FishProfiles.com Message Forums

what lighting does live rock need. is it sensitive to copper. do you really need it if you have 2 large HOBS

when cycling lighting is not needed at all, when you start to have fish and you have lights on then stuff will start to grow on live rocks

Live Rock itself does not need life, but there could be certain things on that would appreciate the lighting. You never know what type of good hithikers you may get.

With enough live rock, you don't really need a HOB filter. They are good if you want to run carbon and such, but not necessary for the most part.

The rock is not really sensitive to copper, but can absorb it and leach it back out in to the tank causing problems with inverts.



Dan

i think that im going to order the rock online and then can i cycle the tank with it.

Thats the best thing you can do.

How much are you planning to add? The more you have, the faster your tank will cycle.



Dan

im going to get about 45lbs to start with

If you are already running two HOB filters and they have biowheels, there is really no need for the LR. As they do the same thing. If you are not using biowheels, then the LR is the way to go. The LR will cut your demand down for other filters. So, if you go LR, then you can replace/do away with one or both of these filters.

As for cycling your tank with LR, yes it will do this. But keep in mind that your LR may not be fully cured if you are purchasing it online. Even though they advertise it as being cured, the shipping time will cause die off and thus uncuring it. As well, many of those online stores, actually drop ship. In other words, they don't keep it in stock, but order it directly as well, and just have their return addy placed on it, so it looks like they shipped it. So in the end, it may actually be uncured LR. The best suggestion if ordering online, or uncured LR, is a good skimmer, as this LR you get will release a lot of dead stuff into the water column. Thus, will actually cause an drastic increase in ammonia and such unless you have a way to get it out, such as a good skimmer. Don't get me wrong, I always order my LR direct, and uncured, as it always contains the best "goodies" on it, and you always get "surprise" hitchhikers on it. These are the best.

HTH.....

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...