I'm living in egypt, cairo. The red sea is 2 hours trip with car. so do you think that going to pick some natural rocks from the red sea, putting them in a tank filled with water then putting them directly in my -still cycling- DT, is it a good idea?
Live rock directly from red sea
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I'm living in egypt, cairo. The red sea is 2 hours trip with car. so do you think that going to pick some natural rocks from the red sea, putting them in a tank filled with water then putting them directly in my -still cycling- DT, is it a good idea?
Chris Palm
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Hi Tony13. New here to reef2reef as well as the hobby, however, perhaps I can help you with your dilemma by sharing my experience with this. I live in Curacao, an island in the Caribbean, where collecting live rock is also not illegal. In the past I have setup nano tanks with live ocean water, live sand as well as live rock as the Caribbean sea is just 5-10 minutes away by car. My experience with live rock straight from the ocean is that it will definitely help your tank cycle. However, as all live rock, it will have to be cured because some of the organisms living on the rock in the ocean will not survive in your tank
Chris Palm
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Sorry, I clicked send without finishing my post. So basically, my insight is that it will help your tank cycle, however be sure that your live rock and tank are fully cycled before adding other live stock
Chris Palm
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Ow yeah, hipower is definitely 100% correct. You get a lot of hitchhikers. At some point I had two mantis shrimp, 1 decorator crab and a bunch of other crabs and snails in my 20 gallon DT
Dr. Phil
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I think you would be risking adding lots of unwanted creatures to your tank. I am sure that others with more experience will be able to give a little more insight on this topic though.
Although I know there would be unwanted life forms introduced, I myself would be so so tempted (if it were legal).
A true Red Sea biom might be worth the risk and hassle of dealing with initial pests. I don't think any experienced reefer might agree, but, think of all the other endemic and beneficial fauna.
I would be sure to collect off shore though, not a beach area where the nutrients were higher.
A true Red Sea biom might be worth the risk and hassle of dealing with initial pests. I don't think any experienced reefer might agree, but, think of all the other endemic and beneficial fauna.
I would be sure to collect off shore though, not a beach area where the nutrients were higher.
Rjramos
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Bring it home dry on the 2 hr drive back home, this will get a lot of unwanted hitchhikers out. When you get home, scrub all growth, sponges, tunicates, etc. off the surface with a stiff nylon brush. Rinse with fresh salt water and place in tank to cycle with protein skimmer. Do not use this rock in an already established tank, it must be completely cycled for at least 1 month.
nawilson89
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That's really cool. My moms side of my family is from Barbados and I always thought it would be cool to collect naturally there too. Wonder what kind of set up I can make there.
Chris Palm
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This my friend's reef, with (mostly) eveything being locally collected, just off the shore snorkeling. He does have 1 or two frags bought in the US.
Should you have your PADI, I guess you could do a lot more!
Should you have your PADI, I guess you could do a lot more!
maroun.c
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Are you sure it is legal?
if so it's just like any regular Live rock you would get but more fresh and with less die off so should have more life (good and bad) and be easier on the cycle.
if so it's just like any regular Live rock you would get but more fresh and with less die off so should have more life (good and bad) and be easier on the cycle.
TattoosandFrags
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i love my purple tang from the red sea 
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If you just want to jump start your cycle than a small piece won't hurt.
Or a cup of sand will do the trick too.
So question........... is the sea really red??
Or a cup of sand will do the trick too.
So question........... is the sea really red??
Randy Holmes-Farley
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If it is legal, I'd do it. There is some risk of pests, but also the potential for lots of interesting creatures.
When I set up my first tank, wild Florida rock was legal, and Tampa Bay Saltwater sent me a batch of fresh, uncured rock that had all kinds of great goodies on it.
When I set up my first tank, wild Florida rock was legal, and Tampa Bay Saltwater sent me a batch of fresh, uncured rock that had all kinds of great goodies on it.
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