Aquacultured Rock From KP Aquatics

[Maritimer]

Thanks for the reply.

I know others that bought about 5 boxes and loved it.

Did you happen to contact them about it?

I am currently between KP Aquatics and my LFS. I prefer to support my LFS and also pick out shapes I want. So we'll see what happens but I need to decide soon

I didn't contact them - it was the first rock I got for the first marine tank I'd started in a couple of decades. I had a "reef" back in the day, when folks were just starting to order airfreighted wild rock from Florida and a few other places. A friend and I went halvsies on a box from FL, and were pretty astonished by what fell off of it - which was much less than what was clinging to the KP stuff! Sadly, there's a whole era of reefkeeping that happened while I was raising kids, which I more or less missed out on.

~Bruce

 

[KJAG]

The user to whom I was replying (hart24601) was implying that the problems reefers commonly experience (poor SPS survival, dinos, etc) were all down to hobbyist skill. In this context, the skill of the aquarist is very important. Credentials mean a lot when someone is blaming poor tank conditions on inexperience. I also never hero-worshiped or applied any deity status to Mike Paletta. I merely stated that he shouldn't have any problems keeping saltwater aquariums because of his experience. You don't have to like how the "old guard" does things to at least acknowledge that they know how to keep successful saltwater aquariums.

It's possible that acid-washing the rock prevents some (or all) of these problems. I don't think anyone has really looked into that in great depth before. All I'm really focusing on in this thread is how adding live rock to a tank started with dry rock can help solve some of the problems we've been discussing. I don't mean to dissuade people from using dry rock, nor have I once said that you can't set up an aquarium successfully with dry rock. As I've stated nearly a dozen times now, plenty of people who start reef tanks with nothing but dry rock have no problems at all. But, others do.

As I'm not aware of this person's issues with his "12 months of issues with dry rock," I can't speculate as to why he had issues. Could be from any number of variables. That's why I posed the question " Did he acid dip his rock." Its simply not really a valid argument to say that since he's "not a noob," that he shouldn't have had issues with this type of media. There is (for the time being, in this thread, per that particular build) too little information to assert the argument that since someone knows how to keep successful saltwater aquariums that they can't run into issues. Especially when dealing with dry rock, which is one of the core topics of this thread, is it not? I don't have an opinion one way or another on a 40 year reefer vs someone with reef tanks for a couple years. I'm just not personally swayed one way or another by either's level of expertise when dealing with a potentially obscure topic such as possible negative issues associated with dry rock. I would counter the argument that no one has really looked into, at depth, the effects of acid dipping wild dry rock however. The p04 issues alone are well documented in many MA and LC dip threads on this forum.

 

[Genomecop]

Has anyone tried or heard of the 'Real Reef Rock' that Vivid sells? Seems like a great product.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

As I'm not aware of this person's issues with his "12 months of issues with dry rock," I can't speculate as to why he had issues. Could be from any number of variables. That's why I posed the question " Did he acid dip his rock." Its simply not really a valid argument to say that since he's "not a noob," that he shouldn't have had issues with this type of media. There is (for the time being, in this thread, per that particular build) too little information to assert the argument that since someone knows how to keep successful saltwater aquariums that they can't run into issues. Especially when dealing with dry rock, which is one of the core topics of this thread, is it not? I don't have an opinion one way or another on a 40 year reefer vs someone with reef tanks for a couple years. I'm just not personally swayed one way or another by either's level of expertise when dealing with a potentially obscure topic such as possible negative issues associated with dry rock. I would counter the argument that no one has really looked into, at depth, the effects of acid dipping wild dry rock however. The p04 issues alone are well documented in many MA and LC dip threads on this forum.

I'm not sure what your point is. I did not start this thread to discuss Mike Paletta or how well his hobby experience prepared him to deal with dry rock. I started this thread to discuss the effects of adding quality live rock to dry rock systems that have experienced long periods (at least one year) of problems that have become common in the hobby since people started using dry rock. Mike is simply a documented example of how adding quality live rock to a dry rock system can help with some of these issues.

 

[Copedog]

Any final advise/lessons learned on curing/cycling this rock Chip?

How did the transfer to the DT go?

My delivery from KP is on the way. Should be here tomorrow.

Thanks.

 

[shred5]

Any final advise/lessons learned on curing/cycling this rock Chip?

How did the transfer to the DT go?

My delivery from KP is on the way. Should be here tomorrow.

Thanks.

Make sure you post here with pics....

 

[Copedog]

My 10lbs (12 really) of KPA rock was delivered at 10:30 central yesterday. I received 5 nice pieces.

There were several dead crabs in the bag and the largest one was inside a hole in one of the rocks. All red mithrax I believe.

