dead rock

Question
i just put in my 100 gallon tank that only has two damsels,80 pounds of dead rock.,what should i do i need help im new at this hobby and dont know wat to do? what should i do to treat the rock in my tank to make it good..n how do i know its good after?

Answer
Hello Heinz,.

It is usually a good idea to read and learn before actually doing, but you are not alone...

Live rock is just dead rock that has been in an aquarium or the ocean for a while...

IT has micro organisms inside it to help digest / process the ammonia and nitrites that are in the water from the fish and other critters..

For now, I would suggest letting things settle down.  Let the rock mature in the tank with your damsels, (btw, those damsels if they survive, will be super bossy  when it is all over, and you may wish you never got them)

Anyways, just let the rock and the tank mature, CYCLE, and test the water every other day.  Test for Ammonia, NITRITE, and NITRATE, and Salinity...


You should research and learn about cycling a saltwater tank during this process as this information will help you in maintaining your tank later on.


Good luck



Bill