How Much Lr Do I Need?

[omega59]

Okay, how much LR do I need to get for my 30gal with 2 fish? and when I buy it what do i look for to make sure it is good stock and also how to care for it so it doesn't die while I setup my water & tank for the first time

 

[Jimyfloyd]

1kg per gallon is the usual - have a read of the stickies!

 

[rabbut]

If you are traveling for more than 1/2 an hour, you will need to re-cure the rock at your end before adding it to your tank. Less than half an hour and keep it damp. Once in, monitor ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH at regular intervals. If any of those raise, do a large waterchange IMMEDIATELY Finally, make sure the tank has 10X an hour flow in it MINIMUM before you add the rock Finally, check it's cured and cycled at the suppliers end before you collect it (get them to show stats for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate since you have live stock in the tank)

With just two fish, you'd likely get away with less than usual by way of rock quantities. 1KG per 10l is the minimum ammount of rock recomended, but 2KG/10l would be "adverage" as Jimyfloyd says.

HTH
Rabbut

 

[omega59]

this is what i was going to do in the following order please tell me if this is wrong. Also is it a problem if i get TOO much Live Rock? The drive is about 5mins.


Clean tank out give it a good rinse down including filter etc...
Fill tank up with tap water, add declorinator liquid
Place salt in water tank
Add the 2 400GPH power heads, Let it spin the salt in the water untill it is fully disolved
Let temperature get to about 76-80F
Add sand & decorations
Add Live Rock!

 

[Jimyfloyd]

are you doing corals???

If so you shouldreally use RO water - untis are cheap enough and it'll eliminate problems.

I'm sure others will confirm who know more than me.

A question from me - is it recommended to put the sand in and then place the LR on that or the other way arond?

 

[omega59]

no i don't want coral. well i think it is better to add Live Rock once sand is placed.

 

[rabbut]

Typically you would add live rock first, then sand, or if you are worried about scratching your base, 1/4" sand first, then rock, then the rest of the sand. Critters can burrow under rocks if they are placed on the sand bed, leading to instability in the rockwork and rockfalls/collapses. Placing the rocks on the tank base directly prevents this by giving the rock stack a realy good foundation that can't be burrowed under

I thought you already had fish in? If so, whats happening to them during all this?

Otherwise, your plan looks good to me

All the best
Rabbut

EDIT to add, you cannot over-do the guidelines on flow or rock ammounts. The more the better within reason. Obviously if the tank is a wirlpool, you have an issue. Likewise, if its all rock and no swimming space, you have an issue. Otherwise, all is fine

 

[omega59]

no, no fish yet. i'm slowly seting this up.

 

[omega59]

sorry. do you think it is a good idea to get a few Cortez Red Leg Hermit Crabs while the tank cycles in a new setup untill i get fish?

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Ideally you dont want to add any livestock to the tank until ammonia and nitrite are at zero.

 

[omega59]

alright thanks.

 

[omega59]

change of plans. It looks like i wont have time to setup the aquarium right away it will be atleast 1-2hrs. Is it safe to leave the LR in a bucket with heater & water untill then?

 

[seffieuk]

change of plans. It looks like i wont have time to setup the aquarium right away it will be atleast 1-2hrs. Is it safe to leave the LR in a bucket with heater & water untill then?

As long as you also have a powerhead in the bucket

Seffie x

 

[rabbut]

Won't make much difference to the rock, it will still be live. You will get a bigger die off if you don't run a powerhead in the bucket, and a longer cycling time, but it will still be live Just means there might be a slight delay with getting fish in, due to having to wait for the cycle to complete

All the best
Rabbut