Replacing Old Rock!

[Woodstock]

OUT with the old, and IN with the new!

My current rock in my 90 gal is about 6-7 yrs old and although I don't have an 'algae problem', I am going to replace it with new dry rock. In doing this, I will get rid of the mantis/pistol shrimp that lurks somewhere in my rockwork, I will get rid of the bubble algae & small patch of caulerpa, get to rescape, and add cutting board to the bottom!!! :bigbounce So far I have about 60 lbs of dry rock. I am going to get a tub and start cycling it with a dead shrimp. This should alleviate any shock to my system when I replace the old rock. I should have an additional 100 lbs bought and cycled by fall and will replace it all at one time. I will then cook my old rock for a loooooooong time

Once all the new rock is cycled and has a good population of nitrifying bacteria, here is my plan:

-remove the old rock one rock at a time and remove the corals,
-put the corals in a seperate container & place the rock outside,
-remove the fishes to a seperate container,
-reaquascape with the new rock,
-place the corals back into the tank,
-put the fish in,
-put the OLD rock in the now-empty container and cook, cook, cook.

Hummm.... This will be an adventure~~ I am very concerned that this will stress out my fishes/corals/anemones. Has anyone ever did this before? Any Ideas/hints for me??

 

[mojoreef]

Many times Doni many times. What is the story with the dry rock?? what is it??


Mike

 

[NaH2O]

That plan looks pretty good. MtnDewMan is in the process of replacing his rock, and is currently curing his uncured LR. I think rock replacement needs to be treated like a tank move. As you have said - different tubs for different things (corals in one, fish in another). Make up some new water, so you have extra. Of course, powerheads (protect them in the tub with anemones) and heaters (if necessary). When everything goes back in the tank, then add some of the new water, too. You may want to run carbon if there is a lot of sliming from the softies. After everything is done, follow your parameters. The bacterial population necessary to process a shrimp in your LR cycling tub will be different than the bacterial populations necessary to process all the fish waste and excess food when you feed in the main tank after everything is introduced. You may get a small ammonia spike, so have plenty of made up water. The old water you had will definately help, but basically you are starting fresh. You might want to introduce the fish one at a time over a short time period, just to cut back on the initial bioload the rock has to process.

 

[Woodstock]

Thanks

Mike: Caribean dry rock: http://www.mops.ca/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/skus/rs/RSCS-00360.asp?E+scstore

Nikki: hummm... I thought the ammonia from the rotting shrimp would grow the same type of nitrifying bacteria... ammonia is ammonia, right? ..... explain please.

 

[mojoreef]

true Doni, What Nikki means is that bacteria populations are based on the amount of food present. So if you are using a shrimp thier will be a population of bacteria large enough to support that ammount, which not be enough to support the whole tanks worth of fish and stuff. Saving the old water will help for sure though, just keep an eye on the levels and be ready for some WC's if you see a spike


Mike

 

[Woodstock]

Ahhhh... so it's quantity. Should I 'feed' the cycyling rock? Maybe a piece of shrimp every week? I want to reduce/eliminate any ammonia spikes from the main tank as much as possible. I will certainly be saving every drop of tank water I can.

 

[mojoreef]

Well its kind of a weird situation as it is dead rock. I would to a good sized wc on your existing tank, use that water coupled with new water for the dead rock tub, maybe even toss in a peice of your existing LR to do the livinging. On the link they said to bleach the dead rock and to treat it, that is kind of scary, is it nutrient loaded?? kinda sounds like.


Mike

 

[NaH2O]

What you would be doing is sustaining the bacterial population for processing one shrimp....I don't think it will increase the population enough to handle a fish load. Maybe start the cycle out with several shrimp, instead. Then the bacteria would have more decaying organics to process, other than one shrimp. You'll probably be fine with the use of your old water, just test test test, and be ready for a water change when necessary. Siphoning up some of the waste on a daily basis will probably help keep a small spike from occuring....run the water through a filter sock if you don't want to do a water change.

Hope this helps

edit: also what Mike said lol

 

[Woodstock]

Thank you both!!