Pier Pressure Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Good morning. Some of you already know that I bought a 26 gallon saltwater aquarium a couple of weeks ago that contained approximately 5 pounds of live rock. Since that time I have added another 5 pounds of rock that I got from an LFS that had been curing for months. Last night, I managed to score another 17 pounds on canreef, together with a bit more live sand, and was informed that the rock was from an established tank that has been up and running for years so I could add all of the live rock at once and if anything it would improve my water quality. Since that time I have received another opinion that my tank will probably go through a bit of a cycle because I added so much rock at once. Can somebody clear this up for me? Will the tank cycle or not? And if so should I start doing daily water changes when I get home tonight? I already have livestock and invertebraes in there so I really need to keep the water quality close to perfect. Thank you for any knowledgable responses, or even not-so-knowledgable ones . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windeindoiel Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Well I'm assuming salt water works much the same as freshwater in this respect, so putting in the established rock should really help along the cycle. It might might go through a little cycle if you have more fish and stuff than the bacteria can handle, but I would think you'd be ok. This is providing salt and fresh water work the same. Test your water, if ammonia or nitrite is readable, it's still cycling, if they're zero and there's some nitrate, it's finished cycling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pier Pressure Posted November 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Thanks, Erin. I am thinking along the same lines as I have lots of experience with fresh water. I will do a water test when I get home and see what is happening. I guess that is really the only way to tell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little sea Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 So long as the rock is cured you should experience little for ammonia/nitrite spikes. You might get a little as moveing the rock always causes it some stress and die-off, but nothing to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pier Pressure Posted November 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Thanks, little sea. I have been sitting here at work squirming all day wondering what is going on in that salt tank. Hey - I note you are Elite Aquatics, Colby. Once I get this tank running right I shall head in to pick up some more livestock from you. You have a great selection of salty creatures! Have a good one! Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlkWolfe Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 Pretty much what Colby said. Unless you let it really dry, the cycle should be negligable. I'd keep an eye on it just to be safe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pier Pressure Posted December 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 IT'S ALIVE!!! Everything and everyone looks good except for the anemone, who is hiding squished up between a couple of rocks and only extending a few of his feeder tubes. I hear they are pretty tempermental so I shall just keep an eye on him. I did not run water tests tonight as everyone looks great. By the way - I seem to have this weird stuff growing out of the new live rock. It is like green jelly bubbles coming out of the pores. I am hopeful that is a good thing...? This salt thing has GOT to be the absolute coolest hobby EVER!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlkWolfe Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 Do they look kinda like dark green marbles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pier Pressure Posted December 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 Yes, sort of but really small. About the size of a plastic pin head on a pin. Dark green in colour and they seem to grow in clusters. I cannot wait until I get a digital camera as there seems to be LOTS of strange little growths on the rocks I just put in. The green jelly drop "thingys" are definitely the most prominent thing so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishBrain Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 Bubble Algae! My Emerald crabs cleared mine up. Some have said they dont work but they have for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pier Pressure Posted December 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 No wonder my emerald crab looked so very busy last night! Leave it to my new tank to come up with a form of algae I have not heard of yet. I have an emerald crab, feeder shrimp, a candycane shrimp, hermit crabs and snails in there. I am hoping that somebody likes the taste of that stuff. SALTWATER RULES! Even the algae looks awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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