I have just started my first saltwater tank. It's been running for about 6 weeks now and contains a snowflake moray and maroon clown. I'd like to add a couple of other fish but I'm realizing that I didn't put enough live rock in the tank. Is there a safe way to add a few more pieces? What should I look for when adding the rock? I've read that the ammonia may jump a bit but if I stay on top of it, that shouldn't become too much of an issue. Correct?
Adding live rock to an existing system?
- Thread starter smslavin
- Start date
Can you describe the setup a bit more? How large of a system and how much rock do you currently have? Do you have a skimmer? I only ask because IMO recommendations for live rock quantity are often overstated - you may not even need more.
Even if it's already cured you should just let it sit in the rubermaid bucket or some container of that kind and try and mimic the saltwater conditions of your aquarium in it, including the temperature, ph, salinity and such. In addition you should have one powerhead running in the bucket to keep the water moving. Every once in a while do a water change as well and scrub off any dead material off the rock. If you buy cured rock dead material should be limited, and uncured would have a bit more. Let it sit in the container for a month or two or until you notice no smell and rock looks good. After the wait you should introduce it to the tank SLOWLY, one rock at a time over the few week period and you should be fine.
p.s.
Never tried this myself, but it's what I've been told would be a good way of adding additional rock.
p.s.
Never tried this myself, but it's what I've been told would be a good way of adding additional rock.
It's a 47 gallon tank from Via Aqua and was given to me, empty, by a friend who had to move out of town. There's about 2 inches of live sand on the bottom and about 20-25 pounds of Fiji and Tonga live rock. I have 2 big pieces of Fiji rock on either end of the tank with the Tonga filling in the middle.
I'm considering adding a Six Line Wrasse and I'm worried that there aren't enough hiding places for him.
I'd love to upgrade the lighting and filter systems (there is no skimmer just the built-in wet/dry filter) on the tank but I don't think that is very feasible. So, I'll keep it as a rock only tank with a few fish and some feather dusters.
From a filtration standpoint (live rock + live sand + wet/dry) I think you're pretty well covered for an FO tank. In that regard I don't think you really need any more rock.
If you're just thinking in terms of aesthetics, or hiding places for new fish, and want to add some rock, then I would just stick to adding cured stuff (which you'd need to obtain locally). If you want to get uncured rock or want to order online and have it shipped to you, be sure to cure it first before adding as mentioned above.
HTH
If you're just thinking in terms of aesthetics, or hiding places for new fish, and want to add some rock, then I would just stick to adding cured stuff (which you'd need to obtain locally). If you want to get uncured rock or want to order online and have it shipped to you, be sure to cure it first before adding as mentioned above.
HTH
Yes you can add liverock. I have bought uncured and cured it, then added it in my tank, And I have a LFS with well cured liverock. I recently added 10# of coraline encrusted LR. He wrapped it in paper and I had it in my tank within an hour. It looked good and smelled good with no trash all over it (except for some aptasia which I nuked). This is a good way, adding a little of cured rock at a time.
The max time LR can be out of water is 4 hours (read that somewhere on the internet) or you'll have to recure it. Or if you can get some dry base rock, your LR will seed it in about 6 months, making it live.
I'm in the process of making about 100# of agrocrete rock (garf.com) using concrete, CaribSea sand and crushed coral. It will be ready in a couple months, as soon as I get the ph down on it.
Good Luck!
The max time LR can be out of water is 4 hours (read that somewhere on the internet) or you'll have to recure it. Or if you can get some dry base rock, your LR will seed it in about 6 months, making it live.
I'm in the process of making about 100# of agrocrete rock (garf.com) using concrete, CaribSea sand and crushed coral. It will be ready in a couple months, as soon as I get the ph down on it.
Good Luck!
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