Seeding your tank with an uncured rock?

[Kay]

At the meeting Rick mentioned a good way to keep an old tank full of new good stuff is to seed it with an uncured live rock periodically. I think that's a good idea but have a question. Would you be adding ammonia/nitrite/nitrate to your tank to do this? I would hate to get a jump in my nitrates if I do this. Did you mean an uncured rock from an LFS?

Kay

 

[Ashlar]

Uncured, period. Fresh box from a retailer, or something like TBS rock that comes submerged in water. If it's a small enough piece (in relation to tank volume), any die off will be handled pretty quickly.

 

[DennisF]

I would do a good screening to check for unwanted hitch hikers.

 

[Ashlar]

*nod* also a good reason to put it in the fuge instead of the main tank.

 

[Jeff]

I'd suggest reading the short article on Reefcentral.com in the New to the Hobby section on "Mature tanks". It's a great perspecitive on the bacteria dynamics of cycling and gives a 'big picture' on 'what happens next' ideas.