Risks of Using Live Rock

[livinlifeinBKK]

Hi everyone, after having a tank infected with Velvet that I ended up deconstructing, I'm ready to get a new one started but a little apprehensive. A shop I know just got some really nice pieces of live rock I'd like to buy but I'm worried about it possibly introducing Velvet or another parasite like it. I know there's a risk in everything, how risky is it to use live rock?

 

[T-J]

If their LR tanks aren't hooked into their fish tanks, you shouldn't have to worry about bringing fish diseases into your tank via LR.
Outside of that, it depends on what their LR really is: base rock that's been cured or rock that's from the ocean.
Base rock cured in a stand-alone system should be basically risk free.
Ocean rock can bring in a bunch of unwanted pests and algae's.
Base rock plumbed into other tanks can also bring in pests.

 

[Imaexpat2]

Just another note to maybe consider...even when I buy "real" live rock, I QT it for about a month before using it incase it came with some nasties I dont want in my tank. Its much easier to deal with those problems, if any, in a QT than it is your main display!

 

[CMMorgan]

Precisely! As the others have said.... not all live rock is the same. The plus of the live rock is the potential for biodiversity and sealife that comes with it. The risk is what hitchhikers may come along, like mantis shrimp or bristleworms. I think that @lmaexpat2 has the right idea.... bring it home, QT, remove hitchhikers and then go into the DT. Live rock can do wonders to speed up the cycle and add beauty with biofiltration. You just need to treat it like everything else that goes in the tank.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Wouldn't a couple weeks be sufficient to cure it? If that's too short I'll go with the month. I just set up a new 20 gallon tank which is only partway through it's cycle and I admit to being an excited newbie! Would it work to cure the live rock in my current tank since there's nothing but live sand in it right now?

 

[CMMorgan]

Wouldn't a couple weeks be sufficient to cure it? If that's too short I'll go with the month. I just set up a new 20 gallon tank which is only partway through it's cycle and I admit to being an excited newbie! Would it work to cure the live rock in my current tank since there's nothing but live sand in it right now?

Technically yes.... if you can resist the urge to start putting residents in the tank.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Technically yes.... if you can resist the urge to start putting residents in the tank.

I'll go that way then since I already have good a good power head, skimmer, and live sand in the new tank...I do have another tank I plan to use for QT in the future but right now it has no equipment or anything

 

[VermontReefs]

Hi everyone, after having a tank infected with Velvet that I ended up deconstructing, I'm ready to get a new one started but a little apprehensive. A shop I know just got some really nice pieces of live rock I'd like to buy but I'm worried about it possibly introducing Velvet or another parasite like it. I know there's a risk in everything, how risky is it to use live rock?

I dont know how long you've been in the hobby but we almost exclusively used genuine Live Rock for decades with tremendous success. The live rock of old originated from Figi,Manado etc and was wild. Wild rock is no longer available for conservation purposes so what we have now are large plots in the ocean where dry rock is dumped and allowed 2-3 years to grow in the ocean. The other option being "Dry Rock" which has a whole host of issues associated with it namely the fact that it has zero bio-diversity and it takes a year or more to become stable whereas with aqua-cultured LR from vendors such as KP Aquatics is loaded with beneficial bacteria, micro fauna and bio-diversity.

In my opinion, I would NEVER under any circumstances go with the "dry rock" method. The process of maturation with dry rock takes way to long and you inevitably deal with a host of algae issues on the path to maturation such as dino's, algae blooms etc. Not worth the cool shapes imo. New reefers today are using bottled chem's more than ever and that's because of the dry rock and it's lack of bacteria.

Moral of the story. Stick with the natural way sans the bottled chemicals. Spend the money on real aqua-cultured live rock and your reef will thank you. Yes, you may have a few unwanted critters but they are easily manageable with good husbandry. The old school way of using real live rock is the only way to reef in my honest opinion and the rock you are using is still sustainable. You'll be off and running in a matter of months vs years with dry rock.

