Adding rock to 5 month old peninsula

[MNscoe]

I’ve been told I should add more rock to my 55 gal peninsula tank. I really like my layout, was going for striated islands of descending height for visual interest and isolation of coral colonies (may I be so fortunate to need that!).

I’m thinking adding more fish hiding spots is worthwhile, as my fish appear somewhat stressed (had ich already). I don’t want to massively change my hard scape, so am going to add some small rocks to provide additional cubby holes and swim-thrus. I’m using dry purple rock the LFS says is coated with dried bacteria. It’s dusty/dirty.

Main question: should I rinse or otherwise clean the rock before adding to DT?

Second question: any comments on the need, benefit, and approach to do this?

In the last pic I’ve circled where I’m planning to add small rocks. (Note: it’s a peninsula tank, but for these pictures I put cardboard on the glass to reduce glare.)
Really could use advice & suggestions. Thank you!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Are the rocks dry white rocks? Then a quick rinse will do
Are they live rock? No need to rinse
Are they old dirty rock? I would bleach them
It depend exactly what kind of rock you have.

If your adding just a few small pebbles, personally I don't see the point. I mean, its your tank so my opinion doesn't matter, but I agree the tank would benefit from much more rock, I don't think a few small pebbles will make much of a difference. Again its just my opinion, see what others have to say, good luck

 

[Dom]

I’ve been told I should add more rock to my 55 gal peninsula tank. I really like my layout, was going for striated islands of descending height for visual interest and isolation of coral colonies (may I be so fortunate to need that!).

I’m thinking adding more fish hiding spots is worthwhile, as my fish appear somewhat stressed (had ich already). I don’t want to massively change my hard scape, so am going to add some small rocks to provide additional cubby holes and swim-thrus. I’m using dry purple rock the LFS says is coated with dried bacteria. It’s dusty/dirty.

Main question: should I rinse or otherwise clean the rock before adding to DT?

Second question: any comments on the need, benefit, and approach to do this?

In the last pic I’ve circled where I’m planning to add small rocks. (Note: it’s a peninsula tank, but for these pictures I put cardboard on the glass to reduce glare.)
Really could use advice & suggestions. Thank you!

Nice tank!

If you like your current layout, then you could add additional live rock to your sump. If it is wet rock, you can place it in. But if it is dry rock, you will have to cycle it before putting it in the tank.

 

[BryanM]

Definitely a rinse if dusty, I don't add extra dust/clouds to my tank if I do not have to.

I get the islands idea, but you already stated fish are stressed, and you definitely need more rock, caves, swim lanes.

 

[Reef Jedi]

If it’s not live rock and it’s dry and dusty I would absolutely rinse and cycle it BEFORE adding it to your main display. If you don’t then it can cause a mini cycle depending on how much you put in - I advise to just avoid that whole mess. In an established tank, personally if you want to add more rock, I would get live rock so it’s a set and forget.

I too have a peninsula tank and I also wanted islands separating. I gave up on that idea about 6 months in and packed another 40lbs into it. Now I’m on a kick to raise the whole rock scape even higher in the tank and blast past the 1/3 rule by ordering another 40lbs of live rock. I have a hippo tang that is huge and has the big nice cave, others daring to enter get tossed out. So my goal is to create multiple big caves and give everyone a happier spot.

 

[twentyleagues]

I am with @Mr. Mojo Rising and @Reef Jedi the amount of rock you intend to add is inconsequential. Its not going to help much with anything better to leave it be. I am not great with paint but I took a few min to work up my idea. You dont need to follow it just giving you an idea of what may make a difference. I get the minimalist rockscape ideas its just hard to pull off and still have plenty of hiding spots. Take a look at @lbacha tank, I have followed the thread for a while and dont know if I forgot or what but the other day they posted a video and it really hit me how well the rock is set up. Its not the look you are going for but its a great example of how to create places for fish to go without looking like it. It could totally be used in a multiple island tank depending on fish size and tank size of course.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lbacha’s-310g-glasscages-sps-build.1043499/page-14#post-13954387 I think its post 271

 

[twentyleagues]

Also, depending on what kind of rock you are adding you may want to do what others have said. I like the idea of live rock but price and other factors I dont like. Using dry rock like Marco or others you may want to rinse it and even set up a tote and precycle it. I have added dry rock to running tanks in the past without issues, but I know some people have had issues doing so.

