live rock and sand not very live > ReefChat

Subject: live rock and sand not very live

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Copepod
Posts:2

11/12/2007 8:10 PM
Hello everyone, I started cycling my 55 gal soon to be reef tank about a week ago. Everything is going as planned and I am very happy to see my ammonia has dropped to zero and now my nitrites are spiking. The only concern I am having right now is that my live rock and live sand don't seem to be very live at all. This is my first setup and I thought that I did my research fairly well but I guess I didn't. As far as the sand is concerned, I bought what I'm told is Fiji live sand. It looks good to me. It looks like regular sand you would get at any beach. After reading more I discovered that real " live sand " will have " critters " in it. Critters like bristle worms and other things that are very small but live in the sand and eat algea and excess food. I do not see any activity in the sand so I think I am forced to get a detritivore kit to seed the sand. Does that sound right? Also, I pretty much have the same problem with the live rock I got. It is very colorful and I like that, but other than the color all I see is dead decaying life that was on it before it got shipped to me. Is this ok? I thought that the rock would have at least some life on it. Is there a way to seed the rock like I am going to do with the sand? Should I be worried that I got ripped off or something?

ReefChat Staff
Goby

Goby
Posts:119
North Central Texas

11/13/2007 9:50 AM
Have you tried looking for life using a magnifying glass? Try adding a little food to the tank, wait a few minutes, and then look with the magnifier. A good way to get a variety of these critters is to just buy a piece of liverock from several different sources and you are almost guaranteed to get the lifeforms you desire.

May you all be well and happy. 210 mixed reef with 90 gallon sump/fuge 22 gallon frag tank 20 gallon Mantis tank

ReefChat Staff
Goby

Goby
Posts:144

11/13/2007 1:38 PM
Also, check at night with a red lensed flashlight.. Lots of LR is 'cured' which means that the majority of life in it is bacteria- bacteria are what make live rock and sand 'live'. The fact that your ammonia is coming down means that bacteria are thriving and reproducing. Tom's suggestion is a good one, though- especially if you can get sand and rock from a local established tank and keep it submerged in water until it gets to your tank.

Copepod

Posts:1
Frisco, TX

11/26/2007 8:54 AM
Just a curious question, did you clean the rock with a soft bristled toothbrush or something similar when you first got it? Cleaning off the dead things will allow new life to pop up in those places. Sounds like you're on the right track, as these gentlemen stated, your beneficial bacteria are thriving. -- Jeff 210g reef w/100 fuge/sump 28g nano w/soapdish fuge

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