begginer question..live rock..

[mrcopitr]

When first starting a reef, can you place your live rock all at once...or do you include them gradually?????

...also is the Southdown sand brand available in Canada...and did some of you tried it in their DSB....from what I read it can be mutch cheaper than the normal carib sea brand...
Hoping to hear from you soon

Marco : images/smiles/icon_confused.gif

[Troy F]

Marco, go ahead and add all your liverock at once. Monitor your water and when readings are 0 for ammonia and nitrite your rock has cycled. If you have livestock in there then add it slowly.

Southdown is not available up here in Canada although it is available in the northeastern U.S.

[Dale D]

You can add it all at once or a little at a time, depending on the size of your wallet.

If you get fresh off the plane uncured live rock you will have to let it cure in your tank before you add any animals to the tank.

If you add alittle at a time you will have to add pieces slowly. If you add too much at once after the first addition, you could have the new rock cause an ammonia spike, which could kill off any animals you have already added to the tank.

HTH Dale

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

Don't know how much of this "experimental" sand you would like to venture, but silica sand (sandblasting sand) and domilite lime are other experimental sands -- and many reefers have used it successfully.

Southdown has the lowest risk and lime has the highest risk.

- Victor.