Adding Live Rock to old aquarium

[Housen]

Im new here. Trying out other sites to find good recommendations and advice. Dont want to be hard-nosed but before you post a reply, please tell me who you are and why you think you know the answer. Sorry for this, but Ive found too many people willing to give advice who dont know what they're talking about. Anyway, I have a 3 yr old FOWLR aquarium. Its 75gallons and not heavily stocked, currently with 50pounds of live rock. I want to add live rock. I'd like someone to provide me info on how to do this the best way. Thanks in advance.

[Reefing Madness]

First off I'm originally from Sheffield Lake, down the road from you. =) Next, I've had systems from a 35 all the way to current 240g. Been doing this for over 12 years. And have done exactly what you are considering doing, on several occasions. Current setup is a 240, in November of last year, I had a 125g. So, I used all that stuff form that tank. Knowing that I was in need of quite a few pounds of Live Rock I left the system up for 3 months then added 30lbs. With no ill effects, my system is large, and I was not adding a huge load for it to recover. So I had no mini cycle or any other cycle for that matter. So After another 3 months I added another 30lbs again, which brought me up to my current 220lbs. Like using Fully Cured Live Rock to a new system, your bio load is already there, if your tank cycles, if at all, it will be very small, and your benificials will grow quickly. What else ya got for me?? ;)

[leebca]

Why do I feel like this is some kind of test? Anyway, congratulations for asking for credentials. Few do. On the Internet anyone can offer advice and recommendations. In addition, this hobby has so many ways of accomplishing the same goals that the approach itself can vary. My experience is wide, long and varied that I often 'see' many other aspects which belong to a bigger picture. My background is given here: Bio - Lee (a.k.a. leebca). You'll find I have nothing to sell or gain through my recommendations and advice. Next, your reply:

There is some missing information that would narrow my reply: You don't say what you mean by live rock. It is a designation that is not qualified. That is, there is no 'industry standard.' So I will assume (right or wrong) that we are on the same page and that you are asking about what I defined as live rock in this post: What is Live Rock, Anyway?

Still part of the 'unsaid' list is how much of this are you wanting or planning to add. I would also like an idea of the kind and debth of substrate you use (if you use any), as well as knowing if you have any 'higher' life forms (fishes, ornamental shrimps, etc.) that burrow.

Still part of the 'unsaid' is why after 3 years are you interested in adding more live rock. I suspect you have some kind of biological filter at work to compensate for the reduced surface area and activity that live rock provides, even though you do mention that your stocking is no 'heavy' although this is subjective (I find many hobbyists overstock -- no offense). So of course I wonder if by 'live rock' do you just mean dead rock (see the link). Maybe you just want more deocrations?

Last part of the 'unsaid' is the source of this live rock. This has a few considerations that come with this unknown:
a) If it is coming from an LFS's tanks and totally cured, then the approach for adding it would possibly not require furthering curing. But if you're getting live rock moist from other sources (like an online shipper/importer), it may require further curing. What you want to do for sure is not to encourage any significant die off in the established system. You'd overload the organic controls you may have and endanger the marine life with possible spikes of ammonia and/or nitrites.

b) Besides the die-off issues, the next concern about source is the other life forms that will come with it. Do you want to risk adding something to your established system that may create problems? For instance, do you have benthic creatures now? and if you do, are they the ones you like? If you introduce new live rock with new benthic creatures (like maybe your current system doesn't have bristle worms and you don't want them) will you be happy with what you get? Will the live rock bring with it problems lifeforms: Aiptasia, troublesome algae (Bubble Algae - e.g. Ventricaria ventricosa), predatory crabs, flatworms, predatory shrimp, etc., etc.?

c) Last part of the source is if it is coming from an LFS, is their tank connected to marine live stock? For instance, if the rock is in contact with fishes then there is the risk of introducing diseases, parasites, etc. into an established aquarium. After all, 3 years is a long time and if you do use a quarantine process, you understand the advantages of controlling what enters your system.

The above parts to the source concern, a) thru c) will help you decide whether or not the new rock requires curing and quarantine priot to using it.

Are you beginning to see how I see a 'bigger picture?' Now to get to the answers. [Has to be answers since I don't have the above information.] If the live rock is cured and no risk or very low risk of minor die-off and the rock doesn't bring with it any creatures, diseases, parasites, etc. you would rather screen out, then adding a few pounds of it is not a major issue. If any of these things don't apply, then I would recommend the necessary pre-treatment and/or quarantine of the live rock before introducing it to the established system. If you are thinking of adding a lot of it, there is a placement concern.

Most heavy landscaping, like rock, is best placed on the bottom of the tank rather than on top of substrate. This reduces 'dead spots' in the substrate, and also creates better stability of the landscaping. Dead spots in the substrate over time can create pockets of hydrogen sulfide. Since your system is well established, the substrate most likely contains an 'equilibrium' or average amount of organics and wastes. (This depends on the benthic creature stock, maintenance procedures, etc.). So placing a lot of new live rock on top of the substrate does create a real risk of trapping organics in the substrate and encouraging the pockets I've mentioned. Such stacking may also be unstable. Since you don't mention having any specific fishes that live in the substrate, this placement has to consider the marine life you have. So adding live rock has to consider the placement and its effects on current livestock.

I will finish the concern about the quantity by also noting that a large addition of live rock may require additional circulation or the repositioning of your current flow.

I think I've addressed most concerns above. In general, I have successfully added live rock to an established system, but I have yet to add it directly without quarantining it. I follow the general approach that successful public and private institutional aquariums follow, and quarantine. To specifically reply what is the 'best way' which is what you've asked, is to take the above issues into consideration and quarantine the live rock. I know of no better way.

If you have any questions on the above, don't hesitate to ask.

[Housen]

A totally comprehensive, all-inclusive, and thorough response Lee. i'll have to see what other posts you've made. You covered everything imaginable as far as I can tell. In fact the live rockk I was planning on would be by mail. Curing will be needed. Forgot about that. I work hard keeping the wrong life out of my tank so based upon your response, quarantine is essential. I wanted another 75 pounds of rock (live according to that post you linked to me) for visual effect as well as the other benefits. Thanks for covering placement, too. I posted this same question in other places. No one even came close to yours in all encompassing. Thanks again Lee. Thanks for your reply RM.

[leebca]

Thank you for your kind words.

I see more of the picture. I like the look of live rock too. You seem to want more for esthetics. Go for it. But if the new is going to get covered with coralline algae, base rock would do, too.

[Housen]

Yea. Know what you mean about the algae. Say are you the Lee Birch that they know in Germany? Im not a world traveler but I know people there and they seem to know you. Thank you again for the info. Happy labor day.

[leebca]

Happy Labor Day to you too. I try to avoid topic drift in threads and your original topic was very good. So if you'll let me get away from being the topic of this thread, I will add the following.

I visit Europe 1 to 2 months every year, as well as several weeks outside North America (NA) to non-European destinations. I contact/visit a variety of groups, manufacturers, authors, publishers, importers, aquariums (public and private), LFSs, hobbyists and professional aquarists associated with marine aquarium keeping. I don't know who you might have contact with, but any from that group may have seen my electronic publications in their organizations, or have come in contact with me directly during one or more of my visits. The systems they use as well as those used by public and private aquariums and professional aquarists in NA are basically those I recommend to hobbyists.

[Housen]

Thank you. You are more than a Moderator, you should be listed as an expert. People I know in Europe recognize your ezpertise. I won't take this further here, but glad I'm have this site.

[leebca]

Thank you again. ;)