LIVE ROCK or DEAD ROCK ?

[427HISS]

I realize everyone has their own opinions of the best way of having great bacteria in their reef tanks, so that being said, here's my questions.
But first some of my background.

I had several tanks back in the 90's which one was a beautiful 75g tank for several years. Later in the years we got into racing, bought a big boat and had other interests, but the deciding factor's for giving up the reef hobby was loosing control or the danged,...aptasia anemones !
and finally found the reason why 5 of our 6 awesome 6 & 10 year old clams were killed by a huge bristle worm. After that, my wife actually balled her eye's out and both of us agreed,.... that's it !

Well, after missing the beautiful hobby the last 2 years, we're getting back into it.

Getting good quality live rock from a local fish store or a out of state dealer is the key to starting a reef system. Live rock has it's has it's pro's and con's. Generally has a great amount of bacteria, can have some corals, good algae's, etc....but can also have bad critters and algae's, a lot of die off etc... You all know what I mean and we could talk all day about it.

We can get some that is so called, cured, but some bad guys can still take the ride and live.

I have no experience with bottled bacteria. Do any of you know anything about this or have actually used it with success ?

Any other advise ?

Tell me what worked well for you, how and why.

 

[huuta]

If I was to start over again,I would go all dead rocks.

 

[Dylan J.]

Well for the only down side of Live Rock I can see is that you have the chance of obtaining any unwanted pests.

I would recommend Dry Rock and just let it seed itself and to not rush things

 

[Rob&Gab]

dry rock.

 

[Rob&Gab]

brs has some nice dry rock. or you can dry your own rock out from live rock either or.

 

[JMSKI333]

I started my tank with all Premium Fiji live rock. It is awesome rock full of life, sponges and bacteria...but it was expensive. I ended up redoing my tank with dry rock and putting most of the Fiji rock in my sump. Why? I had a mantis shrimp hitch hiker that was apparently smarter then I was. He was responsible for the death of about 5 fish and I saw him only like 3 times but I could hear him when the lights were out.

Anyways, I moved any rock that looked like he might live in there into the sump. Since then, no mysterious fish deaths and my sump is exploding with filter feeders like sponges, sea squirts and feather dusters.

Long story short, if I was to do it all again, I would put all dry rock in my main display and just a few pieces of live rock (if any) in my sump to seed the dry rock. It will save you money and headaches. Using dry rock is pretty much the standard now for starting a new tank.

 

[Beradd]

im also getting back to into the hobby and went with my old dead rock I had stored away for 8 years in salt buckets...I bought a few pieces of live rock to seed it and its doing great 2 months later...altho the 3 pieces I put In brought me a few bristle worms and some hair algae I almost wish I hadn't put those in ....but I was hoping for some good bacteria and some instant amphs and cop's and some bio diversity. I would go dead rock, some clean bagged live sand and maybe some of the on the shelf bacteria boosters...or maybe some cheto algae from a trusted refugium. but for sure dead all the way ...no aptasia, bristleworms, mantis shrimp or other weird stuff that's a pain to get out once the reef scape is put together... not to mention the ability to drill and rod your reefscape together outside the aquarium if u want.

 

[Dalmatia]

Go with dry and make it "your" tank!!! Watch what goes in and you'll have a clean tank, very healthy and a lot less worries. Not hard to add bacteria or algae that's beneficial for your tank, just a little costly

 

[427HISS]

What do you guys think about the bottled bacteria & have you used it ?

 

[CKI]

The Reef Rock Store Love this place! Ordered all my rock from them, super fast shipping and got a about 15lb more than the 50lbs that i ordered.

 

[FL_Reefer]

I used Red Sea starter kit, worked like a charm. It's designed for a smaller tank but it got the process started and worked well. Also started with all dry rock, don't think I would do it any other way. I liked the dry rock cause you can take your time stacking and getting rock just how you want it before filling the tank with sand an water.

 

[427HISS]

The Reef Rock Store Love this place! Ordered all my rock from them, super fast shipping and got a about 15lb more than the 50lbs that i ordered.

