From: pprior@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Paul A Prior)
Subject: Re: [M] Cowfish, live rock and beginners...
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 22:48:23 GMT

In article <1jpci3INNofl@fido.asd.sgi.com> davep@paladin.corp.sgi.com (David Packer) writes:
>In article <1993Jan22.155409.1881@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>, mhatz@nyx.cs.du.edu writes:
>> 
>> My reader goofed up my first post and I wanted to repost my questions; thanks
>> for the patience.
>> *********************************
>> After reading the story about the poor cowfish and the response that live rock
>> may cause a "parasitic siege" of sorts, my questions are?
>> 
>> 1)  What should you visually look for on live rock before you add it to 
>> reduce the chances of "bad things" being added to the tank?
>
>parasites are usually to small to see....but I would recommend scrubbing the 
>rock (I Use one of those big sink bristle brushes), as a first step. This 
>gets rid of a lot of dietrius(sp?) that's on the live rock that will just
>break down into ammonia anyway. Secondly, It's smart to wash the rock in 
>fresh water(dechlorinated). It shouldn't harm any of the algaes but, it
>will cause most parasites to either fall off the rock or die(due to the
>osmotic pressure).


I would, respectfully, disagree with the above.  We buy live rock becaus
it is just that, filled with lots of living critters.  By scrubbing and
washing in fresh water you are going to kill a lot (most) of them.  I
would doubt that you will kill even close to all of the parasites on
the rock (think of all the nooks and crannies)....  Additionally, why
even try?  This live rock came from nature.  Nature has parasites.  That
is just the way it is.  If you fish are healthy you should have no problems
with putting live rock in unless it has a lot of rotting matter which
will foul the tank.  For this reason it is best to "cure" the rock
first which basically means you wash/rinse it off with seawater first
and then allow it to sit for a week or two.



>
>> 
>> 2)  How dangerous is it to add live rock to existing tanks whether they are     
>> reefs already or non-reefs?
>> 
>
>After taking the steps above it should be o.k. to add the live rock. If you're
>first starting a reef tank. I would recommend doing this to all of the rock.
>It will reduce aggrivations later down the road. If you have a non-reef tank
>I probably wouldn't add in the rock.  NOTE: One thing about a reef system
>is that your trying to create a close resembelence of a natural habitat. When
>a reef matures it actually keeps a good balance of (Nitrates/Nitrites/Ammonnia).

It is generally best to add all of your live rock at one time to avoid
the ammonia spikes that come from adding fresh rock.  However, if you are
getting rock that is -definately- cured (like stuff that has been in a store
for a few weeks), then you can add it at will.  Beware of adding large
amounts of live rock when the tank is populated already because you can
poision the tank with ammonia from rotting material if it isn't cured.


>> 3)  What can be done to minimize the chance of parasitic attack when new rock
>> is added?
>> 
>

I wouldn't worry about it so much.


>
>> I am a newbie and will be setting up my first marine tank this weekend.  I live
>> in Colorado and the water has some serious copper problems.  I would like to
>> add live rock and go with inverts.  The exisiting tank is a friends 55 gallon,
>> It is a "sterile" environment ie nothing but fish and dead coral decorations.
>> It is populated by 1 damsel (I wanna trade it away) and a clown I will keep.
>> 
>> 4)  How can I get the copper out of the water and decorations/gravel that is
>> already in the tank?  Would it just be easier to trade away the 2 fish and
>> toss all the tank contents to start over with "virgin" materials?
>>
>
>Yes....Copper tends to stick inside corals, because of them being so 
>porous. It's really hard to take out...


The above is correct.  Copper once in a tank is usually there for
good.  You can try soaking all the corals and treating with a copper
remover, but I personally would not chance it.

I strongly recommend an RO unit for your water.  Not only will it
remove the copper, but will also remove nitrates, etc for filling
your tank and doing water changes.  My personal favorite is SpectraPure.


> 
>> 5)  One last question..I would like recommendations for a 55 gallon reef
>> population.  I would like all the fish to get along and hopefully be half
>> way sociable too.  I would like to add a shrimp or two, anemones and
>> corals.  Any suggestions would be very welcome.  I have 20 years of fresh
>> water experience and am on the edge of making the "big switch".
>> 
>
>1) Kole Tang / KEEPS the tank clean....


Kole Tangs are WONDERFUL!


>Hope...this helps you out.!!
>
>Dave

Same here.


-- 
--------pprior@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu----(614) 621-8240----------------
Paul A. Prior    Ban anchors, not reef tanks    Nuke Gay Whales for Jesus  
3rd year medical student 		        
The Ohio State U. College of Medicine   Tobacco Kills- Please don't smoke!
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