Will my tank be ready?

[crobattt]

My tank has been setup for 9 months now. I'm turning to a reef, and i am getting 80 pounds of rock, and new lighting, a 8x54 watt T5HO light. Will i be ready for Coral, Anemones, and clams since my tank has been set up for so long or should i wait longer? also would it be ok to add all 80 pounds of live rock to my tank, or should i do it little by little so i don't start a mini-cycle?

Edit: Hope this edits. Hey this the 18,000th thread in this forum. I feel special xD

 

[cr500_af]

I'm a little confused by the wording, so here goes... if you have an established tank that has just had no coral, etc, then go for it. Stock slowly is always a good rule.

However, you said "I'm getting 80 pounds of rock...". Are you adding new LR to your existing tank? Has your tank been running with filters but no LR previously? I assume this is a fish-only tank (currently stocked w/fish) that you're going to a reef setup with?

If you are adding "new" LR, I'd wait before stocking with anything. The chances of a cycle or mini-cycle are too big to risk IMO when you are transporting rock. Plus, it's a whole bunch easier to deal with bad hitchhikers on rock before it has sensitive corals attached to it. You'll still have to deal with the risk to fish with a cycle... which would lead me to suggest curing the rock in another vessel besides your tank.

 

[crobattt]

cr500_af;720692 wrote: I'm a little confused by the wording, so here goes... if you have an established tank that has just had no coral, etc, then go for it. Stock slowly is always a good rule.

However, you said "I'm getting 80 pounds of rock...". Are you adding new LR to your existing tank? Has your tank been running with filters but no LR previously? I assume this is a fish-only tank (currently stocked w/fish) that you're going to a reef setup with?

If you are adding "new" LR, I'd wait before stocking with anything. The chances of a cycle or mini-cycle are too big to risk IMO when you are transporting rock. Plus, it's a whole bunch easier to deal with bad hitchhikers on rock before it has sensitive corals attached to it. You'll still have to deal with the risk to fish with a cycle... which would lead me to suggest curing the rock in another vessel besides your tank.

That's actually exactly my second idea. I was going to get a small koralia or something any put the rock in a bucket, then adding water from my tank to the water with the live rock in it. Eventually the water will match the water in my tank and will be safe to put straight in my tank, atleast that's my idea. of course i'll probably need a heater and something for water movement, would this work? I should probably add i already have 70-90 pounds of LR in my tank already. I'm adding this so i will have more places for coral that need to be higher in the tank.

 

[crobattt]

126 reef;720703 wrote: You would be okay if you started 9 months ago with the 80 pounds. Best bet is to go ahead and put in the 80 pounds and let it cycle thought. Doing it little by little will just take longer. Better to let it cycle and get it over with

Edit: Last post was assuming you don't have livestock uet

I have livestock. Including fish, inverts and a few coral. I need to not re-cycle. thus being why i'm adding little at a time.

 

[wbrown]

tractor supply has 100 gal rubbermaid troughs for around $80. I have one with a bunch of rock curing with a skimmer and powerheads.
If you have the room, you can't beat it.

 

[cr500_af]

Then, to answer your question better, you would do well by curing the rock in a tub or Brute (to keep it alive and allow any die-off to be dealt with), then adding it to the existing system. IMO once this is done, you could add it either all at once or a little at a time. If adding it a little at a time makes you feel more secure then by all means do it that way.

 

[crobattt]

That's what I'm going to do. What all would I need? A heater and water flow?


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[kirkwood]

I would start slow with the coral, etc to make sure that all your params are good, because mistakes can be very costly in this hobby.

 

[crobattt]

Crobattt;721011 wrote: That's what I'm going to do. What all would I need? A heater and water flow?


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[hud3339]

Why don't you buy dry rock and put it in there so you won't go through a cycle

 

[jamescook]

yes
heat the water and keep in circulating. then you can do WC as needed to keep it clean. during this time you can try to remove all aiptasia etc
good luck

 

[crobattt]

Wouldn't dry rock send the tank through another cycle?..

 

[mvm]

Not in most cases. Marco rock certainly would not.

 

[crobattt]

Holy Poop, i didn't know that.

Edit: Well, i've already made a deal with a person and i'm not going to backout, i will find a way to make it work

 

[jamescook]

if the rock is clean and the transfer swift, you might be fine. If not, QT the rock for a week or 2 and clean it up