Hi Everyone,
I'm just prepared to start my first reef aquarium (I used to have a fish only years ago) with a Red Sea Max 130D. Right now it's on back for two weeks. I live in Maryland, so if anyone has some MD specific answers (like live rock rock sources) that would be great!!
So here is my virginal lot of questions!!!
First off let me start by saying that my goal is to be take my time getting the tank setup before plunging into purchasing softies and the sort. I'd like to purchase the "most" live uncured live rock I can, with an eye toward aesthetics and porosity. That being said, after trolling through here for a few days, it seems like 40 lbs. of the Manado from Premium Aquatics might fit this bill. How does the Manado compare to other live rocks in terms of rare/unusual/diversity of life forms? I have read of this "super" live rock that has been aqua cultured in Florida and then sent in seawater to maximize life. While there are obvious advantages, I am partial to the look and porosity of the manado/fiji. Nonetheless, I'd still like to get as many "critters" with my rock as possible. I don't mind taking a long time to weed out the bad guys should they come too.
Either way, I'd really like to keep as much stuff alive on whatever live rock I end up ordering, which leads me to my second question...
As for cycling, I had an idea this morning. Given the fact that one of the stresses the lifeforms on the uncured live rock experience is a big nitrogen spike, would it make sense to try to "pseudo-cycle" the tank with something cheap and disposable like biobale and a shot of ammonia a few weeks before the arrival of the LR and then leave it in the main tank while the LR cures? That way the bacteria set up on the bio bale could mitigate the ammonia/nitrite shock to the rock. I haven't heard of anyone doing this, but it makes sense to me. Comments PLEASE!
Thanks everyone for all your future help and hopefully I'll be able to give back in the future!
I'm just prepared to start my first reef aquarium (I used to have a fish only years ago) with a Red Sea Max 130D. Right now it's on back for two weeks. I live in Maryland, so if anyone has some MD specific answers (like live rock rock sources) that would be great!!
So here is my virginal lot of questions!!!
First off let me start by saying that my goal is to be take my time getting the tank setup before plunging into purchasing softies and the sort. I'd like to purchase the "most" live uncured live rock I can, with an eye toward aesthetics and porosity. That being said, after trolling through here for a few days, it seems like 40 lbs. of the Manado from Premium Aquatics might fit this bill. How does the Manado compare to other live rocks in terms of rare/unusual/diversity of life forms? I have read of this "super" live rock that has been aqua cultured in Florida and then sent in seawater to maximize life. While there are obvious advantages, I am partial to the look and porosity of the manado/fiji. Nonetheless, I'd still like to get as many "critters" with my rock as possible. I don't mind taking a long time to weed out the bad guys should they come too.
Either way, I'd really like to keep as much stuff alive on whatever live rock I end up ordering, which leads me to my second question...
As for cycling, I had an idea this morning. Given the fact that one of the stresses the lifeforms on the uncured live rock experience is a big nitrogen spike, would it make sense to try to "pseudo-cycle" the tank with something cheap and disposable like biobale and a shot of ammonia a few weeks before the arrival of the LR and then leave it in the main tank while the LR cures? That way the bacteria set up on the bio bale could mitigate the ammonia/nitrite shock to the rock. I haven't heard of anyone doing this, but it makes sense to me. Comments PLEASE!
Thanks everyone for all your future help and hopefully I'll be able to give back in the future!