[venus01815]

I have a question about adding more live rocks in the future. Right now our tank has one decent sized rock in one corner and another small one in the other corner. Eventually I want to add more and want to know how to go about that and what steps I would need to take...

The tank is only a week and a half old and I probably won't be doing this for a few months, I just wanted some early advice

[CyberJester]

If you will have live stock in the tank, then you are best off to do the cycle in a seperate container. get some large plastic tubs or a 5 gal bucket (depending on how much rock you buy), then add some waterflow by putting a power head in their and add a heater to keep it at temperature.

Then just test it everyday until it completes the cycle then you may move it from the tub into your main tank. I would add it to the tank fairly slowly and keep an eye on my levels to make sure there are no spikes.

[glampka]

It all depends on the type of rock you plan on buying. If it is cured rock, you won't have problems adding it to your tank since die-off will be minimal if you got it at your lfs. If it is uncured, you'll have to do as Cyber says.

[venus01815]

How do I find cured rock? Or I should say where? I don't know the differenence...what is the difference between uncured and cured live rock?

[glampka]

At your lfs. Ask what they have.

[venus01815]

I got my last rock from the lfs...do they always sell cured rock or do they have both? The rock I got from them had aiptasia anemone all over it and I had to deal with that lol

[CyberJester]

If you got it from your LFS then chances are that it is cured LR. If there are fish or Corals in the tank with it, it is cured LR.

The difference between cured LR and Uncured LR is cycle times. Cured LR is cycled in someone elses tank and therefore does not have die off (it does not produce ammonia or nitrites anymore) uncured LR is the opposite it is not cured and there is die off due the length of time it has been out of water (therefore it will give off ammonia and should not be put in a tank with livestock). The cycle times differ from rock to rock and merchant to merchant depending on where it is from and how long it has been out of water. Even when you buy cured LR over the Internet there is die off because they have to take it out of the water and ship it to you and some die off occurs. This is usually quite a bit less lengthy then that of uncured LR.

[CyberJester]

Here is a link to a thread that has already been started on that topic:

http://www.reefbuilders.com/forums/n...ncured-lr.html

[glampka]

Ask your lfs what kind of rock they're selling - some may carry both cured & "uncured" (which they will be curing)

[cappy290]

Most lfs have cured rock be sure to ask them if you plan on putting in your main tank with any live stock.

[sanjaypawar]

Originally Posted by venus01815

I got my last rock from the lfs...do they always sell cured rock or do they have both? The rock I got from them had aiptasia anemone all over it and I had to deal with that lol

If you have a 50 G tank, buy rock that has been sitting in a tank at the LFS for some time 1-2 weeks. If the demand is high the LFS may not have rock long enough to be cured. But most LFS do have rock in their tank for a week or 2 before they can sell it.

Also, when you are picking pieces, smell them for rotten egg like smell. Don't buy the piece that smells a lot. Also don't buy the rock that has a lot of stuff on it. They stuff will die and rot in your tank.

Cured rock has all the stuff dead and removed from it. So you start with a clean slate allowing new life without having to go through die off.

Most importantly don't add more than 5lbs of semi cured rock at a time. Add the next 5lbs after a week and you should be fine. Just start picking the pieces that you like the best one at a time. I think it is a great way to aquascape and create a beautiful collection.

Hope that helped.

[joshhhuuuhh]

whats LFS??? sorry im new to this stuff.

[holiday]

local fish store