I really like the rock with different shapes and all kinds of holes for bacteria and for frags to large corals to attach. FREE shipping if over 30lbs !
Sold ! lol

(I still need to call you bud)

 

[427HISS]

I used Red Sea starter kit, worked like a charm. It's designed for a smaller tank but it got the process started and worked well. Also started with all dry rock, don't think I would do it any other way. I liked the dry rock cause you can take your time stacking and getting rock just how you want it before filling the tank with sand an water.

How did the process go for you and the length of time it took for cycling ?
What is your tank size and what type and how many fish did you start with ?

 

[CKI]

I really like the rock with different shapes and all kinds of holes for bacteria and for frags to large corals to attach. FREE shipping if over 30lbs !
Sold ! lol

(I still need to call you bud)

You have my number. Welcome to call anytime!

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

 

[FL_Reefer]

How did the process go for you and the length of time it took for cycling ?
What is your tank size and what type and how many fish did you start with ?

I ran the tank for alittle over a month before I put anything in it. The size of the tank is 220g with a 40-50g sump with plans of a full on reef tank. We started with 5 green chromis. I just liked how the kit told you step by step on how to complete the cycle process. After all levels were up and then down I continued to use NoPox and still do everyday. Here's a pic almost a year later.

It doesn't look like there's many fish in the but there's about 20 or so small fish in there. We're more into the coral then anything.

 

[edsbeaker]

I liked the dry rock cause you can take your time stacking and getting rock just how you want it before filling the tank with sand an water.

This, IMO, is a huge benefit of starting with dry rock. There is also the ability of being able to use mortar and/or acrylic rods to make incredible looking cliffs, bridges, overhangs, etc.

I have used Dr. Tim's One and Only Live Nitrifying Bacteria Twice. The first time it worked like a charm in about a week, but the second time wasn't quite as successful. I guess it just depends on how alive the bacteria in the bottle really is??? This last time I just threw pure ammonia until my level was at 3 ppm, and let the tank just naturally cycle. Takes the longest, but if times not a factor, it seems to be the simplest way.

 

[427HISS]

Here's one of several video's with Mr. Saltwater Tank and Dr. Tim's bacteria. There's many others about bottled bacteria.

(I'm getting sick of now being able to copy & paste,....anything, but type this onto youtube and no response from a moderator

Anyway,.....)

Youtube-

Bacteria in a bottle: in snake oil worth trusting ?

 

[Eienna]

When I was first getting into the hobby, I used dry rock and Dr. Tim's. Worked well. Then I added live rock and it introduced aiptasia. I'm still fighting the doggone things.

With the bacteria, you have to check the expiration date and get it from a retailer that's careful not to leave it out in the sun or the cold. Other than that, it's terrific stuff (saved my fully-stocked FW tank during a horrible cycle bacteria die-off, as well!)

 

[427HISS]

Aiptasia's, crabs and bristle worms are exactly what I'm concerned about, as I dealt with my tank years ago, and don't want to this time. I'm setting up a quarantine tank not just for fish this time, but also for coral's that are attached to a rock !

Has there been any studies on what manufacture's bacteria works the best, or anyone here that has used several types/brands ?

 

[Eienna]

Aiptasia's, crabs and bristle worms are exactly what I'm concerned about, as I dealt with my tank years ago, and don't want to this time. I'm setting up a quarantine tank not just for fish this time, but also for coral's that are attached to a rock !

Has there been any studies on what manufacture's bacteria works the best, or anyone here that has used several types/brands ?

I've used ATM Colony, Instant Ocean Bio-Spira, and Dr. Tim's One and Only. Dr Tim's is the most expensive, but it is also the best product. Bio-Spira is a close second, but it does take longer to work (bad in an emergency situation.) If I were just starting and cycling with ammonia, I'd probably just go with the cheaper bio-spira. In an emergency or cycling with fish, Dr. Tim's all the way.

Both times I've tried colony, it has taken a while and was deficient in the nitrite-to-nitrate area. It also does not contain nitrospira (not sure I'm getting the name right) bacteria, shown to be the most effective ammonia nitrifier, while the other two do.