Dry rock or live rock ?

[lil-adz]

dry rock:

Dry rock is simple rock that contains no organic matter. Slate,gravel are common base rocks, and these are simply used as decorative structures that also provide vital shelter. There really isn't much more to it dry rock is simply basic rocks that can be used in marine and freshwater aquariums.

live rock:

Live rock is porous rock, often made up of long-dead coral, that serves as a medium for the housing and reproducing of many tiny organisms, like copepods, that are a vital food source for many fish like butterfly fish, gobies, shrimp and others. Live rock also provides a solid, porous ground for corals and anemones. Because live rock often ships with deceased organisms already inside it, adding it to your tank can help raise the initial ammonia levels and promote the nitrite and nitrate cycle, which is essential to the proper maintenance of a saltwater aquarium.

so live rock contains all the basic tiny organisms some of us need and want in our aquariums and dry rock contains no organic matter at all but can?? dry rock form the same purpose as live rock and form those tiny critters i want ??

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[Reefing Madness]

Dry rock doenst contain any it when you start out, but becomes quite lively and teaming with organisms once its established. Yiu can does PODS in the tank to give it thise, and they will thrive in the dry just as they would with live rock. Dry rock just doesn't contain all the headache hitchhikers that live rock does. Dry rock is just as good.

 

[oscarinw]

So there are good advantages about dry rock. For sure. However, the same diversity that lives in the live stuff which may constitute a problem, can also contribute to a healthy reef. A diverse biomass means you will have a more natural food source for your inhabitants and will help you avoid one-species dominance.
For example, when you use dry rock of any kind you will eventually get a spore or sprout of one kind of algae. With no competitors for resources, this one species will explode. Whereas if you introduced 5 types of algae in live rock, they will compete, the weak will probably not do well but that will provide you an upper hand in fighting the strong kind. The same happens for all the inverts as well. If you introduce 1 or 2 species of detritivores you might not be able to further degrade some sort of bio by-product and favor a nitrate or phosphate situation in the long run. But if you have 30 species working in your tank, chances are better that these different organisms as a whole will take better care of the tank.
Of course, you run the obvious risk or introducing a non-wanted but with vigilance, manual removal and diligence, you should be able to tackle most of those problems.
Me, for example, I am currently fighting a battle with digitate hydroids. Nasty buggers BTW, but still appreciate the other 30 animals I can see roaming on my rocks...
Just my $0.02. I hope this helps you make an informed decision.

 

[Treefer32]

I acide washed and bleached my old rock and purchased dry rock from BRS for my new tank. It was 100% new rock. I got a couple rocks from buddies and dosed Prodibio bacteria booster and cycled my rocks in a garbage can then placed them in the sump and display. I've got quite a variety of algae. Green slime algae that took over half the tank.. (Actually looks good. it looks like green coraline.. Just a light coating on the rocks) and the other half the tank has a red / brown algae / diatoms coating it.

That's pretty diverse for using all dry rock.. brown /red stuff is stuff my tangs pick at all day... Eating it non stop... They love it... better than having Nori in my tank!

 

[Dalmatia]

Another thing, dry you'll go through a cycle and wet your pretty much ready.