In my FW tanks I've sometimes decided to just redo the whole tank's aquascape by removing all the rocks and then readding them. I have about 52 lbs or so of live rock in my 37g SW tank and I'm getting the itch to rearrange the rocks and possibly add more base rock. How sensitive is the bacteria and other fauna that lives in the rock to the air? Should I have a tub of water that I can place the rock into or is that not necessary? I take it I can leave the fish in the tank as I did with my FW setup. Also, if I were to toss my crushed coral (leftover from my old cichlid tank) and replace it with aragonite sand, would there be any cycle due to bacteria loss or is it like replacing the substrate in a FW tank where the bacteria generally colonizes other surfaces? The tank has been set up for about 5 months, FWIW.
Rearranging rock
- Thread starter beatle
- Start date
Hello beatle,
I'd have a tub of water ready to hold my live rock if I were you. That way you can take your time with removing the c.c. and replaicing it with sand. You might have a mini cycle but, if you can keep your ammonia under 1 ppm you shouldn't loose very much at all. It will be far better for the long term health of your tank.
Please, make sure that your rock is resting on glass that way you have a really stable base to build on. If you do decide to add more base rock it will also assist you with denitrification eventually.
There is some bacteria in your c.c. but, the lions share of denitrification is being done by your live rock. When you add the sand you will have far more surface area.
hth
Max
I'd have a tub of water ready to hold my live rock if I were you. That way you can take your time with removing the c.c. and replaicing it with sand. You might have a mini cycle but, if you can keep your ammonia under 1 ppm you shouldn't loose very much at all. It will be far better for the long term health of your tank.
Please, make sure that your rock is resting on glass that way you have a really stable base to build on. If you do decide to add more base rock it will also assist you with denitrification eventually.
There is some bacteria in your c.c. but, the lions share of denitrification is being done by your live rock. When you add the sand you will have far more surface area.
hth
Max