New Tank Live Ocean Rock

kar93 · #1 12/08/2007, 04:24 PM

I am setting up a new 4ft tank within the next few months and i will be using ocean rock as i dont want to go out on the live rock this time i will just get a few kilos to seed it. My question is how long will it usually take for the live rock to seed the ocean rock. It will probably be 5 kilos of live rock and about 30k of ocean rock

kar93 · #2 12/08/2007, 05:53 PM

bump

rynon · #3 12/08/2007, 06:31 PM

I don't understand what "ocean rock" is? If your talking about dry rock, I would wait as long as you can. The longer you wait to add fish, corals, inverts the better, in any system. I had a fishless tank for months......like 6, talk about amphipods and copepods! Just wait as long as you can before adding anything. Check your ammonia and nitrite readings, as soon as you see a jump in nitrate it's most likely ready to go. I would wait a minimum of a month, longer would be better. Patience is a virtue in this hobby....probably not the answer you wanted?

kar93 · #4 12/08/2007, 06:56 PM

I know about the cycling and everything im just wondering how long it would take for the live rock to seed the ocean rock

rynon · #5 12/08/2007, 07:06 PM

I have no clue? You have to wait, that's it. If you see pods running all over the place it's most likely ready. If you explained ocean rock that would help me out........I'm assuming we call it base rock?

kar93 · #6 12/08/2007, 07:13 PM

yeah base rock

rynon · #7 12/08/2007, 07:22 PM

Well I keep hoping someone else will help you out with this but it doesn't seem to be happening? I really don't know. Just be patient, wait for pods to be running around, etc. I would wait at least a month, if the rock is NOT cured, I would wait at least two. Ideally you should wait a lot more. Your fish and corals would be very happy if you waited 6 months or more. The longer you wait the better. Once the tank has cycled, start adding small amounts of food to feed the pods and whatever else may be on your LR. Waiting longer is better in this hobby.

useskaforevil · #8 12/08/2007, 10:14 PM

waiting longer isn't better after a certain point, really the bacteria from the liverock should seed the base rock in less than a month after it cures. bacteria splits pretty fast

huskyrider · #9 12/09/2007, 02:46 AM

If you mean with coraline and junk it will take two or three months depending on type of rock some rock will never grow coraline

kar93 · #10 12/09/2007, 06:53 AM

Yeah i mean the coraline "junk"

useskaforevil · #11 12/09/2007, 09:52 AM

well, coraline doesent do much but look pretty and be incredibly annoying. it actually lowers the function of your LR, no real reason to wait for that to grow

kar93 · #12 12/09/2007, 12:08 PM

how long would it be until all the bacteria fully spreads to the rock then?

Devtech · #13 12/09/2007, 12:44 PM

between 3-5 weeks as long as it takes for your water to cycle. shouldnt take too long, cause bacteria really grows quickly.