Live Rock?

[Ian14]

I am starting a 220 gallon tank mixed reef tank.

The tank is setup and it will begin cycling in a few days.

What do I do regarding substrate and rock? I can't afford to buy 600 dollars of "live rock". Does anyone have any suggestions of plausible alternatives?

I am brand new to reef keeping and saltwater aquariums in general.

Thanks!

[Sgt Jonny Cat]

Check out BRS reef saver dry rock....looks great with no hitch hikers. Get mostly that stuff, and a little live rock to seed the dry rock. That's what I would do....

As far as sand goes, I combined aragonite and live sand together....works well....

And remember.....nothing in this hoby is cheap!

[Ian14]

I am finding that out the hard way lol. How much rock would you suggest to fill the tank

[pyithar]

it depends on your aquascape. if you have too much rocks and not enough flow going through, there'll be dead spots and you'll have problem. one pound or maybe even a little less per gallon is fine if the rocks are porous imo.

[Ian14]

Does the reef saver have to be cured? I don't understand how that works

[pyithar]

if the rocks are dry, just rinse/clean them well and you could put them in the tank.

[Ian14]

Would I need a few "live rocks" to seed the rest?

[tkeracer619]

For them to become live with bacteria and safe for fish corals no, micro life yes.

To get good live rock at a good price these days is close to impossible.

Starting a tank with dry rock is a good idea but does take extra time for the tank to mature.

Check out marco rocks, personally I wouldn't go crazy on rock right now. You can always add more. Keep an eye out for someone local to you tearing down a nice tank and pick up some to add to the dry rock. Be weary of algae covered rocks, it's ok to walk away from someone elses problem.

http://www.marcorocks.com/wholesale/...contiguous-us/

As far as sand I would probably buy two 40lb bags of the "original grade" caribsea ocean direct sand.

A lot of people like tropic eden reefflakes as well.

Now may also be a good time for you to consider a QT tank so you can monitor what you bring in that is live and deal with it outside of your display. $50 now can really save you some cash in the long run.

[Ian14]

I have a ten gallon. Would that be suitable?

Also, how important is that micro life in the aquarium?

[gone fishin]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074

The link may be of some use to you. there are sections on rock and substrate along with numerous other topics. the link is at the top of the forum. Good luck

[Hitch08]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

As far as sand I would probably buy two 40lb bags of the "original grade" caribsea ocean direct sand.

What is the different between the "original grade" and "#1" and "#2"? Do the pieces get larger?

[BlackTip]

Originally Posted by Ian14

I am starting a 220 gallon tank mixed reef tank.

The tank is setup and it will begin cycling in a few days.

What do I do regarding substrate and rock?

Are you cycling before adding the rock and sand?

[mpderksen]

Originally Posted by BalckTip

Are you cycling before adding the rock and sand?

No such thing. "Cycling" is the process of growing bacteria level in the rocks and sand itself, not the water. Otherwise it's just a fancy bucket of water.
It all comes down to time vs. $. If you bought all live rock/sand, you have a shorter period of things stabilizing. I used all dry rock/sand and a single, quality cured rock. Took longer, but the result is the same. Regardless of your experience, there are 2 unavoidable facts in this hobby: patience and money. Lots of both.
Live rock with have various forms of life, both good and potentially bad. But bacteria grow at an exponential rate and just a few will populate even a large tank in a few months.
Like mentioned above, getting a QT now is important. With no fish, you can add your CUC once your ammonia and nitrite are zero. If you add snails etc. to the tank without QT, you then have to wait another 72 days or so for any potential Ich cysts to die (basically have a fallow tank). You can start the QT on your first fish at the same time, again for 72 days. Once that's over, the first fish go into the tank, and you purchase round 2 that goes into the QT. Rinse and repeat. Once your first lifeforms go into the tank, nothing else goes in without a holding period, even corals. At that rate, you get to put new stuff in your tank about 5 times each year. This is the most conservative way to do it.

[danil]

Originally Posted by Ian14

I have a ten gallon. Would that be suitable?

Also, how important is that micro life in the aquarium?

Hey Ian,
220 is not a joke It's great size for a reef tank and you'll be able to buy some awesome fish - option which isn't available for us with smaller tanks.
but... you have to be ready spent some $$$$. Nothing good in this hobby come cheap and we are here to help you out to save some money.
1. Get dry/dead/base/reefSaver rock. Same thing just a different name for it.
2. No need for live sand - just get dry pocket of good quality sand you like (color vise). I would recommend Caribbean pink but it's totally up to your taste.
Now to the process. You can cycle your tank with the rock and sand or cure them in separate "Brute" container. Downside of doing it in the tank? It could stink a bit . But if you cleaned your rock with acid or bleach it's not going to be so bad. Plus you can run some carbon it will help to take care of it.
Not all rocks are the same. I would get different type of it. Make yourself familiar with them and pick a few (types).
Think about aquascape! It's really important. Google for nice examples, get hummer, drills, fiber rods, electric ties, epoxy etc and make it happen . Make flats for corals and arches for your fish to swim etc.

