Live rock - Adding new life

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BrianC

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[I remember someone posting something about Dr ron suggesting we needed to periodically change out portions of our live rock to add diversity into the tank. Does that sound reasonable or familiar to anyone?

Heres my question If you jast wanted to add diversity. Do you think I could get there by periodically adding live rock into the sump?

Next question I know how big a no no it is to drop uncured live rock in a system...but, if the peice is small enough would anyone add uncured live rock to their system; the offset is to reduce losing some of that diversity? if not why?]
 
[Brian taking a piece 10-15 lbs maybe 20 depending on size limits and sticking it in the refugium or sump would work perfect. Leave it in there 6-12 months replace with new rock, sell the other one to someone else. And the idea is that some life that does not survive and reproduce in aquariums may be needed to keep the biological filter process working well. Possibly a reason for old tank sydrome that this life needs to be replaced from time to time. And the sand from another tank may or may not have any newer biologial life than your own tank. By taking uncured rock right out of the ocean, you are getting a freash kickstart. Depending on the size of the aquarium, would depend on how much uncured rock would be safely added. I would think some frequent water changes for a week or so would safely handle it.]
 
[I agree with Eric...I would think sand would just as much diversity as rocks would...plus you don't have the chance of spreading flat worms, aptasia, and other bad things.]
 
[Matt and Eric, live sand is bacteria... if you get it from me; it will even include some spegetti worms someone else maybe a sand bed clam.

That is not what's being discussed.

Rick, I think your right! The die off will relight the bacteria in the sand bed. With my plenum and macro algae in the sump it will spark a huge resource and help stop those bad critter like rock crabs from infesting the display.

Rick, I run a nutrient rich system. Don't you run a very controlled system and isn't you tank primarily SPS? DO you think the same concept would work in a system like yours?

P.S. I haven't been able to keep SPS yet but softies seem to blow up!]
 
[
That is not what's being discussed. said:
I am confused...you are discussing trading live rock to add diversity. What type of diversity are you talking about that can't be found in sand?]
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@BigStun wrote:
[[quote="That is not what's being discussed. said:
I am confused...you are discussing trading live rock to add diversity. What type of diversity are you talking about that can't be found in sand?]"]
[If you are talking about live sand right out of the ocean, than I would agree with you. It would not do any more good for two people with older tanks to trade live rock with each other. We are talking about getting a replenishment of microfauna straight out of the ocean off of fresh liverock.
And yes Brian I would think it would help any older system replace micro fauna or bacteria that may be lost over time, that is beneficial to the cycling of the tank. Whether it's in the dsb, the rock itself of whatever system you choose. I have bought a piece of fresh liverock from time to time and stuck in the refugium.]
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[I can see how adding fresh live rock could help...back to the sand, I think if groups of 10 people could split up a bag of the real live sand (the bags of sand with water still in it) in order to get some fresh bacteria and other life. They sell for like $30...so that's 3 dollars per person for a few pounds of fresh live sand which should be plenty...just an idea.]
 
[I am not convinced anything is alive in the sealed bags of "live sand".]
 
[yea...there are mixed reviews about live sand in a bag. Most bags of live sand have expiration dates...you can't measure the bacteria, but you can always give it the smell test. You could also test the water in the bag for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. I recently upgraded to a larger tank and used a few bags of the live stuff and had no problems at all...water parameters were fine and the sand appeaered and smelled fine.]
 
[Matt, not the diversity being discussed. Live sand doesn't have spegetti worms, sand bed clams (would be a rarity), pods, bristle worms, etc.

This website; http://www.ipsf.com/ might help you to figure out what diversity we are talking about... However, I do not recommend them... Infact, I've only heard bad things. My one interaction was horrible!]



Edited By BrianC on 1105107624
 
[The idea is to add new life to help aid filtration that might have been lost over time...I do not see how getting new bristle worms, baby starfish, and amphipods and so on is going to help replace what is lost over time...I thought the idea was getting fresh bacteria from the ocean, because I know I am not having a problem with a lack of bristle worms, spegetti worms and etc]
 
[It's not more of the same it's diversity (different)!

Like Marc got those little shrimp. I don't have that etc,etc,etc.

The whole concept behind live sand is a little ridiculos that bacteria doesn't depend on water from my reading... I could be wrong but I think if you grap a handful of dirt it will have Nitrosomas in. So you don't need to periodically replace that.

Big Stun how old os your tank?]
 
[I have added some TBS rock from my 20L to my 75g/Fiji tank and have transfered a lot of new critters! I bought 45lbs of TBS "Live Coral" rock in June and have seen lots of critters (good and bad) over the past 6 months.]
 
[
Big Stun how old os your tank? said:
I just upgraded to a larger tank, but the system is around 2 years old. The rock came from established systems, which might be why I have an abundance of "tiny" life.

And the idea is that some life that does not survive and reproduce in aquariums may be needed to keep the biological filter process working well. said:
This is the main focus around trading live rock...am I right? The idea is to replentish what might have been lost. I do not think getting some little bugs you have never seen will do much as far as the success of a reef tank. If you are wanting those kinds of life, trading cheato would probablly be your best bet.]
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@BigStun wrote:
[This is the main focus around trading live rock...am I right? The idea is to replentish what might have been lost. I do not think getting some little bugs you have never seen will do much as far as the success of a reef tank. If you are wanting those kinds of life said:
[The idea was put forth to me at MACNA by Eric Boerneman, while the topic of "old tank syndrome" was being discussed. Are you familar with "old tank syndrome"? If so you will know we were talking about tanks that are 4-5 years old maybe more all of a sudden dying from no apparent reason. Ones that have been doing well and thriving, just start dying like old age. Eric felt that maybe there is life put into the system from the ocean via the liverock when first introduced that is a vital part of the cycle of the tank. That some of this life, who knows what size or species or whatever dies out over time. How does anyone know what is vital and what is not vital in a successfull biological process of a reeftank? By importing new liverock out of the ocean on a yearly or bi-yearly basis you might be assured of keeping the tank fresher and avoid the, "old tank syndrome".
Trading macro algae only assures you will get anything they have in their macroalgae, it certainly does not mean you will get what "might" be missing from the ocean. Nothing wrong with trading macro algae or sand, but I like the his thought about putting in a new piece of uncured rock from time to time. In my opinion it can only help.]
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[I had been thinking of using GARF grunge to do this...my tank is new, but visiting GARFS website made me want some grunge for my tank. I have heard only reputable things about them. At $5 a pound, I can add at least pound or two to my tank and fuge and see what happens.. t. This way you know the guests come from a controlled environment at least. No pesty stuff....so they say

my 2 cents]
 
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