Red Sea Max 130 Build Log

Reefing Madness

bigehugedome

Allright, here is my burning question.....

I currently have LR that was in the tank when it was setup that has now been washed with hose water and allowed to dry in buckets.

I also have LR that has been moved with the old tank water, which is in my QT. It still has some cyano and other buildup.

I want to use all of this rock in my DT and possibly add some more Dry rock.

Do I have to do anything for either the once LR that has been washed and dryed or the Rock in the QT before it goes into the DT?

Do I need no buy a few pounds of LR from the LFS to help seed? If so how much is a few pounds.

And can i add dry rock at anytime during or after the cycle without it affecting anything?

evanlundberg4

If its just base dry rock without any growth on it than you could add that after the fact. The washed and dried rock is going to have some die off because its been out drying and anything alive is dead so it could start a small cycle when you put it in. I've added quite a bit of dry base rock to my tank without any ill affect but I did see a small quick spike in ammonia after adding "dry live rock" like your washed and dry rock.
Posted via Mobile Device

bigehugedome

Thanks....this is what I assumed. I can move the LR and Dried live rock now as I start my tank, because it will need to cycle anyway. But I can add base dry rock at anytime.

My car needed to go to the shop so I dont have anything big enough at the moment to get the tank from my parents to my apartment, so............

Reefing Madness

Be careful how much you add at anytime, if you add a bunch you will send the tank into a mini cycle, as the bacteria will grow again to take over those pieces that you just put in.
You don't have to do anything with the rock that you have, just throw it all in at the same time.

bigehugedome

I'm jut gonna bite the bullet and get the extra 25 pounds now. It will also give me more variety when aquascaping. It may even come in before the RO/DI does.
Posted via Mobile Device

bigehugedome

Rock ordered.......

So I found something to keep me occupied for the time being. Im not placing the tank in my office now, but rather the living room so it can be enjoyed by all from the couch.

It will be diagonally in the corner, if this is OK, and if I can insure a cat can not get behind it somehow.... This will give it the best view in the room.

This is next to a walk in closet in which i plan on building a shelf where i can but my water containers on. Im then going to cut a hole in the drywall into the living room and run some tubing so I can start a manual siphon for top offs and water changes. This will limit my use of carrying buckets back and fourth all the time. Ill only have to move them from the kitchen where the RO/DI is made to the closet. This will keep me busy until the RO unit and rock gets in. Ill post updates as they happen. For now enjoy a comparison of the mushrooms in the QT

when I got the tank....


This morning as lights come on.....

2 hours after lights...

Reefing Madness

Good stuff!!! Lookin Great!!!

bigehugedome

Thank you!

Hey...can i defrost my frozen food in some water from my FW tank or is that bad? Its just a pain to try and break apart the frozen cubes since I dont need a full cube for just two clowns I share with my FW fish.

Reefing Madness

I would personally say its ok. I used to thaw mine out in tap water. Just don't throw that water into the SW tank, strain it out.