"Live Rock" RELIVE!

[SnowManSnow]

Hey.. I've had my tank up for about 3 months now... I'm running a Remora Skimmer powered by a MJ1200 and nother MJ900 for current. I have recently put on a Coralife 2x65w fixture 1 actinic and 1 10k bulb.

I was wondering if my live rock would finally come to life haha... or is it a once dead always dead thing? Right now my tank looks a little like a moonscape. There are sparse blotches of things on the rocks... but nothing to write home about.

 

[Fatal Morgana]

Just wait. Keep the water parameter in good shape, and the genesis will begin.

 

[ChrisRD]

In general, I agree with FM, but IMO you should be seeing plenty of activity after 3 months.

Have you seen any worms, pods, etc.? Any coralline algae on the rocks?

 

[SnowManSnow]

Chris,
I've just added the light needed for things to grow I think. Up untill now it was simply NO Flourecent bulbs.. really just 1 24inch and 1 10 inch... so VERY LITTLE light. Now its REAL PURDY.

BTW>>> i have 1 Actinic and 1 10k (CP) WOuld it help coral and algeal (good algeal of course) growth to add a 50/50 instead of the 10k?

Just currious?

 

[SnowManSnow]

OOOORR i have an extra strip now... just a single strip NO Flourcent.. that I COULD throw in another 65w pc bulb to make it 195w on my 37gallon...

HMMMMMMM

THAT would make a big differnece in what I could keep wouldnt it?

Id be going from 3.2w / G to more like 5.2!

 

[blastermqn]

3months is still on the short end to get any good corralline growth because nitrites are still going to be jumpy.

Also, while this falls under the IHMO department, stop wasting time on the tubes unless you're willing to do it right.

Coralife 10k PC's are fair, but not amazing for growing stuff. They're OK for softies though. Never could grow much corralline under 10k Coralife PC's - they just seem to be devoid of the sprectrum the stuff likes while cheaper tubes seem to grow it fine {shrug}.

I stuck a 6500k 175watt MH on one of my 30gals a month ago, and I've got corralline growing everywhere.

 

[SnowManSnow]

The 1 Actinic and 1 10k pc bulb is all I can afford to "waste" time on right now

The 10k is just what came with the fixture got the actinic and the 10k + fixture with 2 fans installed for under $100

Not shabby in my estimation

 

[ChrisRD]

Snow, you're lighting is fine for certain stuff (as we talked about in another thread). If you've got other lighting you can throw-on it certainly wouldn't hurt.

IME coralline actually grows much faster in lower light conditions (ie. flourescent) than it does under halides. Just make sure your calcium levels are good and it should fill-in over time.

 

[SnowManSnow]

Thanks Chris.

I've actaully heard that... to the extent that some ppl use low light situations to starve out the bad stuff.

Have a good one!
B.

 

[cdeakle]

I was wondering if my live rock would finally come to life

Deifnatelty!! You will be amazed once the rock gets encrusted with coraline algae, feather dusters will pop up out of nowhere along with possibly some macro algaes and I have even been lucky enough to get a hitchhiker coral or two in my time.....

 

[SnowManSnow]

speaking of hitchhiker corals.. I think I have some sort of red soft coral on one now.... but I know its too small to photograph.. oooo wait.. I just bout close up lenses for my SLR digital camera.. I'll post a pic later.. although im sure it will be to small and early to tell

 

[supergiantrobot]

My live rock looked like nuclear winter during and immediately after my tank cycled. However, with some hungry snails, the rocks are looking quite colorful again.

I don't know if "life" is in the rocks as yet -- but at least it looks better. The snails are waging war with some brown algae at the moment, with the snails in the lead. But I do need to add some more species of snails.

I hope that coralline will start expanding shortly.