live rock

[skip_16157]

If you buy cured live rock from your local fish store and it doesn't smell can you just put it into your tank?

Also, is it possible that it can raise you nitrates when you put it in your tank?

 

[OrionGirl]

We've bought cured live rock from our LFS frequently. Smell usually doesn't enter it...LR has an odor that I notice, my boyfriend doesn't. You can ask the LFS, and look for dying critters when you pick out your pieces. If it has some decaying organisms, it might raise the all parts of the nitrogen cycle, not just the nitrates.

 

[JustPhish]

Yes you can if it is cured. Uncured rock will have a definite unpleasant odor. Can't mistake it. Cured will have one as well, but it's a natural, ocean smell.

ANything you add to the tank which increases the bio load will also eventually increase nitrates. The key is to add slowly so the filtration has some time to catch up and you won't notice any spikes.

HTH

 

[slipknottin]

if you have nothing in your tank, you could add either directly...