"growing" Live Rock From Base Rock

[Ahoy89]

First of all hey there, I've just accidently found this forum after looking about for advice and it seems like a very helpful place so hopefully I'll be able to get the help I'm looking for!

I've had my new nano running for 2 weeks, setting up and getting the water prepared. This week I'm buying my live rock but have a bit of a dilemma! I already have some very nice looking base rock in there set out how I would like it, now I could either buy a large amount of live rock and take some of my base rock out or buy a smaller amount of live rock, sit it on top of my base rock and wait for nature to take it's course
I would of course, prefer option two with it also being kinder to my bank account and I'm not in any rush to get this done but I don't want to be waiting a ridiculous amount of time with a fishless tank! Say if I was to buy a small amount of live rock 5kg or so, sat it on top of approx 15kg or base rock. How long would it take for the base rock to start getting life on it (I have a good powerhead running over them) and are there any additives I can put in the water to promote growth while there is currently no live stock in there.
Anyone got any stories on this? Would love to do it the DIY way for a bit of experience and to save money.

Thanks

 

[lyotim88]

maybe 6 months? i dont know about additives but you do have to feed the live rock

 

[seffieuk]

maybe 6 months? i dont know about additives but you do have to feed the live rock

It is possible to do as you suggest - the lr would seed the base rock and sand - however it will take a long time with only 5 kilos. Go for a bit more if you can also remember that if you plan to add corals then you will get more lr along with the coral

So, to the salty side and give us a few details of your plans and your tank - we all enjoy watching someones tank evolve

As soon as you have got your rock in, wait a few days and then start testing - first you will get an anmmonia spike, then a nitrite spike and then hey ho a nitrate spike - you will then do a big water change, test again and if nitrate below 10 be best 0 then the cuc can go in

Seffie x

 

[SkiFletch]

Yup, you CAN add base rock and live rock and have the BR turn into LR. I personally did it. From doing it myself let me say this. Stock SLOWLY. It does take at least 6 months, maybe even more like 12 for the old stuff to start becoming live. It's not an overnight transition. And if you stock too quickly and jack nutrients up too high, you can get some algae outbreaks. So be careful and go slow

 

[Ahoy89]

Thanks for the advice!
I've decided I'll be adding small amounts at a time while currently using my internal filter until I have enough live rock to depend entirely on it for filtration. Also this could work out well in the long run as there may be some colour variation if I'm buying from it different places.

 

[ben1987]

You could use LR rubble in an external filter with some phos remover if you can get your hands on one. This will mean you have some LR in quite heavy flow and phos remover to help prevent algae build ups.