rock replacement
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Reef Chemistry
Forum Description: A place to discuss reef chemistry.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42098
Printed Date: September 21 2025 at 6:52am
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Topic: rock replacement
Posted By: bugzme
Subject: rock replacement
Date Posted: July 05 2010 at 7:12pm
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If I replaced 75#'s of my existing rock with Marco rock keylargo base rock, (in tubs 4 days) how bad would the cycle be? As everyone knows my tank is over 6 yrs old so it is very stable I have 170# of live rock now. ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Replies:
Posted By: SGH360
Date Posted: July 05 2010 at 10:04pm
| thats almost 50 percent. i would probably switch 25 percent first then the other 25 in about two weeks this can prevent a mini cycle and i would hate seeing in your tank |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: July 06 2010 at 10:26am
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If that rock is like LBTR, and I think it is. Isn't it mined from the ground? Then it will hardly create any pollution. If I am right about this, you could do a lot of it. I'm with Santiago on this. I don't work by pounds. I work by percentage. The biofiltration works this way. If you change out half the rock, that means you have cut its filtration in half. That's why taking it slow and doing it in portions over time is most often the better way to go, no matter how old the LR or the tank is. It's also a big job. Biting off smaller chunks at a time is easier, in my experience. Just my 2 cents.  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: bugzme
Date Posted: July 06 2010 at 3:53pm
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the rock is mined underground and it is very clean ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Posted By: Chris Scott
Date Posted: July 06 2010 at 4:34pm
Doesn't the live sand provide much more biofiltration than the live rock? This article states that live sand is far better as a biofilter (for nitrates at least): http://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/nitrates/ - http://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/nitrates/ Therefore, if he removes 50% of the live rock, maybe he's only reducing the biofiltration capacity by say 15-25% or so? It still makes sense to move slower, but just wondering that for myself also. Thanks, Chris ------------- 55g Bowfront Corner Reef |
Mark Peterson wrote:Posted By: tcfab
Date Posted: July 06 2010 at 6:35pm
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Test your water that your Key Largo is in now, I have heard sometimes the Marco Key Largo rock can release phosphates. ------------- Need custom acrylic work? give me a call, www.Elite-Aquatics.net (801)645-6386 |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: July 07 2010 at 8:50am
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Yes, I too believe that, speaking in general terms, LS offers a greater percentage of filtration than LR, so I agree. What I meant was 50% of the biofiltration provided by just the LR component. My thought is that removing 50% of the LR would reduce the tanks biofiltration by 30%. I agree with tCfab that the Key Largo rock may have a higher amount of PO4. This would create a pretty good algae bloom. Testing is probably the only way to know since I believe that Jeff has been keeping this rock in relative darkness, no? ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: bugzme
Date Posted: July 07 2010 at 9:35am
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Yes it's in the garage. No phosphates yet ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: July 07 2010 at 10:34am
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It's had time to show in the water if PO4 was there. I'd say the rock is ready to go.
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: bugzme
Date Posted: July 07 2010 at 10:39am
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Should I do a few pieces at a time? ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: July 07 2010 at 10:56am
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If it was me, I would put in 2-3 smaller pieces (~10 lbs.) and watch to see whether or not they get a brown surface algae growth. That would help me decide what to do next.
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Posted By: bugzme
Date Posted: July 07 2010 at 11:24am
That's what I will do. Thanks for the help ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Posted By: omedman
Date Posted: July 11 2010 at 10:42pm
| Great info, I was wondering the same thing ( Thanks ) |
Posted By: SGH360
Date Posted: July 11 2010 at 11:19pm
| so is it bad if it start growing brown algae? because i recently purchade 50lbs of rock and its growing some of that algae |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: July 12 2010 at 5:07pm
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No it's not bad, it's normal. The amount of brown algae is what I would look at to help me choose how to proceed. A tank with too little biofiltration, brown algae(diatoms and dino-flagellates) is going to be much thicker or more extensive than in a tank with sufficient biofiltration. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: bugzme
Date Posted: July 12 2010 at 6:47pm
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I put 5 pieces in on the 7th and my daughter say's there is no algae bloom. Rock still looks white. ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: July 14 2010 at 9:57am
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You may start to notice a green tint to the rock. This is a coralline algae that starts first. Next you should see dots of pink and/or purple coralline algae. Here is a pic of some LBTR at about 3 weeks:  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: bugzme
Date Posted: July 14 2010 at 5:49pm
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so would the rock I put in have any biological filtering effect? I haven't put any new rock in since then but I would like to when I get home ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Posted By: Chris Scott
Date Posted: July 14 2010 at 6:01pm
Mark, Would this be that same "green tint"? I replaced 50% of my LR with this big hunk of Vida-Rock and this pic is about 6 weeks in. You can't see the detail, but I do see the pink/purple spots starting to grow, but the green algae on top seems to be more than just coralline. I can't wait until this big hunk of rock looks more natural!  ------------- 55g Bowfront Corner Reef |
Posted By: bugzme
Date Posted: July 14 2010 at 6:16pm
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I have had a chunk of vida rock in my sump for 2 months. Going to make a chalice tree. ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: July 15 2010 at 11:09am
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The new clean rock will attract bugs and worms over time. Bacteria populations can double in as little as half an hour when there is food available. Life starts to move into clean new rock immediately and as algae begins to grow on the rock and as particles of detritus/uneaten food settle on it, more and more life makes it home. The algae in the pic of Vida Rock does resemble green Coralline but without a closeup shot it's hard to say. Be sure to have plenty of snails to keep the tops of the rock from growing hair algae. It starts as a fuzz but can get out of hand much too quickly. Side note- that powerhead appears to be pointing diagonally down. It will do a better job if it points diagonally up. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Chris Scott
Date Posted: July 15 2010 at 11:16am
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Thanks. That one pointing down is my 500gph powerhead. I have two others (Koralia 3's) that are positioned low and pointing up. Think that is good or should I get that last one pointing up also? Bugsme, sorry for the side topic! ------------- 55g Bowfront Corner Reef |
Posted By: bugzme
Date Posted: July 15 2010 at 11:45am
no problem.  ------------- Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!! |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: July 15 2010 at 11:47am
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Sounds good.
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