Is my Base Rock now "Live Rock"

[jawfishjunky]

2 Years ago I used about 20 LBS of white,totally dead ocean rock as my base rock. After 2 years in an established Reef Aquarium, does it now qualify as bio-filtering Live Rock?

If so, this helps me figure out how much new live-rock I need for the next Tank.

thanks again.......

 

[pat8you]

yes i'm sure its live by now. It only takes a couple months provided with an ammonia source for the bacteria to become established. After two years that is some good quality live rock.

 

[melosu58]

I agree that if it`s been in a tank for two yrs it should be good to go.

 

[Patroklos]

Man, I hope it is live after two years, I am counting on my BR being live in two months!

 

[melosu58]

Man, I hope it is live after two years, I am counting on my BR being live in two months!

It should be.

 

[jawfishjunky]

Cool..........sounds like I am in good shape. I probably have about 120 pounds of crankiing Live Rock to go in the 120.

I`ll probably get another 40-60 Dead for the new base rock and I`m good to go.

thanks people

 

[melosu58]

Sounds like everything is coming together. Cant wait for the pics

 

[jawfishjunky]

Sounds like everything is coming together. Cant wait for the pics

Thanks again---also for the Overflow link. I was thinking of just going with a HOB skimmer , decent lighting, and maybe an HOB Aquafuge for Mandarin Pods for a while (or even an in-tank fuge for that---just a plastic box, right--should be cheap as heck)---then saving up for the whole Overflow/Fuge thing and hooking that upgrade a few months down the road.

does that sound OK?

 

[melosu58]

I dont see why not. It will cost more doing it twice but that`s up to you. Plenty of LR and a skimmer will do nicely and some PH`s to keep the water moving. I would buy some pods and add to the tank and maybe wait about 6 months for them to infest the tank with all that LR before I got the manderin. JMO

 

[jawfishjunky]

This might sound a fbit unky, but Can the HOB Skimmers just HOB of the sump? Couldnt I just use a longer hose to connect the skimmer intake to its pump so it could reach the sump bottom? Then I wouldnt have to buy a second skimmer........hmmmmmm---
just thinking a bit too much............

 

[cmor1701d]

Instead of new base rock I would get some new LR for the biodiversity that comes along with it. New pods and who knows what else.

 

[jawfishjunky]

Instead of new base rock I would get some new LR for the biodiversity that comes along with it. New pods and who knows what else.

You know---You might have swung my decision. I was thinking the same thing and the LFS near me is having a 40% off sale on live rock until Labor Day.

You only live once!

thanks...............

BTW--The only live rock I ever bought was the original 80 LBS to set up my tank. Does store bought Live-Rock need to be quarentined, or can you just plop it right into an established tank?

 

[melosu58]

LR needs to be cured. If your LFS had it in a holding tank for a few weeks then it might be cured. If not you`ll need to cure it. If that`s the case then why not cycle the tank and cure the LR at the same time. 2 birds with one stone. Read our articles on curing LR and cycling a tank.

 

[roka64]

If you keep it wet/damp for the trip home from the LFS, and if it is a relatively short trip, you can simply add it to your tank.

Mike, this is already an established tank.

 

[jawfishjunky]

I wouldnt have time to "cycle" the new tank----I`m doing a one day transplant. I know that the LFS Rock are all in holding tanks---and I think the system that runs through all the livestock tanks runs through the rock tanks---so it must be cured.
That means I can just "plop" it in, right?

As always , thanks for your time and replies.

 

[roka64]

Oh, I must have missed the part about a new tank.
Ask your LFS if it is cured LR, if it is, you can add it to the new tank.

 

[jawfishjunky]

Oh, I must have missed the part about a new tank.
Ask your LFS if it is cured LR, if it is, you can add it to the new tank.

Its a reef transplant---so the new tank is just the old established one with more water. I`ll be doing some "surface water" water changes directly into the new tank---so the water composition and chemistry will be pretty close to the transplantee, so to speak. Plus I`ll be using a bit of Bio-Spira just to be extra safe and stable.