Live rock question
- Thread starter tone973
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Depends on the density of the rock and how much you want in the tank.... Anywhere from 1 to 2 pounds. Most people use to much rock and fill the tank too much not allowing for growth of coral.
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Rhino
Well-Known Member
Most people do two pounds per gallon. Though I say use 90% dead base rock and then seed it with 10% live rock. Personally I won't ever buy live rock again because of all the bad stuff that came in on mine.
KoleTang
Valuable Member
+1. I NEVER use live rock. It is basically like putting massive amounts of corals in your tank without dipping them. You will end up with pests. I seed the tank with Dr. Tim's Bacteria and the Coralline algae that comes in on frag plugs.
If your not as paranoid as me. Find a few pieces of nice live rock from a friend with a tank with no pests.
Rhino
Well-Known Member
Technically it's best to go all base rock to totally eliminate any chances of getting pests, most are to impatient to wait the extra week or two so they add live rock to speed up the cycle. If it were me I would use all base. Reefrocks.net is really cheap and great pieces.
thirdchild
Active Member
The 10% live rock or cured live rock would start the cycle AND/OR bacteria in a bottle stuff + ammonia too.
One quick comment though. There are different kinds of 'base rock' or 'dead rock'. Good dead rock is very porous has interesting shapes and feels lighter than it looks. Bad base rock is like a solid chunk of cement. When you get it, it might still have dried up dead stuff on it that you should clean off. I sorta wish I did a better job at it.
Bulkreefsupply, reefcleaners and marcorocks are places that have dead rock too.
One quick comment though. There are different kinds of 'base rock' or 'dead rock'. Good dead rock is very porous has interesting shapes and feels lighter than it looks. Bad base rock is like a solid chunk of cement. When you get it, it might still have dried up dead stuff on it that you should clean off. I sorta wish I did a better job at it.
Bulkreefsupply, reefcleaners and marcorocks are places that have dead rock too.
fyrfytr
Active Member
+1 on the dry rock. From everything that I can read that is my plan. Member in a local group is getting out of the salt hobby and is stlling his former live rock, now dry, for $1 a lb going to pick up what I need for my tank there and then get a piece of live rock or maybe even rubble since it is a lot cheaper, and seed my sand and rock with it.
Zack
Valuable Member
+2 on the dry rock, bulkreefsupply reefsaver rock is a great choice. Its is reef rock that has been mined out of the ground so you dont have to really clean it or anything! just a quick rinse and your good to go, its also fits together great, looks like on big piece/structure as oppose to a pile of rocks laying on top of each other
