Curing Live Rock

[trc]

Is it possible to cure live rock in a new tank and waiting for it to cure before adding other livestock?

 

[wrightme43]

Yes that is how I did my tank. Works fine. Make sure you have a skimmer and keep carbon running.

 

[trc]

Thanks, I'm waiting until after the holidays to purchase and set up my new tank and then in mid february I'm going to be away for two weeks. I thought this would give me something to do and possibly by the time I get back beginning of March, my tank would be cycled.

 

[wrightme43]

Well two weeks is a long time for tank. Evaporation may get you. Are you going to have a sump? If your looking at a 75 that is what I have at home. I have bought alot of stuff, and found out the hard way what works for me and what has been a waste of my money.

 

[trc]

I'm torn between getting a 75 vs a 125. I had a 55 about 20 years ago, undergravel and hanging filter, with good success. It's changed a lot since then. I like the idea of the 125 with the bigger space in the cabinet for sumps and other equipment, but I think the 75 may be more manageable if I get transfered.

I'm trying to get a fix on the top line equipment that's out there, as I only want to buy it once. I'm thinking of fish only for six to eight months and then upgrading to halides. I think their sticker shock might wear off by then.

I'm concerned about the two weeks also and will most probably get some kind of automatic filler set up.

 

[wrightme43]

Sticker shock on halides is easy to fix. Build a canopy and get a retrofit kit for halides. under 400 for icecap ballasts, sockets, reflectors and cords. With a 75 just get a 30x14widex16tall sump, a asm or euro reef skimmer rated for at least twice your tank volume, a tunze stream or drill the tank for a closed loop, a good return pump and a heater. Its really pretty simple if you dont do every thing the hard way like I did and end up buying lots of junk then getting the good stuff. LOL

 

[trc]

I assume your talking about a wood canopy? I'm concerned about heat build up, although I could add fans either on either end or the top or both. I know that I can purchase the matching wood canopy with either tank. Hadn't thought about this, but did recently see one in a canopy on line. Thanks!

 

[Blazer88]

You want to make sure you have some height to the canopy if you are going to buy it pre-made. Not too many of them have been very tall from what I've seen. I built my canopy to have my halides about 8" from the water and it works well. I don't have a problem with heat build up as I have 2 4" fans in the back to help pull out the hot air.