I want LR....

[pinkorchid]

I've been tossing this around, and remember someone mentioning it is okay to do.

What are the risks (if any) of adding LR to my FO tank....guessing #1 would be throwing off the balance. What's the safest way to add it? I don't have a qt tank yet...would I be able to add it directly to my tank.

Should I wait a bit longer until the tank is more mature?
As suggested in my last thread I was planning on adding some snails this week to help with the diatom bloom. Would it be better to hold off on that, add the LR first then in a few weeks get some snails?

I'm learning along the way but wish I would have went with the "norm" and started with LR  :-\ Live and learn right?..LOL.

Thanks!

[Bergy]

what all is in the tank now???

It should be ok to add lr to a tank that is mature... (if you add a smaller percentage at a time)

You should experience some cycle, maybe, but not much.. again, depending on how mature the tank is..but a few pieces should be ok

[pinkorchid]

55g - 2 ocell. clowns (in it for 6wks) & 2 hermits (in for a few weeks).

Thanks.

[Just_Greg]

as Bill said, it kinda depends on the state of the LR.  if it's 100% cured, (as in from another established system) your tank won't even burp, but if it's not, you can add it a little every 2 weeks or so to let the tank catch up (if the LR is semi-cured) or add less LR and wait a month between LR additions if the stuff is plain ol' raw.

it wouldn't hurt to add a bottle of Super-Bac to the tank, or if you're going to let the LR cure, you can even add it to the LR curing vessel.

[Learner]

Live rock will make such a difference in your system, allsorts of 'stuff' will grow out of it; I've had button polyps, shrimp, etc., ;D it's sooo exciting trying to identify everything ???, and the coralline algae growth is great. Good luck with your addition.

[pinkorchid]

Thanks...
I think I'd be ordering it from this place....anything stand out to you guys? Not sure if this would be cured or not (I don't fully understand that), I'll be sure and ask. I'll be starting out small anyways.

http://www.atlanticreefstore.com/store1/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=48

Tania - yes..I feel like I'm "lacking" stuff ;) Plus I think I need some more hiding spots.

[Bergy]

phew...

thru the roof on pricing... wow.. and i cant even find the shipping rates

[Just_Greg]

since your system is up and running, you could always go with the "base rock" and let it go "live" on its own.  of course, it won't have some of the cool critters that come with LR.

is your goal to bump up your biofiltration and add hiding places, or are you also wanting to see what crops up as time goes by?  you could also use some of both "base rock" and LR.

since the LR will be shipped, even if it WAS cured at some point, and i doubt it was, it will come to you with a fair amount of die-off, and thus will need to be cured.

i'm guessing there isn't a LFS locally that carries LR that is already tanked?

[pinkorchid]

Yes...pretty steep!!

Greg - most importantly for hiding and biofilteration, with the critters being an added bonus 8) I guess I figured since I needed more anyways then LR was the way to go. Maybe the smartest move would be to add more base rock....and maybe a small piece of LR. The last time I was in the LFS they had set up a new tank named "live rock" but it was empty. Maybe I'll check them out again.

Desions, desions....LOL

Thanks everyone!

[Bergy]

i would mix 50-50

Im liking that lace rock lately...

very open looking and great place for fish to hide, (in the open) 

[pinkorchid]

yeah..maybe I'll do that.

And how about the way I spelled decisions not once but TWICE in my above post...hehe ::) Wow...guess the spell check is there for a reason  ;D

[Bergy]

that type of stuff flys by me... im the king of typos..

I have been known to be one row off on typing messages so they come out all garbled






85w o8i3 5hiw 2h3n you 5yp w9j3h8nt 25y 5h3 24ont 4owq


(y3y3y3)



(hehehe)

[pinkorchid]

LMAO!

[Learner]

LMAO!

Got it....at last.... ??? ;D ;D