Adding live rock to an aquarium with established fish

[Razonix]

I'm thinking of adding Live Rock to my tank, which I've had running for about 2 years now. I've got a pretty simple setup with 5 damsel fish, a shrimp, and 2 crabs. If I get the Live Rock from my supplier, do you think it'll already be cured? I'm looking to add 12kg, is it safe to add it all at once? I don't want to risk harming my fish.

My tank's 150ltr, or 33 gallons for those who don't do metric.

[finleydive]

If you're getting it cured from your supplier, you've got nothing to worry about. Uncured live rock's the issue, as it's got die-off that'll cause an ammonia spike and that's what'll likely harm your fish. So, as long as it's cured, you're good to go.

[fleeton]

I'm not so sure that's the case. If you've got a well-established tank with a solid filter system, you might be able to get away with adding some uncured rock. But if that's the case, I'd still recommend adding it in small increments, one piece at a time, just to be on the safe side. That being said, the most foolproof method would be to buy the uncured rock, set it up in a separate bucket with some seawater, a small powerhead, and a heater, and let it cycle for a week or two before introducing it to your main tank.

[aflux]

I'm not so sure that's the case. If you've got a well-established tank with a solid filter system, you might be able to get away with adding some uncured rock. But if that's the case, I'd still recommend adding it in small increments, one piece at a time, just to be on the safe side. That being said, the most foolproof method would be to buy the uncured rock, set it up in a separate bucket with some seawater, a small powerhead, and a heater, and let it cycle for a week or two before introducing it to your main tank.

Yeah I agree, and buying uncured is definitely the way to go if you're on a budget.

[zeno9]

You'll need to be on the lookout for unwanted stowaways when adding live rock to your tank, especially if it's uncured. Since it hasn't been cleaned or inspected, the chances of getting hitchhikers are higher. Those damsels you've got might just become a meal for a mantis shrimp, not ideal in a community tank.

If you've got a spare tank, it'd be a good idea to quarantine the rock first, that way you can spot any unwanted critters. When handling the rock, make sure to wear some rubber gloves - it's likely to have bristleworms, and you don't want to squish any nudibranchs. You might also get some nuisance crabs or other undesired beasties, so be careful.

[felinxo]

I think the advice is to get rock from a local fish store, not uncured rock. To be honest, I wouldn't take the risk - if you can get it from an established tank, like someone breaking down their setup, transport it in water for under an hour and you'll be fine. But if you buy from a store, put it in a food-safe container with some saltwater, add a powerhead and heater, and test after 24 hours to see how it's doing. Let us know how it goes and we'll be happy to help.

[fleeton]

If it were my tank, I'd always be cautious and "cure" or "QT" the rock in a separate container first, before adding it to the main tank.

[Vitaly]

I'm thinking of adding Live Rock to my tank, which I've had running for about 2 years now. I've got a pretty simple setup with 5 damsel fish, a shrimp, and 2 crabs. If I get the Live Rock from my supplier, do you think it'll already be cured? I'm looking to add 12kg, is it safe to add it all at once? I don't want to risk harming my fish.

My tank's 150ltr, or 33 gallons for those who don't do metric.

I had a go at adding live rock to my tank, but the speakers and subwoofer took up way too much space.

[felinxo]

I'm not so sure that's the case. If you've got a well-established tank with a solid filter system, you might be able to get away with adding some uncured rock. But if that's the case, I'd still recommend adding it in small increments, one piece at a time, just to be on the safe side. That being said, the most foolproof method would be to buy the uncured rock, set it up in a separate bucket with some seawater, a small powerhead, and a heater, and let it cycle for a week or two before introducing it to your main tank.

I'm with you on that, no point in taking the risk. Ski's hit the nail on the head, no need for me to elaborate.

[Razonix]

Thanks for the advice, got the cured rock today and did as you said - transported it in water and it's now in a bucket with a heater. The shopkeeper mentioned one piece still had a bit of a smell so best to leave it a bit. Does anyone know roughly how long I should leave it in the bucket before it's safe to add to my tank?