I want to change my rocks?! (1 Viewer)

[dayton]

29 bio cube, established 3 years. I want to replace about half of my rocks to look a little better on the aquascape. Will this most likely force a cycle? If so what if I put a couple current rocks in with the new ones?

I have mainly zoas,acans and a large frogspawn. Only sps is a new digi that has been there about a month.

 

[inigomontoya]

It could create a mini- cycle, more from the disturbed sandbed than the removal of the rocks themselves. I wouldn't stress about it too much, just add some Seachem stability in with the new rocks to handle any extra die-off or detritus that is stirred up (and do a water change after the rocks, before the stability).

 

[d2mini]

+1 Jeff.
It's the disturbance that may cause a mini cycle. Just be as careful as you can.

 

[bpb]

I'm in the process of replacing my sandbed. Which is even touchier than replacing rock. Just make sure your new rock is actually alive and you'll be fine. Run/replace carbon a bit extra and double hour water change regiment for a month. Shouldn't be a big deal. You might get a small algae bloom. I replaced half my live rock 6 months ago in my sps tank and saw a little cyano/red hair algae bloom for a month or two, but no big deal. As long as you're not getting ammonia for any extended periods of time you will be fine. The fact that you're changing your live rock at all will cause a response of some sort of response so be aware

 

[BlackSS]

I am adding / replacing some rock as well. I'm adding dry rock, so I acid washed and soaked in rodi for a week or so.
I'm going to put it in saltwater with some seed rock in a big tub for a month or so with a powerhead and heater before adding to my sps tank.