It will take time but don't worry you'll thank yourself later .
GL

[danil]

Originally Posted by mpderksen

No such thing. "Cycling" is the process of growing bacteria level in the rocks and sand itself, not the water. Otherwise it's just a fancy bucket of water.
It all comes down to time vs. $. If you bought all live rock/sand, you have a shorter period of things stabilizing. I used all dry rock/sand and a single, quality cured rock. Took longer, but the result is the same. Regardless of your experience, there are 2 unavoidable facts in this hobby: patience and money. Lots of both.
Live rock with have various forms of life, both good and potentially bad. But bacteria grow at an exponential rate and just a few will populate even a large tank in a few months.
Like mentioned above, getting a QT now is important. With no fish, you can add your CUC once your ammonia and nitrite are zero. If you add snails etc. to the tank without QT, you then have to wait another 72 days or so for any potential Ich cysts to die (basically have a fallow tank). You can start the QT on your first fish at the same time, again for 72 days. Once that's over, the first fish go into the tank, and you purchase round 2 that goes into the QT. Rinse and repeat. Once your first lifeforms go into the tank, nothing else goes in without a holding period, even corals. At that rate, you get to put new stuff in your tank about 5 times each year. This is the most conservative way to do it.

Don't scare him with such high security regime... It's overkill. CUC are not Ich carrier and no need to quarantine them for 72 days. I would go to the Ich section of the forum and read about QT process etc.

[chueu]

Originally Posted by Ian14

I have a ten gallon. Would that be suitable?

Also, how important is that micro life in the aquarium?

Micro life is also one of the most fun experiences in my tank..

Watching all sorts of life crawl out. Multitudes of worms. A 4 inch bristle ive never seen, some small crabs, loads of feather duster worms, some snails, zoa hitchikers. All in my lil 30 gal..

Sometimes u do get pests but u deal with it as it comes, no biggie..

[Zer0.]

I just set up my first reef tank ( a 180) not long ago.

I found the best deal on dry rock to be the rock from reefcleaners.org I beileve this is the same rock sold by marco rocks and BRS but for a lower price.

I used only dry sand, which i went with caribasea speacial grade, I went with this sand as it was a little more course and I figured wouldnt blow around as much, and i didnt plan on keeping any fish that required finer sand (such as sand sifters or burrowing fish)

I seeded this rock and sand by adding just a few pieces of live rock from my LFS. I now have lots of micro critters running around; copods, amphipods, pinnaple sponges, various types of feather dusters, too name a few.

Hope this helps! Good luck on your new tank. Let us know how everything goes!

BTW, I cycled my tank THEN added the live rock after, my thought being I didnt want to kill any of the micro organisms with the initial ammonia spike from the starting the cycle.

[Ian14]

Thanks a whole lot guys! I appreciate.
Right now I am setting up the sump and will get it running in a few days. Just picked out the lights I am going with (Reef Breeders two 32w's)

Then I will order the live rock and sand. Trying to take one thing at a time

http://www.marcorocks.com/wholesale/...contiguous-us/

or

https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquariu...-free-shipping

I am in between these two right now.

I saw there was other types of the same type of rock (I think) on reef cleaners. Ones pillar or shelf shaped. Would it be a good idea to get some of those to help shape and set them up in my tank? I guess I will order about 150 pounds and then go from there.

[Ian14]

Also, what do you guys think about pukani rock?

[coralsnaked]

Lots of PO4 in most Pukani I prefer Tonga deep water base rock

[Blue spot]

Hi Ian . I have not long set up the same as you are planning. I had a few lessons on my thread which might interest you. Did lots of research about all types of rock substrate ect. But fell down on some basics nobody every thinks to mention. Might be useful ... Just look at everything I did and do the opposite. Lol.

[Ian14]

Originally Posted by Blue spot

Hi Ian . I have not long set up the same as you are planning. I had a few lessons on my thread which might interest you. Did lots of research about all types of rock substrate ect. But fell down on some basics nobody every thinks to mention. Might be useful ... Just look at everything I did and do the opposite. Lol.

I will check it out. Thank you

[Ian14]

Hey guys.. I emailed reef cleaners and they say their dry rock is already cured and cleaned?

[danil]

Originally Posted by Ian14

Hey guys.. I emailed reef cleaners and they say their dry rock is already cured and cleaned?

I wont buy it (the statement). If they are ready to go kind of rocks - they will sell it as live rock for a premium price. If you want you can ask them how did they cure and clean the rocks? And why after such long process they took them out and put them aside to collect dust and get dirty again? It has little sense to me.

[Ian14]

Originally Posted by danil

I wont buy it (the statement). If they are ready to go kind of rocks - they will sell it as live rock for a premium price. If you want you can ask them how did they cure and clean the rocks? And why after such long process they took them out and put them aside to collect dust and get dirty again? It has little sense to me.

True

https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquariu...-free-shipping

Cured or not cured that isn't a bad price and I might give them a try.