live rock

[angel1237]

i just added 25 lbs of live rock to my saltwater aquarium..i am just starting my first saltwater aquarium....i am trying to understand exactly what live rock is...and i am excited to think ma-bee i will see some life coming from it in a few weeks...will i..and if not why is it called live rock?

 

[noobofthereef]

"Live" refers to the bacteria growing on the rock that helps with the nitrogen cycle. They turn ammonia to nitrite, and nitrite to nitrate. Certainly live rock can have starfish and snails and stuff hitchhiking on it, but the live merely refers to the bacteria on it.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Live Rock is fossilized dead coral, in a nut shell. you should see stuff growing out of it soon, and maybe some critters coming out. Then you may also get some bad hitch hikers.
What Is Live Rock - Why Is It Used In Saltwater Aquariums?

 

[angel1237]

do i take out the bad hitch hikers and what might they be so i will know?

 

[noobofthereef]

Live rock isn't really fossilized dead coral...its literally a rock. Live is the bacteria on it. Not all live rock will actually have creatures in it. Such as mine, the only thing I could visibly see on there that was alive was just coralline. If you do see hitch hikers just ask on the forums for ID. Usually a "bad" one would be something that kills corals or other creatures (such as some crabs), or something that can be really annoying.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Live Rock Hitch Hikers

Q. What is live rock?
A. Live rock is pieces of dead coral skeletons which have been harvested from coral reef areas. In the wild, live rock harbors both flora and fauna as well as beneficial (biological) bacteria. In an aquarium, if properly cured, live rock will continue to house both flora, fauna and bacteria.
Everything You Want to Know About Aquarium Live Rock