One lucky guy found some water in the corner of the bag. He is now in the tank, though I haven't seen him since I put him back in.

Overall, I couldn't be happier with the rock. Lots of color and life. I've played around a bit with scapeing and like this one the best so far.

Ammonia was up a little today, but not much. I changed out 5 gallons of water. I initially put RODI in this tank a couple weeks ago to leak test it and test my MP10 and heater. It clouded up after a few days so I just added the salt directly to the tank hoping it would kill whatever was blooming. No luck. Water was still cloudy even yesterday when I added the rock. Hopefully the rock will filter out whatever bacterial bloom is going on. It has cleared some in the 24 hrs since I added it.

I'll start a journal here at some point.

Scott

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Looking good @Copedog, looks very similar to the rock I received. Looks like it filled out the tank nicely too.

As far as how the rock is looking in my tank, things are going well. The tank rock has had quite a bit of nuisance algae growth on it, some of which may be bryopsis. I think part of the reason is because of how much nuisance algae already existed in my display, so a lot of nutrients were already present. I also cured the rocks with the light on. In retrospect, I probably should have cured with the lights off and given them a full month or so before putting them in the display. I was impatient though. If the nuisance algae doesn't die down in a week or so, I'm going to begin treatment with a fluconazole-based product, which I've read are ruthlessly efficient at treating nuisance algae/bryopsis issues.

As of right now, I haven't seen any new or improved growth on the corals. I think the tank is still getting used to the rock. So far though, there certainly haven't been any problems.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Hey all,
Great thread. While I'm not as experienced as some I've had a reef tank for many years and hopefully will again soon (waiting to close on a house). In my experience most live rock is just dry rock that reef outfitters have seeded or thrown in a tank with other rock they've managed to get coraline algae on. Is this KP shops claim that the rock comes from a reef? Havent looked them up yet but plan to since I'll be in the market soon. I've had good luck with both types, dry and live(live being previously mentioned from LFS, so not sure that counts?) when starting my tanks. I dont have an opinion but enjoyed the thread.
If I can pose a question, I had planned to cycle without lights, but if I go the true live rock route should I reconsider the lights?

 

[Maritimer]

KP placed dry rock on the bottom off the Florida keys years ago, and are now retrieving it on an as-needed basis. It's not centuries-old natural reef rock, but it's got plenty more than bacteria growing on it.

~Bruce

 

[shred5]

Hey all,
Great thread. While I'm not as experienced as some I've had a reef tank for many years and hopefully will again soon (waiting to close on a house). In my experience most live rock is just dry rock that reef outfitters have seeded or thrown in a tank with other rock they've managed to get coraline algae on. Is this KP shops claim that the rock comes from a reef? Havent looked them up yet but plan to since I'll be in the market soon. I've had good luck with both types, dry and live(live being previously mentioned from LFS, so not sure that counts?) when starting my tanks. I dont have an opinion but enjoyed the thread.
If I can pose a question, I had planned to cycle without lights, but if I go the true live rock route should I reconsider the lights?

It is aqua-cultured rock. Mined calcium carbonate rock dropped in the ocean. It is similiar to real live rock. It usually has more life than live rock we get now a days but is a little heavier. Most aqauculture rock is from leased land in the ocean around the keys.

Most live rock you see is not dead rock added to vats it is what is called boat rock. We used to get real fresh rock in the hobby but because of shipping costs rock is now shipped on boats. It is stripped of Scythian that can die off and shipped for days.

There are allot of places shipping aquacultured rock like Gulfview, Tampa Bay Saltwater and Kp Aquatics. Tampa bay actually ships their rock under water which gives you the least die off and most life. The disadvantage is you have to pick the rock up from the airport because it is the only economical way to ship that much weight.

 

[Tikosyn]

I also used KP aquatics for my live rock when I started my tank in February of this year. I got 150 lbs of dry rock from reefcleaners and 25lbs of live rock from KP to seed the tank. Couldn't be happier with my purchase. Tons of life, feather dusters, red mithrax crab, coralline. Most importantly they say on their website all of their live rock is 100% aiptasia free and it seems to be true for the rock I got, no aiptasia anywhere.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

@reacclimating 2 the hobby using terms like "live" and "aquacultured" is a bit misleading because of how retailers sometimes stretch the truth with their marketing. It's best to describe this rock as what it is: it's calcium carbonate rock from the land that has been dropped in the ocean. After a period of a few years, the rock becomes covered in ocean life. It's pulled straight from the ocean and sent to you. There is no comparison between this rock and the rock sold at your local fish store.

Tampa bay actually ships their rock under water which gives you the least die off and most life.

