Liverock Question

[syntax_error]

Hi guys! I'v got some liverock with me but couldn't get the R/O unit fixed up still (plumbing problems). So I'm wondering whether keeping liverock (uncured) out of water have any affect on it? I know it's uncured but there are patches of algae. How long can I keep it out of water? Appreciate any knowledge you'll can share.

hm..after going to my tank and wondering a bit I thought better ask your opinion about my plans for the back 3 chambers.

Chamber 1 : Protien skimmer
Chamber 2 : LR rubble, Live sand, chaeto and light (still have to figure out a way to get a light in there though)
Chamber 3 : Stock pump - 243gph

The tank is an Oceanic 29 Bio Cube. I wanted to add a wavemaker but since I got a Koralia 600 I donno whether it'd be a good idea anymore since I can't connect a wavemaker to a Koralia. What is your opinion about this? I can use a wavemaker on the output nozzle but it wouldn't make much of a difference because I cannot control water flow of the Koralia, isn't that so?

Also, if there are other BC 29 owners here please give me some ideas about what modifications you did on your BC. I have no experience on these types of tanks with chambers (heck, today was the first time I even saw one for real and that is my tank I just bought!). I'm kind of stuck here wondering what to do next so if you can, please do help.

 

[dilbert]

So I'm wondering whether keeping liverock (uncured) out of water have any affect on it? I know it's uncured but there are patches of algae. How long can I keep it out of water?

I have no idea which things die off after being how long out of water, but I would say it depends on your tap water and the region you live.

Our tap water has only chlor and a little phophate, but things like ammonia, nitrite or nitrate are not measureable with the test kits I got.

Anyway, I would say that even the worst tap water is better than having the live rock out of water.

If you got a dechlorinator it's better but even without it most sea salts get rid of the chlor anyhow and agitating the water makes the chlor disappear faster. After 24 hours it should have gone by itself simply by dissolving into the air.

During the curing process you can the water later on.

 

[plantedbully]

i have a biocube 14 gallon and had a question too. The guy at the lfs told me to keep the bioballs instead of the rubble since the rubble will start to smell. what is your opinion on that?

 

[syntax_error]

i have a biocube 14 gallon and had a question too. The guy at the lfs told me to keep the bioballs instead of the rubble since the rubble will start to smell. what is your opinion on that?

I'd suggest you put neither of them. Bioballs are nitrate traps and most seem to feel about LR rubble the same way.

 

[n3ont3tra]

As long as you get flow through it there should be no problem with rubble.

syntax error - why do you want a wavemaker so much?

 

[1entra]

The longer you leave LR out of the water the more die off you will have. If you cant get hold of RO water in time then put the LR in tapwater but make sure it is a seasalt mix as plain tapwater will kill any life on the rock!

I use LR rubble in my filte instead of bio-balls and have never had any problems with nitrates. I find the trick is to syphon the rubble every so often to take out any waste that may have collected there!

If you are really intent on a wavemaker effect then why dont you try getting an auto on/off timer, the one which comes with 15min gaps. You can use get another powerhead and have them both on timers. So once one is on then the other stays off and vice versa. Tis will give you a good wvae effect IMO.

 

[andywg]

Bioballs are nitrate traps

Bioballs are no more nitrate traps than live rock. It is just you have to be careful of detritus sitting on them and will have to clean them every so often. All nitrates in a system come from ammonia based sources. If the tank is preoducing lots of nitrates then you either have insufficient nitrate removal, or you have some physical waste decaying somewhere (such as mulm or a dead fish).

 

[thinmyster]

my live rock sat in a unkept tank for about six months is it still good? gone bad? harmfull? or just "decoration" now?

 

[dilbert]

my live rock sat in a unkept tank for about six months is it still good? gone bad? harmfull? or just "decoration" now?

In saltwater? But without powerheads?

 

[chrissaysyes]

Without flow or aeration then the rock is almost certainly "dead"

 

[thinmyster]

yeah no power anything. My last fish died and i unplugged everything and just never plugged it back in. so is it just expensive decoration now?