Adding LR

[eb0]

So I have had my tank for about 4 months (shoudlve cycled right?)
anyways I'm going to add about 75 lbs (72 gal) of live rock sometime this week hopefully. Only problem is that I hear your water quality goes to hell, and I dont have anywhere else to put my fish (2 perc clowns, 1 bicolor angel, 1 firefish, 1 mandarin goby) for the time it takes to cycle... so as long as I do frequent water changes will these guys be ok toughing it out in there?


other question, i heard something about glue-ing the lr, is this need to make arches and such? if so what type of glue do i use?

[skiflyer]

Are you talking about uncured live rock????

Yes arches are neccessary for water flow throughout the tank and between rocks. Also your fish appreciate it. You can use underwater epoxy.

[SaltyDawg]

If you put that much LR into a tank it will go through at least a minicycle, I would watch your water paramaters and if things start to get out of wack then make some water changes. Just try to get the rock set up the way you want it the first time. The more you handle it the more you will harm it and if you damage the algae it will die and cause water quality issues.

For the most part you shoud make sure you get good water flow around the rock and like I said, watch your paramaters. I personally have not put that much LR in at one time but I have put 20lbs or so in with no adverse effects.
Wayne

[malkore]

That much LR I'd expect a pretty large ammonia spike if it's uncured.

The underwater epoxy is sold at most fish stores, esp. the ones that sell live rock.

[jman785]

Yes,

I see another cycle coming along with adding that much rock.

I see an ammonia spike, and nitrites and nitrates going thru the roof.

Add it about 10-20 lbs..slowly and monitor your parameters as Wayne has stated already above.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Another option is to get a rubbermaid container and cure the LR in there as opposed to the tank. I've done this before on several occasions. Just put the LR in the container of choice, add powerheads, a heater and let it cycle. I usually place mine near the sliding glass door so that it gets some unlight since I don't have any extra lights to put over them. You can, of course, cycle it without lights as well, but you may lose some of the coraline.

[MikeS]

The problem with letting it cycle is that you will lose a lot of the life on the LR by subjecting it to such high ammonia levels.

Here's what I'd do in your shoes...

Set up a seperate tank or rubbermaid container, with heat, circulation, ect. Monitor the cycle in the tank, and keep the toxic ammonia and nitrite low with carbon, water changes, skimming if possible...once the cycle is diminished, you can start addind the rock to the tank, a few pieces at a time, monitioring the water quality in the main tank as you go. This way you can hopefully preserve as many of the goodies on the LR as possible, without subjecting your main tank to a cycle...

Mike

[eb0]

the rock im buying is fully cured, and im picking it up myself so there should be no to very minimal die-off.

still expect to see ammonia and Nitra/ite spikes?

[icereefer]

where your getting it ,do they have holding tanks? if so can't you just pay for the rock and add a little at a time? if it's fully cured from the store your getting it from.that's been in there tanks for awhile, you should be able to get away with adding half at a time, but if it's cured rock that being shipped to them ,then there will be some die off on it but not much and your tank should be able to handle around 20 lbs at a time.