Cured live rock

[spanko]

I have about 11 lbs. of cured live rock and 9 l bs. of tofa rock. I expect the tofa to become live someday. Any ideas on how long it will take for the live rock to start to migrate to the tofa? Also what kind of critters are possible to come out of the live rock? I know worms and such but is it possible to get coral or zooanthids?

 

[Vasces]

It will take a while....as in a good couple months before you start to see anything really noticeable. Coralline and other algae will be the first to appear. After that you can expect sponges and tiny fan worms to show up.

If you have mushrooms or zoe's on you live rock, yes, they can spread to the base rock. Mushrooms generally spread across a tank quickly if the water conditions are right.

It's all about patience.

 

[spanko]

So you are of the opinion that even with cured rock anything can happen as far as new critters?

 

[Vasces]

As long as the rock hasn't been left out to get bone dry or hung out in a bath of FW for an extended period of time, you would be amazed at all the little critters that will hang around.

 

[mr_X]

spanko. do you have a fuge? i have collected macros from different sources, and placed them in my fuge. eventually, the return pump seeded my display for me. i have tons of mystery guests! :wink:

 

[shavo]

he sure does!!!!

 

[spanko]

i don 't have a fuge. my setup is a stock 29 gallon Oceanic bio cube. i looked last night and have about 2 small zoa's on one of the rocks. All brown with yellow in the middle. Oh boy!!!!!!!

 

[spanko]

I am also getting what i think is a diatom bloom. Looks like brown algae. I should not be worried right. the chem tests are all good. Also have some macro algae growing both green and red calupra (sp?)

 

[mr_X]

na...you are going to see algae blooms. it's perfectly normal with a new tank.
i haven't seen any coral hitch-hikers on any of my rock though. you are lucky in that aspect.
besides the little amphipods and copapods, tube worms and such, the best i got was some yellow and purple sponges. :wink: