says its fully cured, doesn't mean it's true. If there's any real concern put in in some salt water in a container with a small powerhead and test it after 24hrs. Better safe than sorry IMO.

 

[jwalsh]

Yeah well the guy I'm buying it from lives 5 miles down the road from me and it he got it 3 weeks ago and I've been to his house for other stuff in those 3 weeks. Everytime I'm there I ask him if its ready lol but its been good for a week or so. I guess ill go get it and put it in a tub anyways and test the water anyways just to make sure its really all good. I've got about $250-$300 worth of live stock in my tank that I don't need dying just because of the rock. And id really be kicking myself if that happens and I could have just added base rock and avoided the entire situation

 

[TWEDM1]

Yeah well the guy I'm buying it from lives 5 miles down the road from me and it he got it 3 weeks ago and I've been to his house for other stuff in those 3 weeks. Everytime I'm there I ask him if its ready lol but its been good for a week or so. I guess ill go get it and put it in a tub anyways and test the water anyways just to make sure its really all good. I've got about $250-$300 worth of live stock in my tank that I don't need dying just because of the rock. And id really be kicking myself if that happens and I could have just added base rock and avoided the entire situation

A lot of those rocks are formed in salt so they will elevate salt levels

 

[jwalsh]

Formed in salt? So my salinity will go up?

 

[austinsdad]

I don't think so. Not like the rocks will dissolve.

 

[jwalsh]

I'm just going to buy base rock from brs and call it good. Better be safe than sorry

 

[Sem2086]

5" of sand? I've heard if you have too many inches bad things.. bacteria and such can get trapped and then released

 

[jwalsh]

Yeah 80 lbs of sand in my 29 gallon. It's a for my Michael's pistol shrimp and yellow watchman goby