I bought a 55 gal includes pump, lighting, stand, lid, protein skimmer and more. I have 6 months before I add fish, I will be moving and would like to avoid shocking fish so I will hold off until later. However I want to get the reef going and stableize the tank until then I have some questions.
*From what I understand live rock is only rock with bacteria, and life living on it. I have a spot where I can pull TONS of Texas Holy Rock for free. Would it be possible to buy or gather Holy Rock and add some live rock in the tank and expect the life on the live rock to grow on the "dead rock" and substrate? If so in a 6 month period what would you recommend for the ratio of live/dead rock?
*I have had other fish tanks in the past one of which was a chichlid tank. As substrate I added sandblast(aka black beauty, coal slag) after alot of heavy cleaning. This sand produces high PH & I hear irritates skin because it is more sharp than natural sand, also I fear it might carry contaminates that delicate fish cannot handle. Can somone help me here? if not what is the safest/cheapest substrate?
*Is there anyway to speed up the growth of liverock? Is there a term or word used to say "growth/spreading of liverock?
*From what I understand live rock is only rock with bacteria, and life living on it. I have a spot where I can pull TONS of Texas Holy Rock for free. Would it be possible to buy or gather Holy Rock and add some live rock in the tank and expect the life on the live rock to grow on the "dead rock" and substrate? If so in a 6 month period what would you recommend for the ratio of live/dead rock?
*I have had other fish tanks in the past one of which was a chichlid tank. As substrate I added sandblast(aka black beauty, coal slag) after alot of heavy cleaning. This sand produces high PH & I hear irritates skin because it is more sharp than natural sand, also I fear it might carry contaminates that delicate fish cannot handle. Can somone help me here? if not what is the safest/cheapest substrate?
*Is there anyway to speed up the growth of liverock? Is there a term or word used to say "growth/spreading of liverock?