 

[MNscoe]

So much great insight thanks everyone!

Are the rocks dry white rocks? Then a quick rinse will do

They are dry purple CaribSea LifeRock, with whatever bio-friendly coating they have on them.

and you definitely need more rock, caves, swim lanes.

Yea, that’s my conclusion too. Thanks.

But if it is dry rock, you will have to cycle it before putting it in the tank.

I could cycle dry rock in my QT or a bucket, but I thought cycling was to build a bacterial base for processing nitrogen from fish waste. If I’ve got a cycled tank, how does adding non-cycled rock upset things?

So my goal is to create multiple big caves and give everyone a happier spot.

Yep, that’s what I’m learning is important. And I’m becoming resigned to adding quite a bit more rock. I guess it will be “hard scape 2.0”!

Take a look at @lbacha tank

That was a great video to see all the caves and crannies!. Thanks for taking time to sketch out a bigger overhaul that would materially improve my fish environment. I’m gonna rethink my approach to do a bigger revision…

Thanks all!

 

[Dom]

I could cycle dry rock in my QT or a bucket, but I thought cycling was to build a bacterial base for processing nitrogen from fish waste. If I’ve got a cycled tank, how does adding non-cycled rock upset things?

If it is dry rock, and you just toss it in the tank without cycling it, you will likely get a HUGE GHA outbreak.

I once purchased 2 pieces of dry rock (10 pounds each) and placed them right into my display. They exploded with GHA within a few days.

 

[MNscoe]

If it is dry rock, and you just toss it in the tank without cycling it, you will likely get a HUGE GHA outbreak.

I once purchased 2 pieces of dry rock (10 pounds each) and placed them right into my display. They exploded with GHA within a few days.

Whoa! I didn't realize this, and it kinda makes sense -- no established bacteria to resist GHA. It's this kind of straight plain feedback that is so dang valuable. Thanks!

 

[twentyleagues]

Whoa! I didn't realize this, and it kinda makes sense -- no established bacteria to resist GHA. It's this kind of straight plain feedback that is so dang valuable. Thanks!

I'm not saying that GHA isnt a possible and probable outcome, but I changed out an entire rock structure because the one I had in the tank was too tall. It never grew GHA just started to get coralline algae within a few weeks. Others have done the same. It was dry Marco rock. I probably dont have good pics of it but will look to see what I have.

 

[twentyleagues]

Feb 10 2024

April 20 2024

June 2024

You'll notice the lack of Euphyllia from April to June this is from my first encounter with BJD. I believe brought in by that really nice frogspawn in the middle......

 

[MNscoe]

I'm not saying that GHA isnt a possible and probable outcome, but I changed out an entire rock structure because the one I had in the tank was too tall. It never grew GHA just started to get coralline algae within a few weeks. Others have done the same. It was dry Marco rock. I probably dont have good pics of it but will look to see what I have.

I have my new dry rock cycling in a bucket with ammonia and Dr Tim’s One and Only. Water parameters seem to be stabilizing. Buteanwhile my DT is having a GHA outbreak as I’ve been fighting Cyano and Dino. Should I proceed with rock addition while fighting those and GHA or wait until DT gets “better”?

 

[twentyleagues]

I have my new dry rock cycling in a bucket with ammonia and Dr Tim’s One and Only. Water parameters seem to be stabilizing. Buteanwhile my DT is having a GHA outbreak as I’ve been fighting Cyano and Dino. Should I proceed with rock addition while fighting those and GHA or wait until DT gets “better”?

Could really do either. Putting it in now may cause a small decline in the available nutrients in the water column that may actually help in the short term with your algae outbreak. The algae could also use the new rock surface as more growth area. I dont think it would hurt either way tbh. Need a good cuc and some manual labor.