Base Rock???

Sherry34 · 02/22/2007, 11:38 AM

Take a look at this website: http://www.marcorocks.com/default.asp

I am wondering if anyone here on Reef Central has ever purchased base rock from these guys before? Were you happy with what you received?

Also on their home page they have a little video playing that shows how to aquascape the rocks. I really like what they have done, but I am unsure of what they are using. Does anyone know? It looks like they may be using a thick acrylic or plexiglass base. What are they using for the rods?

Is the base rock actual fiji rock dried out? Would you recommend any special cleaning of it before I put it in the tank? I would be starting the tank from scratch so I could cycle right in the tank. And if I am understanding things correctly, I would then just put a couple of pieces of live rock and some live sand in the tank to help the cycling along faster? Is there anything else I would need to do other than wait for the cycling to finish?

virginiadiver69 · 02/22/2007, 11:43 AM

I don't know about Marco rocks but I am thinking of going with these guys. http://www.coralsplus.com/Base%20Rock.htm

Sherry34 · 02/22/2007, 11:45 AM

Thank you! I'll check them out.

drummereef · 02/22/2007, 12:08 PM

www.reeferrocks.com also has great base rock.

rcgates · 02/22/2007, 01:13 PM

Ask Michael Mato in the DIY threads, he's using rocks from Maco

rayjay · 02/24/2007, 01:27 PM

I don't understand why people buy "base rock".
The way I look at it, a given size of rock, lets say a football size piece, occupies the same space in your tank if it's a piece of quality rock or a piece of "base rock", but the base rock will displace more water, and being dense, will not provide near as much surface for beneficial bacteria. It will take more rock volume wise and weight wise, to provide the same beneficial bacterial filtration as "X" lbs of quality rock, leaving less room in the tank for corals and fish swimming room.
Using a hypothetical situation, take that foot ball size piece.
If you bought the piece in a quality grade, and paid, say $9 a lb and it weighed 3 lbs you paid $27 for it. The dense "base" rock the same size weighed 6 lbs but you only paid $3 a lb for it for a total of $18.
Buuttttt, because the base rock doesn't do the amount of filtration that the quality rock does, you have to buy more of it, perhaps half again as much by weight. Now, using base rock, you have paid as much as you would for quality rock, but now have have again as much space taken up in the tank because you need more of it.
Even though you are only using this rock for a foundation so to speak, it is still depriving your tank of room. Room for that tang to swim about, or room to put those extra corals you really want.
And what for? So you can buy rock cheaper but end up paying maybe the same amount for, and loose tank room to boot?
Never again in my tanks!

shag26272 · 02/24/2007, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rayjay
I don't understand why people buy "base rock".
The way I look at it, a given size of rock, lets say a football size piece, occupies the same space in your tank if it's a piece of quality rock or a piece of "base rock", but the base rock will displace more water, and being dense, will not provide near as much surface for beneficial bacteria. It will take more rock volume wise and weight wise, to provide the same beneficial bacterial filtration as "X" lbs of quality rock, leaving less room in the tank for corals and fish swimming room.
Using a hypothetical situation, take that foot ball size piece.
If you bought the piece in a quality grade, and paid, say $9 a lb and it weighed 3 lbs you paid $27 for it. The dense "base" rock the same size weighed 6 lbs but you only paid $3 a lb for it for a total of $18.
Buuttttt, because the base rock doesn't do the amount of filtration that the quality rock does, you have to buy more of it, perhaps half again as much by weight. Now, using base rock, you have paid as much as you would for quality rock, but now have have again as much space taken up in the tank because you need more of it.
Even though you are only using this rock for a foundation so to speak, it is still depriving your tank of room. Room for that tang to swim about, or room to put those extra corals you really want.
And what for? So you can buy rock cheaper but end up paying maybe the same amount for, and loose tank room to boot?
Never again in my tanks!

its not base rock for a foundation, its just dead dried out live rock, its the same rock, lighter and more porous in some cases

rayjay · 02/24/2007, 01:35 PM

Thanks for the explanation.
Around here, the only base rock we see is just dense heavy stuff that people don't want at the regular price so it gets sold off as base rock at a cheaper price.

t5Nitro · 02/24/2007, 02:03 PM

Anyone know if reeferrocks or marco rocks are light and porous by chance?

rayjay · 02/24/2007, 02:22 PM

Just another thing to mention when comparing weights of pieces.
ANY piece of live rock be it "dense" base rock or otherwise, is a lot lighter when dry than when wet.
Some, when buying dry base rock feel they are getting a reasonably light piece, end up a heavier piece when wet, so compare what you are buying with a piece of dry porous rock to be sure.
It can certainly be deceiving if you've only handled wet quality rock before.

nhlives · 02/24/2007, 07:37 PM

I have 100# of Marco Rock. Great stuff.

ugluk · 02/24/2007, 08:48 PM

I am just starting out so maybe my opinion doesnt bear as much weight as most here but in my short time doing saltwater the thing I am proudest of is finding marcos rocks. They look great and it was light as styrofoam til I put it in the tank and it sucked up a lot of water and weighed a ton. Incredibly pourous. When I get it live I will be selling off my base rock because it doesnt look nearly as good as my Marco rock. I just cant say enough about it.

