Questions about live rock and cycling

[raidencmc]

I am cycling my tank. I bought 30lbs of live sand, about 10lbs of live rock(it was cured). The sand was the kind that is supposed to make your tank ready for fish immediately. It has been about 5 days so far. Everything reads good but the PH and the nitrate. PH 8.4 and the nitrate is 20. Ammonia 0, nitrite 0, SG 1.021, and alkalinty OK. First I want to know how to bring down the PH. I understand I need to do water changes to decrease the nitrate will that help the PH. My PH test kit says to do water changes to if the PH is low but makes no suggestions if it is high.

Next questions. I read someone mention that their live rock had come to life. http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69373

Is this what I should see. If so how soon and what exactly should I look for? I see to shells that look like hermit crab shells. One has not moved and the other appeared kind of close to one of the live rocks. I noticed the second one maybe an hour ago so it has not had enough time to see if it has moved.

I do see purplish red things growing that kind of look like tree's but it seems to be too soon to tell if they are getting bigger or staying the same. I saw a tunnel looking thing under the sand that I am sure is new.

Any advice or comments would be great.

[RENEGADE]

only 10lbs of LR?! how big is the tank?

[raidencmc]

I have a 30 gallon tank but it has 30 lbs of live sand

[dolfans1]

I would still add more live rock. Usually you'll want 1 - 2 lbs of live rock per gallon, depending on the type of rock.

As for pH, your pH is OK at 8.4. It's probably best not to mess with it too much. If it gets above 8.4, then you should consider bringing it down. 8.2 - 8.4 is the good range, and within the error of the test kits.

I would be more concerned about your SG. 1.021 is pretty low. Usually the lowest that you want to go is 1.022. 1.025 - 1.026 is what actual sea water is. I would slowly increase the SG by either adding small amount of a more concentrated salt water solution, or by topping off the tank for a while with SW instead of FW until the SG comes up.

[raidencmc]

In the event that I wanted to try to decrease my PH how would I go about doing it. As far as the salinity everything I have read including my hydrometer says that is where it should be so I am comfortable with that. I have seen many tanks that do not have Live rock in it. And I added a bit for looks more than anything. I bought the live sand so I did not need to meet a certain requirement of rock.

[DansMarineTank]

SG of 1.021 is tolorable by fish but they would be morte comfotable at the higher sg, if you have no other filter i would look to more live rock also another 20LB should suffice

[raidencmc]

I have a hob filter which I figured would be good enough, combined with the sand. I really don't wanna put a whole lotta rock in the tank. What would you do if you did not use rock.

[DansMarineTank]

A skimmer?

[Pinks]

yeyA, a skimmer