Aquascaping with Real Reef Live Rock | timing?

[Apayson]

I recently bought 20 lbs of Real Reef Premium Live Rock for my first 13.5 gallon saltwater tank.

I love the process of building an NSA aquascape that I've seen on youtube...
But I noticed that the majority of people doing this over several weeks aren't using the real reef rock.

I checked out a few pieces of the rock out of the box & it seems bone dry... So does that mean it's not truly live rock?
In that case can I take as much time as I need to aquascape?

Lastly, should I rinse the structure I build before putting it in the tank?
would love some advice!

Thanks y'all

 

[polyppal]

The only 'real' live rock is the stuff they dump in the ocean for a few years and bring back up with years of CCA/Sponges/Critters etc on it. The wet synthetic stuff they sell at the pet store is a gimmick - its bacterial benefits from being wet are negligible unless its been in a tank for years and is covered in Coraline.

Yeah just let it dry and do your thing with aquascaping, then it will start to home bacteria when you cycle the tank

 

[REEFTIDE]

I recently bought 20 lbs of Real Reef Premium Live Rock for my first 13.5 gallon saltwater tank.

I love the process of building an NSA aquascape that I've seen on youtube...
But I noticed that the majority of people doing this over several weeks aren't using the real reef rock.

I checked out a few pieces of the rock out of the box & it seems bone dry... So does that mean it's not truly live rock?
In that case can I take as much time as I need to aquascape?

Lastly, should I rinse the structure I build before putting it in the tank?
would love some advice!

Thanks y'all

I believe there are spores put on the rock or pigment itself but it is not "true" live rock in the sense that we think of live rock