02/22/2007, 11:38 AM	#1
Sherry34 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hannibal Posts: 752	Base Rock??? Take a look at this website: http://www.marcorocks.com/default.asp I am wondering if anyone here on Reef Central has ever purchased base rock from these guys before? Were you happy with what you received? Also on their home page they have a little video playing that shows how to aquascape the rocks. I really like what they have done, but I am unsure of what they are using. Does anyone know? It looks like they may be using a thick acrylic or plexiglass base. What are they using for the rods? Is the base rock actual fiji rock dried out? Would you recommend any special cleaning of it before I put it in the tank? I would be starting the tank from scratch so I could cycle right in the tank. And if I am understanding things correctly, I would then just put a couple of pieces of live rock and some live sand in the tank to help the cycling along faster? Is there anything else I would need to do other than wait for the cycling to finish? __________________ ~Sherry~ Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef Tank, 2 x 175w Metal Halides with 4 x 110w VHO's for some serious lighting! ASM G2 Skimmer w/HOB Overflow

02/22/2007, 11:43 AM	#2
virginiadiver69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Va. Posts: 4,400	I don't know about Marco rocks but I am thinking of going with these guys. http://www.coralsplus.com/Base%20Rock.htm __________________ Semi-aggressive mixed reef w/ shallow sand bed 96x30x27 310gal custom acrylic w/ ext. "fail safe" overflow 125gal sump/cryptic fuge w/ 6" DSB 3 400w Plus Rite 20k MH in Lumembrights 2 250w Plus Rite 20k MH in spider reflectors VHO actinic supplementation 2 Tunze wave boxes 2 Tunze 6060 in Tunze Rocks 2 Tunze 6125 Reeflo 250 skimmer Hammerhead return on OM 4 way Aqua controller lll Leviton power panel Deltec Eco-Cooler Randy's Two part 6.5 kw generator

02/22/2007, 11:45 AM	#3
Sherry34 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hannibal Posts: 752	Thank you! I'll check them out. __________________ ~Sherry~ Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef Tank, 2 x 175w Metal Halides with 4 x 110w VHO's for some serious lighting! ASM G2 Skimmer w/HOB Overflow

02/22/2007, 12:08 PM	#4
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	www.reeferrocks.com also has great base rock. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

02/24/2007, 01:27 PM	#6
rayjay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,969	I don't understand why people buy "base rock". The way I look at it, a given size of rock, lets say a football size piece, occupies the same space in your tank if it's a piece of quality rock or a piece of "base rock", but the base rock will displace more water, and being dense, will not provide near as much surface for beneficial bacteria. It will take more rock volume wise and weight wise, to provide the same beneficial bacterial filtration as "X" lbs of quality rock, leaving less room in the tank for corals and fish swimming room. Using a hypothetical situation, take that foot ball size piece. If you bought the piece in a quality grade, and paid, say $9 a lb and it weighed 3 lbs you paid $27 for it. The dense "base" rock the same size weighed 6 lbs but you only paid $3 a lb for it for a total of $18. Buuttttt, because the base rock doesn't do the amount of filtration that the quality rock does, you have to buy more of it, perhaps half again as much by weight. Now, using base rock, you have paid as much as you would for quality rock, but now have have again as much space taken up in the tank because you need more of it. Even though you are only using this rock for a foundation so to speak, it is still depriving your tank of room. Room for that tang to swim about, or room to put those extra corals you really want. And what for? So you can buy rock cheaper but end up paying maybe the same amount for, and loose tank room to boot? Never again in my tanks! __________________ Seahorses. Culture nanno, rotifers and brine shrimp. Current Tank Info: Seahorses

02/22/2007, 01:13 PM	#5
rcgates Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Coast CA Posts: 319	Ask Michael Mato in the DIY threads, he's using rocks from Maco

02/24/2007, 01:35 PM	#8
rayjay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,969	Thanks for the explanation. Around here, the only base rock we see is just dense heavy stuff that people don't want at the regular price so it gets sold off as base rock at a cheaper price. __________________ Seahorses. Culture nanno, rotifers and brine shrimp. Current Tank Info: Seahorses

02/24/2007, 02:03 PM	#9
t5Nitro Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,384	Anyone know if reeferrocks or marco rocks are light and porous by chance? __________________ ATI T5 club Current Tank Info: Left the hobby, looking to re-enter in the future

02/24/2007, 02:22 PM	#10
rayjay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,969	Just another thing to mention when comparing weights of pieces. ANY piece of live rock be it "dense" base rock or otherwise, is a lot lighter when dry than when wet. Some, when buying dry base rock feel they are getting a reasonably light piece, end up a heavier piece when wet, so compare what you are buying with a piece of dry porous rock to be sure. It can certainly be deceiving if you've only handled wet quality rock before. __________________ Seahorses. Culture nanno, rotifers and brine shrimp. Current Tank Info: Seahorses

02/24/2007, 07:37 PM	#11
nhlives Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 247	I have 100# of Marco Rock. Great stuff.

02/24/2007, 08:48 PM	#12
ugluk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: King of Prussia, Pa Posts: 336	I am just starting out so maybe my opinion doesnt bear as much weight as most here but in my short time doing saltwater the thing I am proudest of is finding marcos rocks. They look great and it was light as styrofoam til I put it in the tank and it sucked up a lot of water and weighed a ton. Incredibly pourous. When I get it live I will be selling off my base rock because it doesnt look nearly as good as my Marco rock. I just cant say enough about it.