Lace Rock?

We just started using Lace Rock about 20 lbs on a newly started 46 gallow bowfront tank which was started last April 4, 2009 (no fish yet - we'll wait at least a month before doing that). My question is that on the left side of the tank, when using the Hydrometer, the sg is extremely low while if you test the right side, the sg is too high. Repeating the test again shows the same result on the left side while on the right side, it fluctuates. We also have 10 lbs of live rock in the same tank. Haven't tested the other parameters yet so we'll see :-[. We have two bio-wheels and also a powerhead just so that we can get the water circulated. Any ideas?

 

Welcome, a hydrometer, is not very accurate or reliable, if you can, get yourself a refractometer, to take a more accurate reading...

 

Thanks Stingray. I have that one on order but hasn't arrived yet. In the meantime, what is the worst case scenario? Should we replace the lace rock and clean the whole tank or wait a couple more weeks?

 

Why would you want to clean the whole tank, if the lace rock which i am not familiar with is live rock, just leave it in there while it cycles, and let it cure...

 

lace rock is just dead dry rock if I'm not mistaken. It does not matter where you get your water sample from in a tank. it is water and it will allways balance itself out. Do you have good flow in the tank? If not I guess you could have a void but highly unlikly.

Just wait for the refractometer then calibrate it. You will be good to go then.

 

The 20 lbs lace rock is a dead/base rock. Aside from that, there is another 10 lbs of live rock that we're hoping would seed the lace rock.

 

It will seed the lace rock in time, as i say just let it cycle, you will know when its finished when ammonia and nitrites get back to 0ppm,

 

To Vegasfish and Stingray, thanks for all your help. I will wait for the refractometer to come in and will test again.

 

np good luck...