Painted rocks??

[Lbannie]

I’ll be starting up a 90 gallon soon....waiting for my stand and canopy.
I need to get more rock for it and came across these “coraline” purple rocks. Is it worth it to spend a bit more on dry rocks that are purple?

20lbs. Purple Coraline Med/Lrg Dry Reef Base Rock, Lightweight, Porous, Live

This new base rock from Addictive Reef Keeping is professionally cleaned and dried to ensure no pesky hitchhikers, pests or algae are introduced into your saltwater aquarium. This dry rock is not m…

addictivereefkeeping.com

 

[Daddy-o]

I thought they were cool when I started reefing, now they look phony and I cant stand them.

 

[Lbannie]

I thought they were cool when I started reefing, now they look phony and I cant stand them.

Haha! That’s what I thought when I saw them, now that I’m ready to buy I’m having second thoughts....

 

[krash7172]

There are many options. Some don't look fake. All of my rock was man made when I started my tank. Now, it's closer to 50%. So much stuff covering everything that its all the same color. It's preference and what you want a new tank to look like IMO

 

[Lbannie]

There are many options. Some don't look fake. All of my rock was man made when I started my tank. Now, it's closer to 50%. So much stuff covering everything that its all the same color. It's preference and what you want a new tank to look like IMO

Thanks. I never thought choosing rocks would be so hard!! I was all set to go with reef cleaners rock, but they are out of stock and hes not sure when he will have any. Now I’m back to square one

 

[vetteguy53081]

Real reef rock will give you that purple and reef safe

 

[Lbannie]

Real reef rock will give you that purple and reef safe

Do you mean actual live rock? I’ve been looking into that but it’s so expensive. Don’t think I can swing it

 

[ScottR]

I thought they were cool when I started reefing, now they look phony and I cant stand them.

+1 Had a fellow reefer give me some. Hated the look. Had a weird smell. And they broke easily leaving the inner white parts visible, cancelling out the purple.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Do you mean actual live rock? I’ve been looking into that but it’s so expensive. Don’t think I can swing it

Carib sea real reef rock made of resin

 

[Greg P]

Coral Reef Eco-Friendly Rocks | Real Reef Rock

We offer eco-friendly reef rock grown in closed systems without impacting the ocean environment. We aim to provide the aquarist with a biologically active rock.

realreefrock.com

 

[sp1187]

make the scape. no live rock.

 

[krash7172]

Coral Reef Eco-Friendly Rocks | Real Reef Rock

We offer eco-friendly reef rock grown in closed systems without impacting the ocean environment. We aim to provide the aquarist with a biologically active rock.

realreefrock.com

I'm pretty sure that's what is in my tank.

 

[Backreefing]

As far as painted dry rock , the algae don’t care one bit as it covers it completely.
and IMO it’s just fake and tacky.
Just get some real dry rock scape it then with time it’s awesome. Probably cheaper to , BTW I’m really cheap

 

[rmurken]

There are many options. Some don't look fake. All of my rock was man made when I started my tank. Now, it's closer to 50%. So much stuff covering everything that its all the same color. It's preference and what you want a new tank to look like IMO

This would be my approach—go with your preference. It has taken me more than a year and some trial and error to see my first patches of pink coralline. But I thought it was kind of cool that patience paid off. But if you like the look of the painted stuff, why not?

 

[krash7172]

Can I get a coral ID pls? Saw this at lunch today and couldn't resist.

 

[Hemmdog]

Can I get a coral ID pls? Saw this at lunch today and couldn't resist.

;Vomit

 

[fishguy242]

imo live is always the best

 

[krash7172]

I did a remodel and it was all contracted. My first experience with a reef tank and built-in. (30+ years freshwater). In hindsight I would have done some things differently but the Real Reef Rock seems fine after 2-1/2 yrs.

 

[Hemmdog]

I did a lot of driving today to swap out some purple rocks I accidentally bought. I was trying to buy all dry Fiji rock, but accidentally bought some fakes that were real reef that had been in an established tank for a long time then dried. So I cleaned the first batch and got down to purple when cleaning. Drove back to the LFS and dig through the rock pile to find actual Fiji rock. It worked out to my advantage; the Fiji rock was a lot more rock vs. the same weight in real reef

Fake rock (real reef)

Legitimate Fiji rock

2nd picture: all four rocks are the exact same weight as the first two real reef rocks. Much more volume. It really shows how porous real Fiji rock is in comparison to man made alternatives. Both weigh 16.2 pounds. So much room for good bacteria to grow in those pores

 

[Lbannie]

Thanks everyone! I think I’m going to go with the dry base rock...white.... I’m hoping reef cleaners gets some back in stock but addictive reef keeping has good prices too.
Now if only my cabinet and canopy would get here!! At least my husband doesn’t care the empty tank is sitting in the living room!