Dry Rock Question

[JWHITESP88]

I have a IM 25 lagoon that was setup in 2021. I got as far as adding dr Tim’s to start the cycle, test the water a couple days and then life got in the way. No fish or coral was added and not sure the tank completely cycled. Water stayed in the tank probably 60 to 90 days before everything was broken down and moved to the attic. Here we are three years later and ready to start over. My question is, can I use the same rock from before, or do I need to buy new dry rock? If the answer is new rock, what would be the disadvantage of just buying live rock this time over dry rock. Thanks for the help.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I have a IM 25 lagoon that was setup in 2021. I got as far as adding dr Tim’s to start the cycle, test the water a couple days and then life got in the way. No fish or coral was added and not sure the tank completely cycled. Water stayed in the tank probably 60 to 90 days before everything was broken down and moved to the attic. Here we are three years later and ready to start over. My question is, can I use the same rock from before, or do I need to buy new dry rock? If the answer is new rock, what would be the disadvantage of just buying live rock this time over dry rock. Thanks for the help.

There is never a disadvantage to choosing live rock over dry. In fact it is recommended if it is within your budget.

 

[Midrats]

I'd buy live rock to skip the ugly stage. Don't listen to all the hitchhiker fear mongering.

 

[JWHITESP88]

Thank you @Sophie"s mom @Midrats for the reply. I have a LFS that sells live rock, is this rock ok or is live rock from somewhere else better?

 

[twentyleagues]

Either will work. I guess I am team dry rock. I have 2 tank set up at the moment on is set up with lr from the lfs I know not direct from the ocean but has all sorts of life on it has been in their system for years probably. I dug into the bottom of one of the bins.
The other is all dry rock.
The lr tank has/had bubble algae, aiptasia, tons of bristle worms(not an issue I dont mind them), fan worms hard shelled and a wierd soft shelled one that proliferates like crazy and will grow on anything including zoas almost strangling them, and a few other thing wanted and not.
Dry rock has what I put in and nothing else. No major issues as of yet. No issues with ultra low nutrients. A little cyano but handled with a water change. Only aipstasia was my fault when I transferred corals from the other tank to this one and didnt see them, even though I was looking really hard because of bubble algae.
There are draw backs to both.

 

[tzabor10]

Thank you @Sophie"s mom @Midrats for the reply. I have a LFS that sells live rock, is this rock ok or is live rock from somewhere else better?

Tampa Bay Saltwater sells the best live rock. But it will cost more than your LFS.

 

[twentyleagues]

There is never a disadvantage to choosing live rock over dry. In fact it is recommended if it is within your budget.

To answer your question about having to replace that rock, No you dont have to replace it just recycle it.

 

[TehBrainz]

I have a IM 25 lagoon that was setup in 2021. I got as far as adding dr Tim’s to start the cycle, test the water a couple days and then life got in the way. No fish or coral was added and not sure the tank completely cycled. Water stayed in the tank probably 60 to 90 days before everything was broken down and moved to the attic. Here we are three years later and ready to start over. My question is, can I use the same rock from before, or do I need to buy new dry rock? If the answer is new rock, what would be the disadvantage of just buying live rock this time over dry rock. Thanks for the help.

I've done almost exactly the same, but my reason was the rock in my 75 gallon didn't "work" with my aquascaping plans so I transferred some to the new tank and let some dry out. I've since pulled some back out and chiseled it up and put it in my new system and the main difference I've noticed is the color difference, but that only lasts a short while.

 

[JWHITESP88]

Thanks so much for all the opinions, sounds like it’s kind of up to me. I was just making sure if I used the dry rock from the old tank I didn’t need to do anything to it before i put it in the new tank.

 

[twentyleagues]

Thanks so much for all the opinions, sounds like it’s kind of up to me. I was just making sure if I used the dry rock from the old tank I didn’t need to do anything to it before i put it in the new tank.

Nope. Basically just start over.

 

[reef tank 2.0]

i did the same thing you have. I pressure washed my "now dry rock", let it dry in the sun, and put it back in the tank. Started the cycle process. I'll deal with the ugly phase and whatever else may come since using dry rock.

 

[Midrats]

I like KP Aquatics rock. The stuff at the fish store usually looks like it got picked up in the parking lot and thrown into a stock tank. I would use your old rock as the foundation to save a little money, then top up with live rock. If money isn't an issue, 100% live rock is the way.

 

[JWHITESP88]

i did the same thing you have. I pressure washed my "now dry rock", let it dry in the sun, and put it back in the tank. Started the cycle process. I'll deal with the ugly phase and whatever else may come since using dry rock.

Good luck, I’ll be following along and see how it goes for you.

 

[dochoot]

I’d recycle old and top off with good live rock. I did that with Tampa rock.

 

[JWHITESP88]

30lb of kp aquatic rock has been ordered. Looking forward to it.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Tampa Bay Saltwater sells the best live rock. But it will cost more than your LFS.

It is indeed excellent rock, but you do pay for it, and beyond cost of the rock itself, shipping, for me at least, was more that the rock, so I opted against it.

 

[Baby Damsel 219]

I bought an old dead rock that was used in an aquarium. It was way cheaper, $2.99 per lb.

 

[Spare time]

There is never a disadvantage to choosing live rock over dry. In fact it is recommended if it is within your budget.

That's simply not true. There are numerous disadvantages to live rock, primarily pests and unwanted algaes.

 

[Spare time]

I'd buy live rock to skip the ugly stage. Don't listen to all the hitchhiker fear mongering.

Fear mongering? Sounds like someone who hasn't had enough experience with live rock.

 

[JWHITESP88]

That's simply not true. There are numerous disadvantages to live rock, primarily pests and unwanted algaes.

Hopefully I haven't made a mistake. I guess only time will tell now. The live rock is already ordered.