Live Rock ...what do I do when I receive it?

[slojmn1]

I did it similar to 500G with a few exceptions. I purchased cured live rock and picked it up at the airport. It was close to midnight when I got home so it went straight into the tank. I chose to lay down the rock right on the glass then add the sand. This way I have no collapses(knock on wood) from any digging creatures. I have already had one fish decide to build a cave and move quite a bit of sand. I am sure had my rock been on top of the sand this would have brought it down. I could not see anything in the tank for the first 48 hours due to the sand storm. I ran a protein skimmer and a filter with some filter floss to help clear the tank. I just changed the water every 5 days at about 20% and waited for the cycle. I also basted the rocks a lot to blow stuff around. I had quite a few creatures on the rock who helped clean up the detrius and dead stuff. I then added a detrivore kit once the cycle was over, about 2 weeks. These snails and such also helped clean things up. I chose not to take rock out and remove dead stuff. This is a personal choice. All went really well. Good luck

 

[Darkreignn]

If I order live rock, what are the steps I should follow once I receive it. Of course this is for a new tank setup. Oh and how many pounds should I buy for a 125 gallon tank...thanx

 

[500 G]

Where are you buying from. If online most sites have an instruction page to help you out.

This is what I do. 1st I take off anything that I know will not survive. Then it all goes in the tank with filters running. The only filter I have is a protein skimmer. If your are going to have a sand bed then it should be in the tank too. Do not run lights. Every couple of days I take out the rock piece by piece, examine for anything else dying and remove it. It is called live rock because organisms actually live in the layers in the rock. Any of these areas that are dying, you will know by the smell, I open up and scrape out. Do not perform any water changes for 2 weeks, about 50%. Then start running lights for a very short period per day, maybe an hr or 2. At this point Keep checking for dying matter. After 4th week all dying off should be done. When parameters are acceptable do one final 50% water change and your done.