Adding Dry Rock to Established (I would say) Tank

[karoly0829]

Hi All,

So my tanks been running 3 months and everything is working really well. I didn't want to overload and buy too much rock but realize I want to add one smaller piece to just have some more structure for fish and a place to for some coral. Is it bad to add dry rock to an established tank? If not, I plan to rinse then soak with RODI water and then put in my tank. Thoughts? thanks

 

[dz6t]

Depends on what type of dry rock it is.
If it is a man made rock, I will suggest soak it in Kalkwasser solution over night then rinse it well before putting it in.

 

[karoly0829]

I haven't bought the small piece yet but thinking of some sort of Carib Sea Dry Rock or whatever my LFS has.

 

[TPhan]

Depends on what type of dry rock it is.
If it is a man made rock, I will suggest soak it in Kalkwasser solution over night then rinse it well before putting it in.

Could u explain the purpose of doing this?

 

[dz6t]

To remove phosphate and heavy metals on dry rock

 

[dz6t]

Sodium phosphate is used in cement as a setting aid. Manmade dry rock is made from cement, there will be sodium phosphate remaining on the surface.
kalkwasswer turns soluble phosphate into insoluble calcium phosphate.

 

[cablez]

I wish I had known this a month ago. I added a 10-ish lbs arch to my 30 gallons aquarium. And caused a super ugly phase again, with algae and slime lol. I assume from leeching phosphate

 

[Kymot]

Dong, would u just soak in the clear kalkwasser water or with the milky kalk solution?

 

[dz6t]

Dong, would u just soak in the clear kalkwasser water or with the milky kalk solution?

Clear solution.