[david6789]

Ok my 75 gallon tank will be here tomorrow. I will need LR and LS. Can I go today and buy the LR (and maybe the LS) and place it in buckets and run a power head in there, no lights or anything? is there a benifite? Or should I just wait to get my tank going?

Just going to be alot to carry tomorrow with all the water, rock, sand, etc,

[arctictwist]

You can do that. The only benefit will be keeping more from dying off of the rock. One day isn't much for starting the cycle. You might clear some die off that way, but the bulk will happen when you put it in the tank for 4-6 weeks. If you want to eliminate some carrying, hold off on the LS. You should back fill that after your aqua-scape is set and cured.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I would do the aquascaping and put the sand in before I put one drop of water in the tank.If you put the water in slowly you can avoid the snowstorm effect.Plus there is a certain amount of cycle with live sand,why cycle twice?

[arctictwist]

i was told that you should back fill the sand later so you can vacuum up anything that comes off the rocks, was I misinformed? But im a newb, you have WAY more experience than me, so I would take your word for it. If its ok to do it that way, i would do what dale says, i just went through the sandstorm deal, NOT FUN. My tank is still not fully settled.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

This would be my plan for handling live rock.First off all that black nasty looking stuff in the bottom of the box.That is black gold and loaded with all sorts of benificial organisms.Save it and put it in the bottom of the tank just before you put the sand in.Second rinse the rock in a bucket of salt water and maybe gently scrub it with a soft brush,like a paint brush (but never used in paint).Save this water for later.Then do the aquascaping dry (the stuff has already been out of the water for at least two days maybe a week)Contrary to what retailers might want you to believe they did not go to fiji and get the rock just for you lol.When the aquascaping is done put the sand in.then take the water you washed the rock in to the kitchen sink and pour it thru a sieve(screen wire),now stand back and be amazed at what you found in the sieve.There will be everything from coral spores to in some cases live fish. oh and mantis shrimp(these I personaly would dispose of in the most expedisious manner).Everything else I would put in the tank.Then either using a dinner plate ballanced on the rock or plastic bowl that floats pour in the water SLOWLY.The bowl/plate will prevent the water from disturbing the new sand bed.

[arctictwist]

these are the kinds of things i will remember for my next tank!

[david6789]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

This would be my plan for handling live rock.First off all that black nasty looking stuff in the bottom of the box.That is black gold and loaded with all sorts of benificial organisms.Save it and put it in the bottom of the tank just before you put the sand in.Second rinse the rock in a bucket of salt water and maybe gently scrub it with a soft brush,like a paint brush (but never used in paint).Save this water for later.Then do the aquascaping dry (the stuff has already been out of the water for at least two days maybe a week)Contrary to what retailers might want you to believe they did not go to fiji and get the rock just for you lol.When the aquascaping is done put the sand in.then take the water you washed the rock in to the kitchen sink and pour it thru a sieve(screen wire),now stand back and be amazed at what you found in the sieve.There will be everything from coral spores to in some cases live fish. oh and mantis shrimp(these I personaly would dispose of in the most expedisious manner).Everything else I would put in the tank.Then either using a dinner plate ballanced on the rock or plastic bowl that floats pour in the water SLOWLY.The bowl/plate will prevent the water from disturbing the new sand bed.

Awsome advise! I will follow it to the letter!