Adding live rock to established tank.

[BrunoL]

Heya,

I'm toying with the idea of asking my LFS to give/sell me a small sized chunk of live rock from their DT, something the size of a golf ball, to add to my own. The idea would be to diversify my own ecosystem with a bunch of micro/macro fauna that I undoubtably don't have in my own tank. I feel like the LFS's display is kind of secure in the way that any bad pests would have been grazed or otherwise removed already.

Has anyone attempted anything like this? Does this work the way I think it works or is it just a really bad idea overall?

 

[Cell]

Live ocean rock is best in this regard, but live rock from a mature system can also be very beneficial. Go for it.

 

[MnFish1]

Heya,

I'm toying with the idea of asking my LFS to give/sell me a small sized chunk of live rock from their DT, something the size of a golf ball, to add to my own. The idea would be to diversify my own ecosystem with a bunch of micro/macro fauna that I undoubtably don't have in my own tank. I feel like the LFS's display is kind of secure in the way that any bad pests would have been grazed or otherwise removed already.

Has anyone attempted anything like this? Does this work the way I think it works or is it just a really bad idea overall?

Curious, how big is your tank? Are you having a problem you're trying to solve? What is in your tank now?

I have bought live rock from an LFS because I liked its appearance - and it was bigger than a golfball -so - I don't see why you would necessarily have a problem, though any time you add something you risk adding an illness of sorts.

if your primary goal is increasing biodiversity - I'm not sure it will help, (I would bet that it will not). I.e. I don't think it works that way. There are a fair number of studies out there that suggest that in an established biome if you add more bacteria either the new bacteria will outcompete the old (unlikely with a small piece of rock), or the old bacteria will merely outcompete the new - but there is no net increase in biodiversity.

If you're adding rock to a new tank thats a different story. You could send a test to aquabiomics before you do it to see how 'diverse' your current tank is.

 

[BrunoL]

I'm from Europe, I reckon north sea live rock won't be any good here.

I have a Waterbox 20, I wanted to add a other isle for my Rhodactis to grow on, without it taking over the whole scape and though of just getting a small piece of LR from the LFS rather than possible some artificial dry rock. So no problem perse, just increasing the real estate for the Rhodactis that's outgrown it's 'plug'.

 

[Reeferbadness]

Adding live rock to your aquascape is always an option. Just be careful of our source - sometimes you'll get more than you thought with hitchhikers (aiptasia, etc)

 

[Uncle99]

Your supposed diversity would be a leap of faith.
Just normal additions would amount to the same.

I might add some pods though, but just once.

I might add some live phyto to fed what I have.

 

[BrunoL]

Suppose I can always add some artificial rock or some dry rock as well to create a small island.

 

[slingfox]

You could buy coral from that LFS and get some diversity that way too. If the display tanks are maintained very well then buying some live rock and putting it into your display or sump probably won't hurt.

 

[BrunoL]

I've bought a RBTA from them before, which came attached to an Astrae shell lol. My fish were bought there too.