Live rock or dry rock

[Amarker3297]

What is the difference between live rock and dry rock and what benefits do each have to growing coral also is live sand needed for reef growth and same for live rock is it needed for coral?

 

[SliceGolfer]

 

[krbnsol]

Looking back / my 2 cents--- I would have gone with dry rock in an attempt to avoid the hitchhikers. You don't have to use live sand either. Find the size of sand you like and be mindful that some will cause sandstorms in your tank.

The major benefits of using live rock / sand is to expedite the cycle but waiting for just a bit longer in the beginning will save some headaches chasing pests later.

 

[Amarker3297]

Looking back / my 2 cents--- I would have gone with dry rock in an attempt to avoid the hitchhikers. You don't have to use live sand either. Find the size of sand you like and be mindful that some will cause sandstorms in your tank.

The major benefits of using live rock / sand is to expedite the cycle but waiting for just a bit longer in the beginning will save some headaches chasing pests later.

So coral will still grow on dry or dead rock?

 

[Gareth elliott]

I like live rock, relying on several strains in a bottle to do what the ocean does; seems unnatural to me, but Live rock is hard to find these days and has gotten super expensive. So yes you can start with dry rock, and can have a gorgeous reef

 

[WVNed]

The major benefit to using live rock from the ocean is the microfauna that comes on it that is hard to get into the tank any other way. Yes it may contain pests. There are ways to manage them.
You can also buy live rock that is essentially created the same way you would in your tank from dead rock. It just saves you the time. It has always seemed to expensive to me.
Dead rock is just rock. You are starting from zero. I have never done this.

My last 2 tanks were done with half and half. using Tampa Bay Saltwater rock, Caribsea Life rock and Marco rock.

I have some stone crabs living in my sump that came on the rock.

They aren't this big
yet.

 

[Enzodog]

Dry, dead rock was my goal to prevent pests but the wait for cycling is so long! Excited for fish and corals! Missing all the sales!

 

[lapin]

Live rock Vs Dry rock

Pros and cons of each one what are your thoughts and what would you go for.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Gareth elliott]

Dry, dead rock was my goal to prevent pests but the wait for cycling is so long! Excited for fish and corals! Missing all the sales!

Ime they just advertise sales more this time of year, but there are always steals to be had that are about the same on livestock through out the year. They just spend less to let you know.
corals to get the biggest bang for your buck is buy in bulk. It’s expensive to buy a piece here or there. That $150 on 3 frags if waited till it was $300 could easily now be 12+ corals. My 2 cents anyway lol.

 

[crusso1993]

@Amarker3297 - you've already received some good input and I do not believe I can add anything. However, depending on which way you go, here is a really goid deal on some Life Rock.

All the best setting up your system!


Caribsea Life Rock, 40-Pound

 

[WVNed]

Here is live rock from the ocean, some from my 75 gallon tank and the CaribSea Life rock.
I used some of the CaribSea regular and the Caribsea shapes

Here it is in August when I put it up. You could tell which was which then.

You cant now.

 

[krbnsol]

So coral will still grow on dry or dead rock?

Sure will! You will find that you will either need to frag the coral and attach it to your rock or carve out a hole and place the coral and the frag plug into the hole. Depending on the coral it may grow over the plug and onto the rock.

 

[LadyTang2]

The major benefit to using live rock from the ocean is the microfauna that comes on it that is hard to get into the tank any other way. Yes it may contain pests. There are ways to manage them.
You can also buy live rock that is essentially created the same way you would in your tank from dead rock. It just saves you the time. It has always seemed to expensive to me.
Dead rock is just rock. You are starting from zero. I have never done this.

My last 2 tanks were done with half and half. using Tampa Bay Saltwater rock, Caribsea Life rock and Marco rock.

I have some stone crabs living in my sump that came on the rock.

They aren't this big
yet.

Ned did you ever notice that more algae grew on the rocks that were dry pieces originally? I've heard people say that even after curing together the pieces that were dry still have more issues, have you noticed this?

 

[lapin]

Because the dry rock has no coraline or any other stuff on its surface the first thing to grow will be algae. I think this is why people say they have more issues.

 

[WVNed]

My tanks have always had some live rock in them. You watch the dead rock grow stuff but in a few months all the rocks look the same in my tanks.