New tank questions

[jamiehill]

I recently purchased a used 75g acrylic tank that included about 150 pounds of rock, a Berlin skimmer, and several other accessories. Unfortunately, the tank was severly neglected by the former owner and everything died, including the rock.

I have tested the tank for leaks and am getting it ready to set up as a FOWLR, ultimately converting it to a reef tank in about a year. I would like to use this dead rock in the tank and hopefully bring it back to life. I just have a few questions on how to go about this.

1. I have been told that this rock can be used, but I should seed with a few pieces of live rock or some live sand. How much should I use?

2. Since there won't be much live rock, should I be running any other filtration in the meantime? I was thinking of adding a cannister filter, something like a Fluval 404.

3. How long will it take to convert this rock to live rock?

4. I have also been told that I can just use the rock as is, and after having it in the tank for about 2 weeks I should add some nitrifiying bacteria. My LFS is selling packets of this for about $25. I am not sure what it is called.

5. There is quite a bit of coraline algea growing all over the tank. Is there any good/easy way to remove this? I have been using a credit card, but it is slow going.

6. Does the rock need to be cured before putting it in the tank? It is currently dry. I was planning on taking a high pressure hose to it to knock off anything sticking to the rock. Will that be sufficient? I have also heard of people boiling the rock to remove any dead material from the rock, although this sounds like a bit more work than I want to do with 150 lbs of rock.

Thanks for any help answering these questions. This is my first foray into SW, but I have been researching for about 6 months before making the plunge.

JH

 

[Abissus]

Wow, I doubt you need to spend $25 for bacteria. Put a piece of dead shrimp meat in it, let it rot and bacteria would grow just fine. If you have any die off on the rocks that would do the job also

I had rocks that were dried on and off in a tub with no light for a year. They all turned white so not really pretty, but works just fine in my tank. Bacteria recolonized them given the right condition, even coraline algae are coming back slowly.

I don't think you need to re-cure outside the tank, if you are starting from fresh (no livestock) you can cure them after adding in tank, the cycling process would also build up your bacteria population.

If I were you I'd just put the rocks in the tank and start the cycling process (unless you see a lot off die off on the rocks, then scrubbing might be good. I did not need to, mine look like bare rocks). No extra filtration. Wait till cycling is done and add fish SLOWLY.

 

[wrightme43]

Ok on the coraline which is dead, vinager and a credit card will take it right off. The live rock if it were mine I would wash it with a pressure washer just to get all of the old dead crud off of it. I would stack it in the tank, on cutting board or pvc racks. I would fill the tank with rodi water or tap if you dont have access to rodi, I would get the filters heater and power heads running, I would add the salt, and let it get stable. I would add about 20-30 pounds of fresh live rock, and let the tank cycle. The die off from the fresh live rock will cycle the tank just fine. No bacteria needed. Get some good test kits, I like salifert, and start keeping a log of your tank conditions. Let it run till 0 am, 0 ni, and whatever nitrates end up at. Do a good sized water change and have at some fish. Go slow because the dead rock can sometimes take 6 months to a year to stabilize. Take your time and all we be well. A canister filter is fine for a FOWLR but not for a reef at all. Get a skimmer as soon as you can. This is if it were mine, its your tank and you are ultimately responsible for it. You can do it. Steve

 

[jamiehill]

Thanks for the replies.

Joyce, I see that you are from Redmond. What are your reccomendations on LFS's in the area? I have been to Denny's Pet World, the Fish Store and Saltwater City. Any others you know of in the area?

Steve, I have a Berlin Classic skimmer that came with the tank that I will be using.

 

[jamiehill]

I pressure washed the rock last night to remove any decomposed material. It was pretty nasty. I am going to add water to the tank tonight and put in the rock. At what point should I add sand? I am thinking about a 4:1 ratio of aragonite to live sand in order to add some base bacteria. Will this be sufficient?

 

[zooplank]

Jamie,
IMO, stick with Saltwater City. They are extremely imformative and beginner friendly. They have done great things for my tanks. If I were able to, I would do commercials for them. The only other alternitive is Blue Sierra in Issaquah. Also a very fair selection and a ton of DIY type merchandise.

 

[wrightme43]

If you are going to add sand do it after the first cycle of the live rock. It will prevent all of that junk from getting trapped in the sand. Did you notice I said if? I have been a proponet of sand beds for a while now. I think today that I was wrong. I think now that they do better with out them. Just my opinion though. If you want a sand bed, your way you posted will work. Steve