Pros vs Cons: Live Rock vs Dry Rock

[Timfish]

The pro's, assuming it's wild or a quality maricultured live rock shipped air freight to minimize dieoff:

Cryptic sponges, essential for recycling DOC, removing the hydrophilic stuff that promotes pathogenic shifts in coral microbiomes that can't be removed with skimmers or GAC.

Microbial stuff, that cannot be cultured, minimizes the uglies and allows fish and corals to be added almost immediately (been doing this since I read it in Delbeck and SPrung's "The Reef Aquarium" Vol 1 23 years ago). See AquaBiomics article

The con's

Ground shipment kills most stuff.

Majanos, oh wait! Those come from other aquarists! :/

Mantis Shrimp. Never enough to make a meal. Does take a little effort catching in QT

Red flat worms. Oh wait! Those come from other aquarists! :/

Aiptasia, takes a few minutes removing them with a flat blade screwdriver. Not coral or fish killers like BTAs though.

Gorilla crabs. Takes a little effort catching in QT.

Stuff with just nitrifying bacteria doesn't have all the microbial stuff that can't be cultured.

 

[Subsea]

I love the surprises that come in with uncured live rock.

To help with curating I use the “little people”

 

[Subsea]

The pro's, assuming it's wild or a quality maricultured live rock shipped air freight to minimize dieoff:

Cryptic sponges, essential for recycling DOC, removing the hydrophilic stuff that promotes pathogenic shifts in coral microbiomes that can't be removed with skimmers or GAC.

Microbial stuff, that cannot be cultured, minimizes the uglies and allows fish and corals to be added almost immediately (been doing this since I read it in Delbeck and SPrung's "The Reef Aquarium" Vol 1 23 years ago). See AquaBiomics article

The con's

Ground shipment kills most stuff.

Majanos, oh wait! Those come from other aquarists! :/

Mantis Shrimp. Never enough to make a meal. Does take a little effort catching in QT

Red flat worms. Oh wait! Those come from other aquarists! :/

Aiptasia, takes a few minutes removing them with a flat blade screwdriver. Not coral or fish killers like BTAs though.

Gorilla crabs. Takes a little effort catching in QT.

Stuff with just nitrifying bacteria doesn't have all the microbial stuff that can't be cultured.

Right on. I just did get some uncured diver collected Gulf of Mexico “real“ live rock.

 

[Auquanut]

I saw a BRS livestream (can't find it now) where Ryan was talking to a guy who did a biodiversity analysis of his new tank. Ryan's tank failed miserably. It's much like an ICP test, but geared toward the levels of good and bad microorganisms in the ecosystem compared to well established, healthy reef tanks. The audio was awful, but the content was compelling.

Basically what I got out of it is that while you can populate nitrifying bacteria with dry rock and bottled bacteria, it's not necessarily all of the different bacteria/microorganisms that makes for a healthy tank.

Ryan's guest (and I'm ashamed to say that I can't remember his name) recommended adding a piece of live rock from a trusted source to introduce biodiversity to a new tank. It was also suggested that adding corals to a younger tank may also help introduce a more diverse bacteria/microorganism population into the system.

I've always used at least some live rock when starting a tank, so I have no experience starting with strictly dry rock and bottled bac. To be honest, I've never even bought bottled bac, so can't give a comparison or give an opinion of which is better.

Just thought I'd throw this out there.

 

[Subsea]

@Timfish

I reread your post and realized you made a big joke about cons to uncured live rock.

I am glad you are recovering from all of the clients who lost systems during the Texas blizzard.

”Mantis Shrimp. Never enough to make a meal. Does take a little effort catching in QT”

Tim,
I am boiling crawfish & shrimp on Saturday afternoon. Come get you some.
Patrick

 

[Subsea]

on Saturday, when I buy crawfish & shrimp for cookout, I will also get one dozen of fresh live oysters. Two go in different reef tanks and ten makes a bodacious oyster cocktail.

 

[Anirban]

There are many pros and cons for starting a new aquarium with Live Rock or Dry Rock. Many people choose to setup their tank with both live and dry rock. So what do you think is best and what are the pros and cons of both of these options?

Ohhh David what have you done.;Dead
There will be blood everywhere