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Live rock mistake.


MOJOEJOEJOE

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MOJOEJOEJOE

I added about 17 lbs of live rock to my established 20 gallon tank. I had ten pounds but wanted more. I got some great looking rock from Florida gulf but I had no good way to cycle it so I took a chance and put it in. Well two days in and now I'm starting to cycle. My ammonia spiked to about 2ppm but no nitrate or nitrite. I did a water change because I don't want my fish to die. To make matters worse the place I get my water is down so I had to use tap water. I do have conditioner for it that removes chlorine and metals so hopefully that does not impact things too much. I tested my ammonia again and it's still at 2 ppm. Do I just ride out the cycle or should I do something else.

I have 2 small clowns,a clown goby,purple dotty and a scooter blenny. None sem to be impacted right now. No signs of stresss but that could change quick.

I know I should have been better preparing but I can't roll back the clock.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

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MOJOEJOEJOE

I'll get some prime. For now I moved the rock into a cooler with a circ pump and heater. I did a 50% water change but tap water only. I did use API conditioner and my wTer is pretty good to start. I'll try to cure it in the cooler for a week or so.

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MOJOEJOEJOE

No it's mixed but I did add a conditioner to my tap water. It removes any chlorine and metals minerals etc. I used it in the past when I was in a pinch. I really Ned to invest in a Rodi unit to make my own water. I know the risk of phosphates and algae but I'm in a pickle.

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MOJOEJOEJOE

Do you think that stuff is bad? like I said I used it in the past with no bad side effects that I could see. I might get some distiller water but i was told it needs to be treated too. As far as the cursing for the rock, how often should I change the water? I have a power head blowing over the rock and a small internal filter no skimmer. In the past I placed my skimmer in there with a power head and it typically cycled in a week or two. This rock is real nice with tons of life. This is my second time buying from this guy. The first time the tank was new so not a big deal letting it cycle through. I'm define fly buyin prime. The other option is buy the prime and place the rock back in the tank and wait it out. Let me know what you guys think.

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Probably need to change it every day or even more. My gulf live rock took 2-3 weeks to cycle. Really depends how far it traveled.

 

I would just remove the gulf live rock and put it in a 5g bucket or even a plastic tub with a powerhead and cycle it there. I would still do water changes on it to keep critters alive on the rock but at least your fish/corals, ect wont be subject to the ammonia.

 

Why risk all your livestock when a 5 gallon bucket is $3?

 

http://www.homedepot.com/p/The-Home-Depot-5-gal-Homer-Bucket-05GLHD2/100087613

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MOJOEJOEJOE

I already moved it to a cooler. Hopefully my fish are ok. They never really showed any signs of stress. I really hope my LFS has RODI available soon.

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I already moved it to a cooler. Hopefully my fish are ok. They never really showed any signs of stress. I really hope my LFS has RODI available soon.

 

I think that is for the best, 2ppm is pretty bad and there is no telling if you would have had a higher spike. I would not have been able to sleep.

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MOJOEJOEJOE

Thanks everyone. Like I said this rock is great but I got carried away and anxious, hopefully everything settled out for the best

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Here's my Gulf Live Rock story. 4/1 I put 37 lbs of rock in my 40g. Next day ammonia 2, this afternoon it was 4 so I did 8g water change around 3:30 when I had water ready and put Prime. 11:30pm I check it and it's at ammonia 8. So I just did 12g water change and it went down to 4. I've had live rock before but not with this much life. Craziness.

 

So yeah, water changes do alot! Hey, someone is selling a RO/DI for $75 in the classifieds, needs some things but they're just general replacement things.

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I have not regretted my RODI purchase. I just got some backup stuff because my reef shop started to stock them.... in canadian dollars, the carbon was 11 and the 1micron filter was 8 dollars. SO not that expensive. If you can get an RODI, the sooner the better.

 

Flowermama, your rock was amazing.

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MOJOEJOEJOE

I just purchased a cheap RODI unit on eBay. It makes 150 GPD. It's a 4 stage and it got good reviews. They claim you can make about 1500 gallons prior to changing media. I pay 75 cents per gallon so it should pay for itself. The only drawback is that it will take over an hour to make 6 gallons. I only have a 20 gallon tank. My guess is that this should work well.

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Here's my Gulf Live Rock story. 4/1 I put 37 lbs of rock in my 40g. Next day ammonia 2, this afternoon it was 4 so I did 8g water change around 3:30 when I had water ready and put Prime. 11:30pm I check it and it's at ammonia 8. So I just did 12g water change and it went down to 4. I've had live rock before but not with this much life. Craziness.

 

So yeah, water changes do alot! Hey, someone is selling a RO/DI for $75 in the classifieds, needs some things but they're just general replacement things.

I am following ur thread and I am so jealous of ur LR. I wish I had known about it before. IF I set up another tank (Doubt)But, I do plan on ordering some.

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Thanks everyone. Like I said this rock is great but I got carried away and anxious, hopefully everything settled out for the best

It can happen to anyone. I've put it straight into my established tank with no problems but in a new tank or one which is not used to the bio load, you can get a pretty harsh cycle.

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MOJOEJOEJOE

When it rains it pours. Now my heater died lol. I do have a cheap glass heater but the one that died is a cobalt neotherm. I woke up to a tank with a temp of 70f.

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MOJOEJOEJOE

Lol I'm heading out in a few to Petco to see if they have something to get me by. But first I need to shovel the driveway. Damn snow in April . 75 degrees last Friday 25 today.

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MOJOEJOEJOE

By the way I got prime. I have chemipure in one chamber and pureogen in the other. Will this stuff work with that media? I searched but no answers. Also should I add a couple pieces of the live rock or just keep it in the separate container.

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MOJOEJOEJOE

I ended up getting an RODI unit on ebay for $80. It should be here today. I also purchased a tds meter while I was at it. The unit says it will make 150gpd so at least I wont be waiting forever for my water. No holding tank because its portable but it does make water changes more convienent. I think the stock filters are good for up to 1500 gallons.I added the prime and the fish seem to still be doing good. I did another 25% water change but the amonia is still at 2ppm in the main tank and after a change in the cycle tank its at 2ppm. Im starting to wonder if my test kit is bad. Ill test fresh water this afternon and see what thast reads. I did have a fish jump out of the tank and he was all shriveled up on the couch. That sucked but he was a wrase and thats what there known for.

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