Live Rock question

[ess17]

If I were to start a 90 gal tank, how much live rock would I have to purchase initially to get the tank to cycle? Instead of buying the live rock all at once I would like to add a little at a time (and use some "dead rock") but need to know a good amount to start with.


Thanks!

 

[Def]

If it's fully cured LR then your tank will be immediately cycled. Your question is basically "how long is a piece of string". A cycled tank just has a level of filtration able to support the life in it. Thus, if you're only adding 1 small goby you'll need way less LR than if you intend to fully stock the tank.

That said, general recommendation is 1 pound (1lb) per gallon. Buy as much as you can at once, that way you minimize any dieoff that may occur while there's no fish in it (rather than adding a little now, adding some fish and then adding more rock later).

 

[RamJet]

You can add a piece of rock here and there over time with out much problem. It is a good idea to get as much as you can with your first purchase, but if you cant get alot of it no worries. I hand slected most of my rock over time, if your going to do it this way the rest of the rock in your tank will handle the extra load, were you get into trouble is say you have 30 pounds live rock in a 75 gallon tank then add another 40 pounds all at once a few months later causing a large strain on the rest of the tank.

 

[tff]

Buy pretty, cured rock, pick and choose a piece or two at a time, it took me a year to fill my 72 gallon. the best advice I ever got was to get some gravel from a show tank , this will "innoculate" your tank faster than rock because of the greater surface area.