Transporting Live Rock

[orange shark]

Hey,

I'm buying some live rock tommorow from this guy off ebay (im going to view it but more than likely buy it) and was just wondering if the guys too tight as to use his tank water can i just use tap water (dechlorinated obviously), the journey will be around half an hour so it wont be in it long.

Also i dont have to acclimatise the rock do i? Can i just dump it straight in?

Thanks,

orange shark

 

[FlameHawk]

Hey,

I'm buying some live rock tommorow from this guy off ebay (im going to view it but more than likely buy it) and was just wondering if the guys too tight as to use his tank water can i just use tap water (dechlorinated obviously), the journey will be around half an hour so it wont be in it long.

Also i dont have to acclimatise the rock do i? Can i just dump it straight in?

Thanks,

orange shark

As long as you can keep the rock moist, it doesn't need to be immersed. My fish store just gives me styrofoam and plastic to concoct some kind of transporting device. A half hour is not too long. You just put the rock right in the tank but do be ware of ammonia spikes that can occur, depending on the conditions of the rock beforehand. If it was in a living cycled tank than it shoudn't be a problem, but otherwise monitor the parameters.

 

[orange shark]

thanks,

ive got 2 styrofoam boxes and loads of big fish bags and im going to take some of my ro buckets aswell just incase

the rock is still in its tank as we speak, the only time it wll be taken out is when i go and pick it up, so i should be able to add the CUC straight away right? Im not buying it but the guy im buying the LR off has LOADS of things for sale because he's braking his tank down so if hes got some cheap CUC i might get it if i get the go ahead from you guys/girls

thanks

orange shark

 

[Colin_T]

As FlameHawk said just put the rock in an esky or bucket and pour a little bit (1/2 litre) of water over it, then cover it with a wet towel or newspaper. Then put a lid on it and away you go. For a half hour trip you probably don't even need the wet paper, just put it in a bucket and put the lid on.

A clean up crew could go straight in but the water must have been made up at least 24 hours before. It must have the correct salinity too, about 1.024 on a hydrometer. However, it is preferable to allow the tank to cycle before you add anything along the lines of shrimp, crabs, fish or corals.

 

[orange shark]

the water will have been made up 24 hours before when i add the rock

im just going to put it in a fish bag with enough water for it to soak in then, im not going to be adding fish or corals for atleast a week or 2 anyway

 

[orange shark]

oh, the live rock comes with some corally things on it so

 

[@ombomb]

you need somethig sturdier than a fish bag to carry rock in, it's heavy.... it's rock

i would definitely avoided adding anything to the tank until you are sure the tank is cycled

 

[orange shark]

they are big bags, going to be stored in polystyrene boxes inside carboard boxes for the journey, and if all else fails i have buckets

 

[mutantbigman2000]

I have had 2 shipments of live rock.

Both times they were in poly boxes and the rock was damp but not wet.

i wouldn't bother with water or bags etc.

As long as the rock is wet when you get it and your journey is short then you should have very little die off.

You could cover the rock with wet towel as previously suggested.

Last thing. DO NOT RUSH THINGS.

let your tank cycle correctly.

once tank has cycled then a big water change 40 - 50%

then introduce the cuc making sure that your water parameters are stable and consistent.

Rushing at this stage will cause your tank to crash and cause a very big hole in your wallet.

Lots of people give very good advice on this forum. The majority is from personal experience.

I am in a similar position to you. i have had a rock scape to stare at now for 3 weeks and am now in a position to start adding the cuc.

its tough but it has to be done.

*steps off soapbox

 

[johnnyjtaylor]

Pretty much good advive given to you already, half an hour is not long so you shouldn't get too much die off, although when I moved house earlier this year I moved mine submersed in water in buckets with tight fitting lids with no die off atall. The only thing I would say that I don't think anyone else has, is whatever you do don't put it in fresh water(like you said you might) or you will kill everything on and in the rock(it won't be live anymore).

 

[orange shark]

oh didnt realise i said freshwater

i wouldnt do something that stupid, i went and picked it up earlier, looks really good!

 

[johnnyjtaylor]

oh didnt realise i said freshwater

i wouldnt do something that stupid

I should hope not!! but thats how your wording sounded and I would hate to think how gutted you would have been if you did, so I thought I would mention it just incase. lol

 

[orange shark]

yeah i meant what i said but wasnt thinking, if i got to the time and place i wouldnt actually do that