This Live Rock Is Really Live!

The Flying Turkey · Mar 26, 2014

I ordered 10 lbs of live rock from Gulfliverock.com to seed my 50 lbs of dry rock. It arrived today, and it has all kinds of growth on it. Nice purple coralline, and a bunch of stuff that I have no idea what it is.

I found these tiny little crabs that didn't survive the 2 day trip:

Here are some pics of the rock:

Anyone know what the red/orange colored stuff is on the side of this rock?

Anyone have any idea what the round green plants are? Should I keep them or pluck them off?

Another angle:

Attached to one of the rocks is this clam, sitting upside-down. Should I worry about him? He is definitely alive...

Another angle:

I am starting the cycle with this rock and I think there will be enough die-off to get it going. Should I toss those little crabs in the tank too?

Also, should I run the Jebao WP25 during the cycle or leave it off?

veselym · Mar 26, 2014

I wouldn't put those crabs in...the are not reef safe even if they were alive

Tahoe61 · Mar 26, 2014

The orange ID is sponge.
The green ID is Halimeda, a calcareous algae, it sucks up the calcium and does poorly in low calcium systems.
Yes run the power heads during the cycle.
You can throw the crabs in or leave them out, either or. You'll have enough die off to initiate the cycle.

EW_Fish · Mar 26, 2014

If thats what you found who knows what else is lurking inside the rock. Should of left it all dry. The whole purpose of dry rock so you don't add any hitchhickers

diver4life1992 · Mar 26, 2014

Nice live rock. I ordered from them just over a year ago and the rock I received looked very similar. A lot of the stuff died off after shipping, but there are still several small clams that are still alive. There is even some type of hard coral (I think) that survived.

The Flying Turkey · Mar 26, 2014

EW_Fish said:
The whole purpose of dry rock so you don't add any hitchhickers

That and I couldn't afford 55 lbs of all live rock! Dry rock was much cheaper.

The Flying Turkey · Mar 26, 2014

Tahoe61 said:
The orange ID is sponge.
The green ID is Halimeda, a calcareous algae, it sucks up the calcium and does poorly in low calcium systems.

thanks for the ID.
Should I be concerned about either?

The Flying Turkey · Mar 26, 2014

diver4life1992 said:
Nice live rock. I ordered from them just over a year ago and the rock I received looked very similar. A lot of the stuff died off after shipping, but there are still several small clams that are still alive. There is even some type of hard coral (I think) that survived.

Thanks.

Did yours have Halimeda? If it did, did you remove it? Any hitch hikers?

Tahoe61 · Mar 27, 2014

No both are fine. I think it's really nice rock. You'll have to keep an eye out for crabs that did make it through and predatory worms.

MrDJeep123 · Mar 27, 2014

Nothing is wrong with the Halimeda, why would you want NOT want to have it your system? It makes great decoration pieces, home for pods, and so forth so on. If you are starting the cycle, I doubt the clam will survive. Use the shell for decoration.

The Flying Turkey · Mar 27, 2014

MrDJeep123 said:
Nothing is wrong with the Halimeda, why would you want NOT want to have it your system? It makes great decoration pieces, home for pods, and so forth so on. If you are starting the cycle, I doubt the clam will survive. Use the shell for decoration.

Oh, I had no idea what Halimeda was, and I don't see pics of it in display tanks. But now that I know what it is I see that it is beneficial.

3dees · Mar 27, 2014

I bought 140 lbs. from them in August. I plucked off most of the Halimeda. the only hitch hikers I have found were two aiptasia, since removed. I also have sponge and a couple of clams that are still alive. my 120 gal. cycled in ten days. for the price of the rock and free shipping I am happy.

The Flying Turkey · Mar 27, 2014

3dees said:
I bought 140 lbs. from them in August. I plucked off most of the Halimeda. the only hitch hikers I have found were two aiptasia, since removed. I also have sponge and a couple of clams that are still alive. my 120 gal. cycled in ten days. for the price of the rock and free shipping I am happy.

If I were to pluck off some of the Halimeda, do you think I could save it and place it on the dry rock I have in my fuge?

3dees · Mar 27, 2014

I really don't know. I know it uses calcium and my tank runs a little low as it is. don't think any fish will eat it.

MrDJeep123 · Mar 27, 2014

The Flying Turkey said:
Oh, I had no idea what Halimeda was, and I don't see pics of it in display tanks. But now that I know what it is I see that it is beneficial.

Most people throw their stuff in the sump/refugium. There are some who do a very nice display refugium. I think it makes a tank look natural and probably makes a fish feel at home. In my observances, they are more apt in displaying natural behaviors than they do with just rock, sand, and water.

Here is some in my 29 bio that I recently transferred. I'm keeping the same principle in the new tank as well. I find beauty in the natural scape. I actually plan on adding more plants when my fishy budget gets replenished.

Here is a writeup, very informative. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/nftt/

skinz78 · Mar 27, 2014

Nice looking rock!

KillerKlownFish · Mar 28, 2014

7th photo over on the right zoom in. You may have some bubble algae

The Flying Turkey · Mar 28, 2014

KillerKlownFish said:
7th photo over on the right zoom in. You may have some bubble algae

Oh yeah, I noticed that last night.

The Flying Turkey · Mar 28, 2014

MrDJeep123 said:
Most people throw their stuff in the sump/refugium. There are some who do a very nice display refugium. I think it makes a tank look natural and probably makes a fish feel at home. In my observances, they are more apt in displaying natural behaviors than they do with just rock, sand, and water.

Here is some in my 29 bio that I recently transferred. I'm keeping the same principle in the new tank as well. I find beauty in the natural scape. I actually plan on adding more plants when my fishy budget gets replenished.

Here is a writeup, very informative. Halimeda: The Cactus Algae by Kirby Adams - Reefkeeping.com

thanks for the info. And nice tank!

Teddynola · Mar 28, 2014

My suggestion is to take the live rock out and pour a little cl u b soda into the holes in the rock. If not, three years from now, you may be tearing your tank down to try to get rid of the 3-4 ft eucinid worm. I was wondering why all of my zoas, mushrooms and acans were disappearing. Good luck!