So my system has been up and running four about four months now. I'm already ready to (and preparing to) upgrade it. Going from a standard 29g to (most likely) a Red Sea Reefer 300 XL. Obviously this means more live rock, which isn't an issue. However, finally having plenty of space to play in...aquascape...I want to take the time and make something nice. So here's what I want to know...
- Am I able to use my existing live rock (currently in the tank) to scape with? And by scape, I mean chisel and break it up in order to create a "masterpiece".
- Will I be able to use other dry rock in addition to the live rock, or will it not bond together properly?
- How much time do I have to work with the live rock before I need to get it back into the water to prevent as much die-off as possible?
- What risks would I be taking by introducing new dry rock into my system in a large amount (i.e. 30 lbs.)? I'm not concerned about months of curing. This rock is dead...dead...dead. It has nothing on it to die-off, and will be properly rinsed first.
- If I cannot aquascape the way I would like to with my own live rock, could I scape with the dry rock, put it into the new system, and then just set my old live rock in the tank until the new scape is well established with good bacteria?
- I would like to get a Diamond Goby, or any other burrowing and sand sifting goby. Right now I have the ultra fine grain Oolite in my tank. Could/Should I switch it out for crushed coral, so that my (future) goby has the proper substrate needed for burrowing?