KP Aquatics will air-freight rock also. I didn't want to deal with the hassle of arranging pickup though. Plus, for smaller quantities, air freighting just ends up being way too expensive. For a smaller tank or for seeding a larger tank with some ocean rock, I think the overnight rock boxes offer the best compromise in terms of price, hassle and biodiversity.

 

[shred5]

@reacclimating 2 the hobby


KP Aquatics will air-freight rock also. I didn't want to deal with the hassle of arranging pickup though. Plus, for smaller quantities, air freighting just ends up being way too expensive. For a smaller tank or for seeding a larger tank with some ocean rock, I think the overnight rock boxes offer the best compromise in terms of price, hassle and biodiversity.

I think I said in a earlier post or another thread on KP Aquatics they airship rock too...
Yea it makes no sense for a few pounds.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Thanks everyone! I'm no expert by far, but this thread is a great read. Amazing to read the opinions of others and almost without arguments of who knows more or better. I've always started with dry rock, but think after reading experiences I may seed my tank this time around and see what happens. I'd be curious to hear more about the trapping of the pests and how that is accomplished if anyone has a good link or experience.

 

[shred5]

Thanks everyone! I'm no expert by far, but this thread is a great read. Amazing to read the opinions of others and almost without arguments of who knows more or better. I've always started with dry rock, but think after reading experiences I may seed my tank this time around and see what happens. I'd be curious to hear more about the trapping of the pests and how that is accomplished if anyone has a good link or experience.

I quarantine all my rock, plus it should be cured anyway and it this is the best way so you do not get die of fin the tank.... I put it in a vat with a heater and circulation pump and observe it. I also add a light so any coral or coraline algae survive. Most pest are easy to catch like crabs and mantis. There are traps out there or you can make one easy enough and put a small shrimp.. Honestly I have been in the hobby so long and mostly use live rock and barely have I ever had a pest and when I did not much came of it. most crabs and shrimp will be on the bottom of the box.

I love live rock because you get so many thing you wont find in dead rock or at your local fish store. I have some rock right now in a vat and I found two urchins I didn't know where in there. I had several corals but they were stressed to much and dint make it. My rock is bought local, they actually drive to Florida to pick up their aquacultured rock and drive it back. I have found fish, good crabs, snails, different macro algae, sponges, corals, cucumbers, etc on live rock.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

I'm waiting to close on a house and will be cycling/curing at the same time. Normally cycle lights off, but perhaps I will rethink that. I was under the impression that coralline algae could survive from ambient room light(think I heard that on a BRS tv episode), but if i'm going to allow ambient light, I might as well provide ample light. I'm sure nuisance algae can accumulate just as well from the ambience.

 

[shred5]

I'm waiting to close on a house and will be cycling/curing at the same time. Normally cycle lights off, but perhaps I will rethink that. I was under the impression that coralline algae could survive from ambient room light(think I heard that on a BRS tv episode), but if i'm going to allow ambient light, I might as well provide ample light. I'm sure nuisance algae can accumulate just as well from the ambience.

One thing about BRS is they do not sell live rock. Also BRS is in the business of selling stuff so sometimes their videos are self serving. Even though they like to point out everyone's else ideas are not scientific, opinion and anecdotal so are theirs. They do not their test in a controlled environment and allot are not long enough to tell long term effects. Do not get me wrong some of their videos are very good and informative.

That said their are different types of coralline algae and some love low light and some high light. While I am sure it can last a while it sometimes can take month or months to cycle rock depending what dies and how much is on it or how it is shipped. I am not sure if coralline algae can leave spores behind or not. al know is there is allot less coralline on rocks lower in my vats if any. I just order rock from someone that had no coralline because they do not light it. Only one rock has a little growing on it.

Corals wont last long or at all being stressed so light is important for them and I have had a decent amount on aquacultured rock.

 

[RichReef]

I am in the middle of planning a new build. I want to use mostly dry rock so I can do a really nice and solid aquascape. I mean I have some really nice pieces that would be a felony not to use. Rods, cement, drilled for frags, lifted off the bottom …….ect. I was planning on using just a few rocks from KP and a few from TBA to seed.

Is this a good plan? Will a handful of rock be enough?

 

[NY_Caveman]

I am in the middle of planning a new build. I want to use mostly dry rock so I can do a really nice and solid aquascape. I mean I have some really nice pieces that would be a felony not to use. Rods, cement, drilled for frags, lifted off the bottom …….ect. I was planning on using just a few rocks from KP and a few from TBA to seed.

Is this a good plan? Will a handful of rock be enough?

It is not a bad plan at all. It should help add biodiversity including coralline algae. I have read several people who have done this. I would just let the rock mature after cycling for awhile to get the full benefit from that live rock.