Replace all existing rock

[jordanrb]

I want to change my rockscape completely. The current rocks are large chunks and won't work for what I want to do. Is it possible to break a small chunk off them to keep and toss the rest and add Aquaforest dry rock.

Is there any potential issues?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You cannot take out all your existing wet live rock and replace it with new dry rock. You need to cycle the new rocks in a seperate container first, so that you switch out live rock for live rock.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

But it might help to know the tank size and how much rock and how much livestock you have, that all weighs in too IMO

 

[jordanrb]

But it might help to know the tank size and how much rock and how much livestock you have, that all weighs in too IMO

Can I just add them to the tank to cycle or does it need to be in a separate container?

Its 20g with 18lbs of rock. I have a clown, firefish, gumdrop goby, green clown goby and a 6 line wrasse. A couple crabs and snails.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The rock is the established biofilter of your tank, its basically the most important part of the tank. I would not remove all the existing rock and replace all with completely dry rock in one shot, the result would be dead fish.

IMO you can safely switch out 20%-40% of rocks every month or so, but not all at once. Cycle the rocks in a seperate container if you want to do it in one shot. IMO. Good luck

 

[exnisstech]

I did something like this once in a Reefer 170 and it was one of the biggest mistake I made in the hobby. The new rock grew GHA non-stop. I battled it for over a year before I had to tear the tank down due to a seam failure. I even did a couple of rip cleans and it was still a mess. I never thought I would be happy to have a seam fail but I was ecstatic lol..

 

[jordanrb]

The rock is the established biofilter of your tank, its basically the most important part of the tank. I would not remove all the existing rock and replace all with completely dry rock in one shot, the result would be dead fish.

IMO you can safely switch out 20%-40% of rocks every month or so, but not all at once. Cycle the rocks in a seperate container if you want to do it in one shot. IMO. Good luck

When you say cycle in a container. Would I need to run a pump and everything or just put it in existing tank water and add a turbostart or soemthing?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

When you say cycle in a container. Would I need to run a pump and everything or just put it in existing tank water and add a turbostart or soemthing?

Thats right, you would need a powerhead, bacteria and ammonia. Then you need to test to make sure the new rocks can process ammonia before you add them to your tank. Exactly the same as if you were cycling a new tank.

Suggest to do a quick google of "the berlin filtration method", this explains in more detail how the rocks act as the biofilter.

 

[edd59]

break your existing rock up and reuse, no cycling needed.

 

[jordanrb]

Thats right, you would need a powerhead, bacteria and ammonia. Then you need to test to make sure the new rocks can process ammonia before you add them to your tank. Exactly the same as if you were cycling a new tank.

Suggest to do a quick google of "the berlin filtration method", this explains in more detail how the rocks act as the biodiversity.

Ok I will take a look.

Is just a powerhead sufficient to circulate?