This hobby needs to rethink the use of Live rock? :) - Page 20

melev · #**476** 06/29/2005, 09:25 PM

I obviously would be wiser to read this thread then to voice any further thoughts at this time.

weimluv1, I don't think so. Denitrification should be the removing of nitrates if I understand it correctly. Again, I'll try to make the time in the next couple of days to read this thread in its entirety.

Saltz Creep · #**477** 06/29/2005, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by weimluv1
shouldn't high nitrates be an indication that the denitrification process is occuring

Nope. Denitrifcation is the conversion of nitrates to nitrogen gas.

Nitrification (aerobic): NH3--->NO2--->NO3

Denitrification (anaerobic): NO3--->N2

weimluv1 · #**478** 06/29/2005, 11:40 PM

AHH thank you so much for clarifying...i knew i was confused

anyway, i started out with all base rock i brought back from Cozumel.

IT was just lying around like junk on the beach. Large pieces too!

I made sure and rinsed it out like 4 times with RO/DI water and let it soak in salt water for a few days with a skimmer and a lot of flow on the tank.

Low and behold even my Seaclone started pulling gunk out of it.

A moral to the story: IF you decide to use base rock, make sure it's cleaned and do as i did, run a skimmer on the tank and see what it pulls out first before you add anything to the tank.

it MAY look clean, but it might not be.

OK so that said, my base rock that i've had in the tank since the beginning of April is now covered with corraline, tube worms, and feather dusters. I "seeded" it with some tufa rock that i seeded that with some kaelini rock that i sold in order to afford the Cozumel trip.

A nice trade, in my opinion.

Im Lon 2 · #**479** 06/30/2005, 09:12 AM

I was looking at the base rock I added to my tank when I started May 15th - 240lbs base rock (Hirocks.com) and 85 lbs Live rock (Kaelini out of my last tank fully cured) My base rock is starting to get a Very light purple tint to it here and there. You really have to look to see it but it's there. so It is coming along great for less than 2 months.

gatohoser · #**480** 06/30/2005, 12:05 PM

Thought i'd mention this here since i was advocating this company from what i've heard earlier in the thread

I hated my hirocks.com shipment! It was extremely dirty and completely unporous. I pressure washed these rocks and still dirt comes out of the very center of it in water. Maybe he's running low on stock and is shipping out crap on ebay but yuck!

ponyplayin · #**481** 06/30/2005, 12:08 PM

i use lots of rock

gooch · #**482** 06/30/2005, 12:36 PM

Here is a shot of my 40 breeder. I made these rocks. They were an experiment and have been in my tank a little over three weeks now. The picture is about two weeks in the tank. It has just started to show coralline and I have not lost any livestock. There is about 35 pounds in there. No liverock.

Shoestring Reefer · #**483** 06/30/2005, 01:39 PM

Looks good to me, gooch!

Im Lon 2 · #**484** 06/30/2005, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gatohoser
Thought i'd mention this here since i was advocating this company from what i've heard earlier in the thread

I hated my hirocks.com shipment! It was extremely dirty and completely unporous. I pressure washed these rocks and still dirt comes out of the very center of it in water. Maybe he's running low on stock and is shipping out crap on ebay but yuck!

Did you contact them? It sounds like they sent you the Plain base rock and not "Our Best" They sell both on E-bay and could have sent you the wrong batch by mistake. I would Call and complain. I really like my rock from them, it was very porous, ton's of little holes, caves, nooks, and crannies.

gatohoser · #**485** 06/30/2005, 07:31 PM

Ya I wish I did but it was about 2 months ago and life was hectic with finals and everything else. Its been in my tank for a month and a half at least anyways. Im taking it real slow so as long as i get it out before the sps need to go in (theyre in a 12g nanocube right now under 3 pc's).

gooch · #**486** 07/18/2005, 01:40 AM

Here it is after six weeks in the tank.

Jiddy · #**487** 07/18/2005, 03:22 AM

I have a 220g tank and am brand new to SW reefin. I have read all about how to cycle your tank if you buy LR, but how should i cycle my tank now since i only bought 300lbs of baseRock and no LR?

TIA

Saltz Creep · #**488** 07/18/2005, 06:13 AM

Jiddy, 220g is your first SW tank?

traip93 · #**489** 07/18/2005, 07:11 AM

Jiddy, i'd get like 30-50lbs of Live rock and cycle it with the base rock.

gatohoser · #**490** 07/18/2005, 12:00 PM

You dont NEED to do anything really but you can throw in a teeny piece of live rock or a lot of live rock. doesnt matter much.

Jiddy · #**491** 07/18/2005, 03:16 PM

Yes 220 is my first, i think i read somewhere get the biggest you can! LoL. And thanks for the help guys, ill just get some LR then

Shoestring Reefer · #**492** 07/18/2005, 03:46 PM

For the CYCLE you don't need to do anything except add a food source: a bit of raw seafood, some fish food, etc. Bacteria need to eat, too!

To SEED the base rock and sand you need some live sand or live rock.

lunker101 · #**493** 07/21/2005, 12:12 AM

I plan on setting up a 180g and i have alot of "Texas Holey Rock" left over from my african cichlids. This is simply limestone, correct? Based upon this thread, using it in a reef would be fine?

Jiddy · #**494** 07/21/2005, 01:07 AM

Pretty much! Based on this thread cement is okay to use

gatohoser · #**495** 07/21/2005, 12:11 PM

Well kinda...not really. We said to use high quality base rock if you use base rock. It needs to be porous and it needs to be the correct type of porous to allow for anaerobic denitrification.

35gallonhex · #**496** 07/25/2005, 07:40 PM

so you thought you where rid of me did you...
no matter my 35 gallon hex is thriving. what do you mean that rock isnt live rock. looks live to me! hahaha! my pipe fish that people said would die after 3 months is still alive after about 12 months

35gallonhex · #**497** 07/25/2005, 07:41 PM

ps. hello gate

gatohoser · #**498** 07/25/2005, 11:23 PM

? I'd make that bigger but im not quite sure how.

jimbo045 · #**499** 07/26/2005, 09:52 PM

I like live rock,and gave up a wet\dry to have a bunch.

sunfishh · #**500** 08/05/2005, 12:15 PM

Great thread!!! It made for a really interesing read, but it took a very loooooooong time. Here are some comments:

1) Special thanks to bomber and gatohoser for the debate and everyone else who provided the content
2) The best post was by Insane Clownfish (Top 13) lmao
3) Pual B ur the man and ur reef is great