I'm tired of fighting all the detritus leeching from my rocks (and the associated algae), so I have decided to cook my rocks. I've been debating this for several weeks, but I think it is the best move in keeping with the long-term goals of my tank, even if it means some short-term inconvenience.
Some of you may also remember that I have to replace my tank because the seams are failing on my old one. Well, the new tank will be ready next week, and 1 week from today I am doing the switch out. To make things even more interesting, I will be out of town most of this week, limiting my ability to prepare for all of this.
So I want to get some advice about how to handle the switch, and in particular the Zeo dosing. If I were just removing the rocks, I would feel more comfortable about the biological filter in my tank staying intact, but with me replacing the tank as well, I am a little nervous. The bioload is pretty light - 3 chromis, a lawnmower blenny, and a CB angel. The dozen or so corals that I am keeping will stay in the tank on eggcrate shelves.
What I'm thinking is that I could remove 1/2 the rocks and start cooking them when I swap tanks. Then about 2 weeks later I would remove the rest of the rocks, and hopefully by that time some of the nitrifying bacteria will have started to colonize the new tank walls. I'm also throwing some sponge filters in the sump now to provide a place for the bacteria to colonize.
As for zeo dosing, I'm thinking that I would just stay the course, except maybe increase my Start dosage for a couple of weeks to help kickstart the nitrifying bacteria. My current dosage on my 130g net water volume tank is 5/5 bak and food twice a week and 1 ml start daily. I am 6 weeks in and did my first changeout 2 weeks ago. I also just started dosing AA's a few days ago, 5 drops every day.
Some of you may also remember that I have to replace my tank because the seams are failing on my old one. Well, the new tank will be ready next week, and 1 week from today I am doing the switch out. To make things even more interesting, I will be out of town most of this week, limiting my ability to prepare for all of this.
So I want to get some advice about how to handle the switch, and in particular the Zeo dosing. If I were just removing the rocks, I would feel more comfortable about the biological filter in my tank staying intact, but with me replacing the tank as well, I am a little nervous. The bioload is pretty light - 3 chromis, a lawnmower blenny, and a CB angel. The dozen or so corals that I am keeping will stay in the tank on eggcrate shelves.
What I'm thinking is that I could remove 1/2 the rocks and start cooking them when I swap tanks. Then about 2 weeks later I would remove the rest of the rocks, and hopefully by that time some of the nitrifying bacteria will have started to colonize the new tank walls. I'm also throwing some sponge filters in the sump now to provide a place for the bacteria to colonize.
As for zeo dosing, I'm thinking that I would just stay the course, except maybe increase my Start dosage for a couple of weeks to help kickstart the nitrifying bacteria. My current dosage on my 130g net water volume tank is 5/5 bak and food twice a week and 1 ml start daily. I am 6 weeks in and did my first changeout 2 weeks ago. I also just started dosing AA's a few days ago, 5 drops every day.
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