Rob.D
Moderator
Very true!
Hello all, new here a few questions
- Thread starter CoryC
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Very true!
Engloid
Valuable Member
Some dry rock is actually dug up from old reefs that are now buried. BRS calls it "reef saver"...others may not even tell you that's where it comes from. With it being buried for so long, it likely is full of phosphates and other crap that will leech out into your water. Also, since it is often so clean and white, it makes me suspect that it has been bleached. A while back, we did a group buy, and I got a bunch of snails. I noticed that their shells were all very white, as if they were bleached. I had an unusually high death rate with them in the next week or two, and then it stabled out. I suspect that many suppliers bleach them and, similar to cyanide used to catch some copperbands, it harms many of them. I now avoid snails that look bleached.
I have had pretty good luck with live rock, bought from individuals. The price is often less than dry rock from any other source. I have gotten it as cheap as $70 for 100lbs. Granted, I had to scrub some hair algae off of it, but that's well worth the savings. I scrubbed it in tap water, let it sit for a couple days and put it in the tank...not the optimal way to do it for those with small systems, especially)...but it worked fine and killed the hair algae.
Aiptasia? Well, I have a copperband and a filefish that keep my 220g virtually aiptasia free. There's probably a couple deep in the rocks that are clear from not getting light. I know there are some in sumps, so i know spores are in the system...but you would have to look for a while to find any in my tank. Therefore, I don't worry much about getting aiptasia on any live rock either.
BTW, I could probably stand about 30lbs of rock if anybody has some available.
I have had pretty good luck with live rock, bought from individuals. The price is often less than dry rock from any other source. I have gotten it as cheap as $70 for 100lbs. Granted, I had to scrub some hair algae off of it, but that's well worth the savings. I scrubbed it in tap water, let it sit for a couple days and put it in the tank...not the optimal way to do it for those with small systems, especially)...but it worked fine and killed the hair algae.
Aiptasia? Well, I have a copperband and a filefish that keep my 220g virtually aiptasia free. There's probably a couple deep in the rocks that are clear from not getting light. I know there are some in sumps, so i know spores are in the system...but you would have to look for a while to find any in my tank. Therefore, I don't worry much about getting aiptasia on any live rock either.
BTW, I could probably stand about 30lbs of rock if anybody has some available.
No real dog in this fight but there is a reason that reused live rock has algae and it is absorbed phosphates in the LR. Most hobbyists do not export phosphate which means every time they feed and do other things to their tank they are adding phosphates to their tiny volume of water. Much of it gets absorbed by the LR. This really doesn't happen in the ocean due to the huge volume of water diluting it as well as significant export mechanisms.
As far as dry LR not having "character", my 320 gallon had over 100 lbs. and the cube was exclusively dry LR. Pukani by BRS to be exact. I've not seen much LR that looks as good as that stuff. It is literally old tabling acro heads. I don't think it is terrestrial in origin either. They also have branch and table rock, dry. No crabs, shrimp, bad worms, etc. and I never had a problem with algae on it. Algae is usually husbandry-related IME but old LR doesn't help matters. Until next year...
Dave
As far as dry LR not having "character", my 320 gallon had over 100 lbs. and the cube was exclusively dry LR. Pukani by BRS to be exact. I've not seen much LR that looks as good as that stuff. It is literally old tabling acro heads. I don't think it is terrestrial in origin either. They also have branch and table rock, dry. No crabs, shrimp, bad worms, etc. and I never had a problem with algae on it. Algae is usually husbandry-related IME but old LR doesn't help matters. Until next year...
Dave
Dapple
Active Member
When I set up my dad's tank I used brs reef saver rock . He has a very minimal amount of algae. He did over feed . His routine has changed now. This was Dave's tank. It has 35 lbs. Of dry rock and 3 lbs of live rock from aquatic marine . If I remember correctly the tank has been running since late spring , early summer. The rock was all white when we got it.
CoryC
Valuable Member
I had such huge success and like the look of my rock so much ill probably go back to the same source for the rock for my next tank. I like the look, the pieces are frequently bigger and the biodiversity more developed, or so I've read. If anyone could leave some feedback here's some pics of my tank.
And at night.
And at night.
CoryC
Valuable Member
Haha I tore up the Black Friday sale at coral reef. I changed the bulbs to geisemann. Couple aqua blues couple actinic plus a pure actinic and a purple one. Hope I get some good growth if not ill do a single 150 watt halide.
Rob.D
Moderator
I had such huge success and like the look of my rock so much ill probably go back to the same source for the rock for my next tank. I like the look, the pieces are frequently bigger and the biodiversity more developed, or so I've read. If anyone could leave some feedback here's some pics of my tank.
And at night.
Looks awesome!!!!
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