Adding live rock to year old tank

[Fishn28]

Is it possible to add live rock from my lfs to my year old Tank? I started the tank with all dry white rock and it’s still not mature and algae problems have been consistent for a few months. I want to add live rock to help boost the maturing process of the rocks and reduce the uglies in the tank. Is this possible?

 

[Garf]

Is it possible to add live rock from my lfs to my year old Tank? I started the tank with all dry white rock and it’s still not mature and algae problems have been consistent for a few months. I want to add live rock to help boost the maturing process of the rocks and reduce the uglies in the tank. Is this possible?

Yes, but probably won't reduce the uglies. That's just a right of passage.

 

[ScottJ]

Sure you can.

 

[Uncle99]

Anytime
Can increase diversity which is a good thing.

 

[Fishn28]

Yes, but probably won't reduce the uglies. That's just a right of passage.

Do you think it can at least speed the process up? I know my lfs adds algae barn 5280 pods monthly to their rock. I’d assume that would help with some algae

 

[Fishn28]

Anytime
Can increase diversity which is a good thing.

Do I need to worry about die off? And do I need to QT?

 

[Garf]

Do you think it can at least speed the process up? I know my lfs adds algae barn 5280 pods monthly to their rock. I’d assume that would help with some algae

Algae munchers are great.

 

[Uncle99]

Do I need to worry about die off? And do I need to QT?

I scrub mine down in saltwater before using, but that’s it for me….can be risky.

Live rock and LFS live rock in my area is very different.

My LFS live rock is just dry rock which is kept in water. It came with baby gorilla crabs.

The good stuff comes direct from ocean vats and while it adds diversity, sometimes it adds pests as well. It came with a Mantis Shrimp.

But you can get pests with using dry rock as well.
Babies of stuff can enter on corals.

So it’s a trade off IMM.

The safest way to speed maturity is through rock solid parameters and maintaining organics to feed the “system” players.

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

I scrub mine down in saltwater before using.

Live rock and LFS live rock in my area is very different.

My LFS live rock is just dry rock which is kept in water.

The good stuff comes direct from ocean vats and while it adds diversity, sometimes it adds pests as well.

Yep...theres a world of difference between the two. The Indonesian rock shops get in stock here was in the ocean a few days before it goes in the tank...thats pure gold that nothing else can compare to imo. Sometimes I wouldnt be able to resist buying a piece or two just because of how beautiful the rock looks covered in natural coralline

 

[Uncle99]

Yep...theres a world of difference between the two. The Indonesian rock shops get in stock here was in the ocean a few days before it goes in the tank...thats pure gold that nothing else can compare to imo. Sometimes I wouldnt be able to resist buying a piece or two just because of how beautiful the rock looks covered in natural coralline

That gold never makes its way north.
Only a dream for me….

 

[PotatoPig]

I’ve done this.

About a year in I picked up a few modestly sized pieces from the LFS, that keeps this stuff in a giant tank with lights and water flow. Comes with random copepods, amphipods, mysis, tube worms, sponges, coralline, macro, etc etc.

It’s not “live ocean rock” but it’s a far cry from “dry rock”.

Another way to add biodiversity is to get a “clean up crew” pack from somewhere like Reefcleaners, where all the critters they send to you will come with microbiomes and hitchhikers. Get a diverse pack and chances are fair that something in there will eat your algae.

 

[BryanM]

You can always add live rock, but I doubt it will make much difference in the algae, unless you replace all your dry rock with live rock.

Even if you replaced half, the dry half would still have the obnoxious algae for a while... That's what I've read that others have reported.