First Dumb question
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- Thread starter KentuckyKenny
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ThePurple12
Valuable Member
That’s pretty dumb! Haha, no worries. 
Live rock is made up of dead coral, basically part of the reef. Coral is a living animal that encrusts onto the rock, dies off over time, and becomes part of the live rock.
Live rock is made up of dead coral, basically part of the reef. Coral is a living animal that encrusts onto the rock, dies off over time, and becomes part of the live rock.
CanuckReefer
Simple...Salt, Water, LR, Lighting and Flow.
Hi Kenny. The difference in my mind would be LR is like a functional living filter for your tank . Filled with little bugs, worms, all kinds of cool stuff, some of it made from the skeleton of dead coral. Coral is actually alive itself in a different manner, relying on different organisms (zooathelae for some) symbiotically, light, (darkness for some), food in various forms, to assist it in staying that way.
Someone else will have their own interpretation, which is likely more in depth.
Welcome to the board!
Sebastiancrab
2500 Club Member
No question is too dumb. I learn something here almost every day! Welcome to the gang from Nashville!
CMMorgan
Counting my blessings...
Welcome to the fishy family, @KentuckyKenny! There are no dumb questions.
A live rock as described above is a vessel for nitrifying bacteria and a vital component of your reef tank filtration.
Your sump provides mechanical nd in some cases chemical filtration, whereas the live rock is biological filtration.
Live rick may be made out of dead coral, old calcified rock dug out of the earth when canals were dug or in the case with Florida... quarries were dug in land that was once under water. (pretty much the whole state.) There are also artificially made live rocks.
You did not ask but the thing that makes live rock different from dry rock is simply the live bacteria. You will see many posts referencing dry rock. This is simply a form of rock that becomes live by growing it's colony of nitrifying bacteria. It takes time. Aquacultured live rock is typically rock that is placed beneath the gulf of mexico (for example) to develop that bacteria and hopefully grow some coralline algae and become a host to inverts, algae and corals before it is harvested and sent to your tank.
Costs vary... cheapest being dry rock and most expensive being aquacultured. If you have a friend with an established tank, you may get them to do you a favor and throw some rock in their sump for you for a couple of months.
The coral may utilize live rock as a vessel to attach or seek protection. Likewise, sponges, algae, fish and inverts will use it in the same manner.
I hope this answers your question.... keep asking!! We are here to help!!
A live rock as described above is a vessel for nitrifying bacteria and a vital component of your reef tank filtration.
Your sump provides mechanical nd in some cases chemical filtration, whereas the live rock is biological filtration.
Live rick may be made out of dead coral, old calcified rock dug out of the earth when canals were dug or in the case with Florida... quarries were dug in land that was once under water. (pretty much the whole state.) There are also artificially made live rocks.
You did not ask but the thing that makes live rock different from dry rock is simply the live bacteria. You will see many posts referencing dry rock. This is simply a form of rock that becomes live by growing it's colony of nitrifying bacteria. It takes time. Aquacultured live rock is typically rock that is placed beneath the gulf of mexico (for example) to develop that bacteria and hopefully grow some coralline algae and become a host to inverts, algae and corals before it is harvested and sent to your tank.
Costs vary... cheapest being dry rock and most expensive being aquacultured. If you have a friend with an established tank, you may get them to do you a favor and throw some rock in their sump for you for a couple of months.
The coral may utilize live rock as a vessel to attach or seek protection. Likewise, sponges, algae, fish and inverts will use it in the same manner.
I hope this answers your question.... keep asking!! We are here to help!!
Sebastiancrab
2500 Club Member
Kenny, suggest you check out Bulk Reef Supply videos on Youtube. They cover an awesome amount of topics. Also, there are good articles here.
iMi
Well-Known Member
Stand on the floor and imagine you’re a coral. The floor is the live rock. Where your feet start is the coral
All kidding aside, welcome. If there is a place on the internet that will help you be successful, this is it. Welcome!
All kidding aside, welcome. If there is a place on the internet that will help you be successful, this is it. Welcome!
xxkenny90xx
2500 Club Member
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Rocks (dry, but similar to live rocks)
Coral
Coral
vetteguy53081
Well known Member and monster tank lover
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Coral will live without LR and LR is fine without Corals Live Rock is for filtration, corals are for display.
vetteguy53081
Well known Member and monster tank lover
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
RGB
Article Contributor
Tampa Bay Reef Keepers
West Palm Beach Reefer
Hospitality Award
Ocala Reef Club Member
305 Reef Club
Wisco Reefers
Midwest Reefer
Fish Medic
MAC of SW Florida
Rock Pool Reef Keepers
R2R Secret Santa 2023
My Tank Thread
My Aquarium Showcase
lelandmarine
Well-Known Member
WELCOME!
Here are some resources you may like
If you like to read
www.reef2reef.com
If you prefer video’s. This video series is “5 minute guide”, good info. BRS TV has lots of different series.
Here’s a getting the most out of Reef2Reef link
www.reef2reef.com
Here are some resources you may like
If you like to read
The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium
This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...
www.reef2reef.com
If you prefer video’s. This video series is “5 minute guide”, good info. BRS TV has lots of different series.
Here’s a getting the most out of Reef2Reef link
Tips for Getting the Most From the Reef2Reef Forum
Tips for Getting the Most From the Reef2Reef Forum Clown Triggerfish, Balistoides conspicillum. Photo is from the Reef2Reef archives, courtesy of @Darryl, ©2019, All Rights Reserved. If you're new to online discussion forums or just new to Reef2Reef, this article is for you. Much of the...
www.reef2reef.com
