Adding Live Rock to active tank

[Dave]

I am planning to add some more live rock to my tank, but I have some concerns.

First, the tank already has a decent amount in it, so I do not want to kill anything.

Second, I will probably be shifting some of the rock already in place which is buried partly by the sand. Concerns of a nasty release when i disturb it.

Last, what is the best way to do this consider 1 and 2, or am I going down a fools path.

I at the least think I will need to either purchase cured rock, and/or cure it in a separate tank.

 

[Hawkeye]

Why do you want to add more LR?

If anything most people have too much LR in the tank preventing proper circulation and therefore causing more detritus/poop to settle in the tank.

Anyways - if you do get more LR - ideally it's cured already - or even received from someone breaking down a tank. Also like you said - you will need to cure the LR if it is dry or straight from the ocean. Be warned - it can be really stinky. Nothing like getting out of the hobby fast when the wife is angry at you for smelling up the house!

 

[CONSTANTNE]

When I went from a 12g to a 25g I bought another 15lbs of live rock. I cured it in a seperate bucket and then when the parameters were ok I added it to my system. I think I used my old tank water to replace the water in the lr bucket.

 

[Dave]

The reason I would add rock is to add more aquascape for coral placement. I would say I have about 35-40 lbs of live rock for a 60 gallon tank. I believed it could handle some more.

 

[harryk]

Adding more cured live rock shouldn't be a problem, make sure you add a little bit at a time and don't disturb the sand bed.

Harry

 

[njstillwell]

maybe hes got 20lbs of rock in 75 gallon tank who knows just put the rock on top of the other rock becareful not to stir up the bottom pieces as these are the ones with the living critters on it and thats that.

 

[Hawkeye]

The reason I would add rock is to add more aquascape for coral placement. I would say I have about 35-40 lbs of live rock for a 60 gallon tank. I believed it could handle some more.

got it.

Just one thing to consider would be to re-aquascape and maybe find some flat piece of LR for your coral placement. The other idea is to use magnets - I've seen some people adhere the frag via magnet to the tank.

 

[Dave]

Thanks Hawkeye. That is my main problem, I have little in the way of flat rocks. And they can be difficult to find.

I will have to look into the magnets. I just heard someone talk about a magnet rock. Never heard of that before.

Not clear on how the magnet setup works, but will research it.

 

[dasstheboss]

I am also thinking of doing the same as you - I am going to add the rocks one rock at a time so that any spikes can be kept in control. I have about 10 rocks and will add them in a 10 week span throughout the summer.

 

[Gecko]

I would bite the bullet on this one and buy local cured rock unless you have a room to cure like a garage, as mentioned earlier way smelly man. I don’t think I will ever forget that smell. I know you're going to pay more but it’s only a few pounds.

As for finding flat rock, I wouldn’t be overly concerned with this. I always break SPS frags from the plug and glue them directly to the rock. No flat, no unsightly plugs and plenty of holes to glue them in place. No soft corals are another species which I don’t really have other than a few rics and zoas.

 

[mgonz]

I was always against adding live rock to am established system. i was always under the impression that you could possibly introduce unwanted pest into your system. i've always boiled my rock before adding it into my setup. i try not to take any chances.

 

[thylacine]

If you are boiling it ,wouldn't it cease to be live rock.I believe it is ok to add rock to an established tank. I have well over a hundred pounds of live rock that I add as I see fit. A peice here and there,I only buy one piece at a time and I decide exactly the shape I am looking for beforehand.as for stirring up the sand. It doesn't really matter. Everything will be fine. Don't be so worried about it.Oh yeah, I only have a total of 2 inches of fish so maybe I really don't have much trapped in the sand bed to begin with.

 

[Gecko]

I agree, I would never boil live rock. It defeats the purpose of live rock.

 

[mgonz]

again i have to much invested in my system to take that chance. i know few people who do that as well as microwaveing it. it takes so little to cause so much damage to an established system. i have a tendency of over doing things.