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Adding live rock ?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by HarleyHawk, Jul 6, 2014.

  1. Jul 6, 2014 #1
    HarleyHawk

    HarleyHawk Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Ok 2 weeks before my hand surgery I broke down my tanks and started over with new dried rock. Long story short I am up and running full power. been through the cycles coral and fish are in great shape. Now the LR that I took out had some hair algea on it. I have put it in a tank with my water changes with power heads on it.Everthing has been gone off of it for 2 months.Now I am wanting to add a second row of LR for my corals. The question I would like some input do I need to let it dry out or boil it and let it dry.
     
  2. Jul 6, 2014 #2
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

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    I would say a good scrub down to get all the stuff off the surface would be sufficient. Maybe check to see if its holding excess phosphates and leaching them back to the water. If it is you may want to handle that before putting it back in your display tank.
     
  3. Jul 6, 2014 #3
    Zach Coralville, Iowa

    Zach Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Rocks leaching phospohates is a bit of an urban legend in reefing. Make sure the algea doesn't have a presence now, either dewad or alive as it will produce nutrients. Slgeas require phosphates to take hold, and once established on them use nitrates to grow. So the nbloom as a result will come in a few weeks anyway. The main reason you don't see the algae now is the water in that tank was cleaner. All algae outbreaks can be controlled with water changes and a modicum of knowledge of the algae type.
     
  4. Jul 6, 2014 #4
    HarleyHawk

    HarleyHawk Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Thanks David that is what I was thinking The only thing that I want to add is I am going to sawing the LR in half to build second wall.
     
  5. Jul 6, 2014 #5
    Sponge Marshalltown, IA

    Sponge Expert Reefkeeper Vendor

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  6. Jul 7, 2014 #6
    xroads La Porte City, IA

    xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

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    The bad thing about boiling it, or letting it dry out is you kill that biofilm that is now on the live rock. This is what makes it alive. There is much more then just pods to make rock live, there is a layer of bacteria, microscopic algaes and so on.

    This is what makes live rock such a great tool for your tank.

    If it has been going two months, you should be ready to go with it as is. Maybe slosh each peice around in fresh saltwater to dislodge any loose organics, but that is all I would do.

    Maybe even add some pods, or grung from the bottom of your sump to this system to diversify the rock even more.
     
  7. Jul 7, 2014 #7
    abower Ryan, Ia

    abower Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Agreed, I used hot tap water on a rock to kill the final stem of aptasia that the peppermints couldn't get to and it pretty much reset the rock. I buy cheap toothbrushes and just scrub what needs scrubbed on my rock. You can even get aggressive if its really bad and do this in a seperit bucket.
     

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