Liverock Question + Light

[Dalybro]

I've had a 20 gallon marine tank for almost 2 years now. There is currently no live rock in the aquarium just lava rock and a few others. I didn't add live rock because I believed I need powerful lights to keep corals. Now I'm thinking of adding live rock (not necessarily corals). Would I need powerful lights to keep the live rock alive? I have a standard florescent light in there now. Is there a light bulb I can buy without upgrading the whole light unit? Also can I add live rock to an established aquarium that has fish in it without issues?

Thanks

 

[-Nemo-]

Live rock does not require a high intensity light. The light you currently have, will probably be fine.

As to adding it to your tank, you don't want to add it straight to your tank because it could cause your tank to cycle through again. I would suggest following:

1. Get the best looking cured rock you can
2. Obtain a plastic bin that is big enough to fit all of the live rock plus water
3. Fill the bin with saltwater at preferred density and temperature.
4. Add rock and wait a week
5. Test the water from the bin and see if you have any ammonia or nitRITe

If ammonia and nitRITe = 0, then you should be all set!

 

[jtnova13]

Live rock does not require a high intensity light. The light you currently have, will probably be fine.

As to adding it to your tank, you don't want to add it straight to your tank because it could cause your tank to cycle through again. I would suggest following:

1. Get the best looking cured rock you can
2. Obtain a plastic bin that is big enough to fit all of the live rock plus water
3. Fill the bin with saltwater at preferred density and temperature.
4. Add rock and wait a week
5. Test the water from the bin and see if you have any ammonia or nitRITe

If ammonia and nitRITe = 0, then you should be all set!

If the rock is already cured and not out of the water too long, you could probably add it right to the tank.

If it's uncured, you will also need a heater and something to circulate water, won;t you?

 

[injektion]

Live rock does not require a high intensity light. The light you currently have, will probably be fine.

As to adding it to your tank, you don't want to add it straight to your tank because it could cause your tank to cycle through again. I would suggest following:

1. Get the best looking cured rock you can
2. Obtain a plastic bin that is big enough to fit all of the live rock plus water
3. Fill the bin with saltwater at preferred density and temperature.
4. Add rock and wait a week
5. Test the water from the bin and see if you have any ammonia or nitRITe

If ammonia and nitRITe = 0, then you should be all set!

good advice. i would also add that maybe you should wait a couple of weeks and check for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate before you add the rocks to the tank as you might not be getting fully cured live rock from your local fish store (even if they say it is). sometimes cycling takes a little longer than you'd expect (or like) and it would be chaos to add uncycled live rock to an established tank.

 

[Dalybro]

thanks for the info. with regards to light, is there anything i can get to increase the intensity and the colour blue? i don't want to replace the whole hood. i would have to if i was going to add high intensity light correct? is there a certain bulb that would be ok with my noraml canopy?

Thanks

 

[AK77]

thanks for the info. with regards to light, is there anything i can get to increase the intensity and the colour blue? i don't want to replace the whole hood. i would have to if i was going to add high intensity light correct? is there a certain bulb that would be ok with my noraml canopy?

Thanks

Hi,

live rock doesn't require any light at all to stay alive. Its the bacteria that makes it live, and all that needs is heat and circulating water. Light is only beneficial to live rock if you want encourage the growth of coraline algae and "purple-up" your rocks.

If its a regular T5 or T8 bulb then there should be a replacement marine one of the same watt raiting for the unit to fit. You could replace one bulb with an actinic blue or one that is colour rated 14'000k or higher. Even compact T5's have the marine blues as well as metal halide lamps.

If you can tell us what your light unit is then we can point you in the right direction.