adding live rock to an established tank

[kaihonu82]

Hi,

When I started my 29g tank back in March I added about 15lbs of live rock. I'd like to add more, but I'm not exactly sure how I should go about it since my tanks has been up and running for a bit. I don't want to throw more in if its going to disrupt what I have going on already.

Any suggestions for safely adding more..? Thanks in advance!

 

[Pure]

Yup get a large tub and cure it outside of your tank. Even if you buy cured LR online it will have some die off due to it being shipped.

Or you can buy pre cured LR from most good salt water pet shops.

 

[saltwater4life]

i also wounder about this so if i buy LR from my pet store it'd be ok to add then or do i have to cure it again??

 

[kaihonu82]

yea, there are a couple good lfs near me..where I got my rock the first time.

If i buy "cured" rock from them...should I still isolate it for a while?

 

[Joe Fish]

I recently just added more rock to my tank. Here is what I did.

Went to walmart and got a tub thing you could be a beer keg into. Put the rock inside there along with a heater and airstone/powerhead. I think a powerhead with the air tube attachment would be best. I put just enough water in the tub to cover the rock a couple inches. Then twice a week I would do 100% water changes. I used test strips just to get a rough idea of how the parameters were doing. During each water change I scrubbed the rocks with a tooth brush. It was cured in about 2 weeks. I have used this process twice and so far have had good results.

 

[Lorna]

If buying it locally make sure you ask if it is cured........if they have a stunned look and say "it sure is" treat it as if it isn't. Either way I would be leary of adding it directly until I was 100% positive that a spike won't occur.....as it is much better to happen in a bucket than in your tank

 

[saltwater4life]

now was this cured or uncured? before you did this

 

[Joe Fish]

I bought it online and it was 'pre cured' which is a term that can be used loosly. You can use the same method for uncured it will just take a little longer.

 

[SALTY WATERS]

Buy a small amount at time (ie. 2-3lbs every couple weeks) of cured LR from your LFS and just make sure you remove anything that looks as though it is still dead & decaying, give it a good rinse-off in a bucket of SW and then add it to your tank. Just keep an eye on your levels for the next week and perform water changes as required. You should be fine, I have done this many times with no ill effects.

 

[FWSWBW]

Buy a small amount at time (ie. 2-3lbs every couple weeks) of cured LR from your LFS and just make sure you remove anything that looks as though it is still dead & decaying, give it a good rinse-off in a bucket of SW and then add it to your tank. Just keep an eye on your levels for the next week and perform water changes as required. You should be fine, I have done this many times with no ill effects.

I have to agree with this..I also have done it this way with no spikes or cycles. Remove everything with tweezers, that looks like it might bite or sting..even if it looks dead, some creatures can with stand dry periods and be playing possum..you never know what is lurking in there, oh and wear rubber gloves. You may already know this. Good luck.

 

[eva]

Went to walmart and got a tub thing you could be a beer keg into. Put the rock inside there along with a heater and airstone/powerhead. I think a powerhead with the air tube attachment would be best. I put just enough water in the tub to cover the rock a couple inches. Then twice a week I would do 100% water changes. I used test strips just to get a rough idea of how the parameters were doing. During each water change I scrubbed the rocks with a tooth brush. It was cured in about 2 weeks. I have used this process twice and so far have had good results.

When you cure rock outside in a tub like this, do you have to do it with pre-mixed saltwater or can you do it with regular freshwater?

 

[SALTY WATERS]

When you cure rock outside in a tub like this, do you have to do it with pre-mixed saltwater or can you do it with regular freshwater?

It MUST be saltwater

 

[Mahamotorworks]

I am not a SW person. Can someone define the Diff in Cured and Uncrued LR? I have thought about when I start my tank to go diving and get some out of the Gulf here. I was wondering if I would have to cure it. I know that it may not be the smartest idea, but an idea.

MAHA

 

[SALTY WATERS]

First PLEASE check with your local and State laws regarding the collection of wild life to be sure that it is allowed. If it is prohibited PLEASE obide by the laws as they are there to protect and preserve the area.

As for the difference between cured and uncured... Uncured is basically LR that has mostly died due to transportation after collection. You then need to Cure this rock before it is suitable for aquarium life.

Cured is well... cured and ready to support life in the aquarium.

That is a very very basic description.

 

[eva]

Duh, thanks sir, that makes sense.

 

[SALTY WATERS]

Sir... man that makes me feel old!!!!! lol

 

[TRe]

buy it locally that way you can get it pre cured and just add it straight to the tank

 

[eva]

LOL sorry salty waters, i call everyone a sir!

 

[Joe Fish]

Cured rock smells like a rock
Ucured rock smells like death.

Cured rock has gone through the die off stage. Meaning everything left on there is living or in the process of coming back to life.

 

[Mahamotorworks]

Thanks that clears it up. I will check on local law to see if I can, I was planning to do that anyway. I just didnt understand why people put rock into a tank and let them sit.

MAHA