 

[ScottB]

If you are buying live wet rock, it is already cured. Folks are suggesting you quarantine the rock to expose any potential threats of nuisance pests. Real live rock is completely worth the modest risk of nuisances. Unless you are super OCD about QT, you are going to get all of them eventually anyway.

 

[FLSharkvictim]

Hi everyone, after having a tank infected with Velvet that I ended up deconstructing, I'm ready to get a new one started but a little apprehensive. A shop I know just got some really nice pieces of live rock I'd like to buy but I'm worried about it possibly introducing Velvet or another parasite like it. I know there's a risk in everything, how risky is it to use live rock?

Just recurre it and you will be fine!!

 

[Sharkbait19]

I used live rock then put fish in two weeks later, and they all got velvet and died. I think that after you add live rock, you should go fallow for at least 45 days (76 for total eradication) before adding fish. Live rock can be quite risky in terms of the pests and diseases they bring in, although I do prefer the results that come from live rock over dry rock.

 

[FLSharkvictim]

Not in my reef tanks! I have been using Live rock for over 30 years and never had 1 issues!

 

[Sharkbait19]

I should probably also mention my live rock was from petco.....

You'll likely be fine if the rock is from a good source.

 

[ajm83]

If you are buying live wet rock, it is already cured. Folks are suggesting you quarantine the rock to expose any potential threats of nuisance pests. Real live rock is completely worth the modest risk of nuisances. Unless you are super OCD about QT, you are going to get all of them eventually anyway.

I don't think that's true personally. My nano tank used "premium indonesian liverock" and it came with caulerpa racemosa, vermetids and bobbit worms. All basically unbeatable pests.

I have never had any of those in any of my tanks started with dry rock. And I'm certainly not OCD about quarantining corals. All I do is cut off the frag plug and dip it in Revive then it goes in the display.

 

[ScottB]

I don't think that's true personally. My nano tank used "premium indonesian liverock" and it came with caulerpa racemosa, vermetids and bobbit worms. All basically unbeatable pests.

I have never had any of those in any of my tanks started with dry rock. And I'm certainly not OCD about quarantining corals. All I do is cut off the frag plug and dip it in Revive then it goes in the display.

Most of the older reefers here would pay an arm & leg for authentic live rock from Indonesia. Those were the good old days. A decade now since the export ban?

I hate vermetids, believe me. But they are not the end of the world. Here are some of mine.

 

[Kershaw]

I used live rock then put fish in two weeks later, and they all got velvet and died. I think that after you add live rock, you should go fallow for at least 45 days (76 for total eradication) before adding fish. Live rock can be quite risky in terms of the pests and diseases they bring in, although I do prefer the results that come from live rock over dry rock.

Those fish could also have been the source of velvet.

 

[blstravler]

Most of the older reefers here would pay an arm & leg for authentic live rock from Indonesia. Those were the good old days. A decade now since the export ban?

I hate vermetids, believe me. But they are not the end of the world. Here are some of mine.

Couldn't agree anymore. They were really the good ole' days!

It amazes me that with sources like TBS becoming available again how anyone would ever use dry rock again.

 

[Kershaw]

Couldn't agree anymore. They were really the good ole' days!

It amazes me that with sources like TBS becoming available again how anyone would ever use dry rock again.

Cost

 

[Sharkbait19]

Those fish could also have been the source of velvet.

That's absolutely true, although they did show signs of ich, velvet, brook, and flukes, so I would just have to imagine they weren't the source of all of it....

 

[ScottB]

Couldn't agree anymore. They were really the good ole' days!

It amazes me that with sources like TBS becoming available again how anyone would ever use dry rock again.

I tried ordering from KP and TBS a couple weeks ago but they were not taking orders. I ordered 20# from gulfliverock. The rock is pretty much as expected, although I was disappointed in the (free) FedEx ground shipping time. Five days.

So most of the critters/corals/algae/bivalves arrived dead, but I was really buying it for the bacteria and microfauna which are likely just fine. The rock was plenty moist and temperate on arrival.

It is in a vat with heat/flow/light for the next couple weeks.