Setting up a new FOWLR- Where to get good rock?

mskvarenina · 01/17/2014, 09:33 PM

So after reading for a week I've decided to ditch the wet/dry and go with a Berlin sump and skimmer and LR in the tank.

I'm a bit scared as I'm not sure how I will treat an ill fish but I'm hopeful everyone will stay healthy.

So the next question is where to get the rock.

One online dealer sells just dry rock but he recommends 100 lbs of his rock and a few pieces of LR from a LFS. He says the organisms will migrate to the dry rock and mulitiply there. Do you agree?

And what about mail-order LR? I see alot of Fiji LR out there, what makes Fiji rock so good?

nlgill13 · 01/17/2014, 09:46 PM

IMO, I would set up a QT/hospital tank while your DT is cycling.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2195588

You have a couple of options with rock:

1) you can buy all LR, however this is pricey when talking about 100lbs.

2) you can buy all dry rock and seed the tank with some sand from an already established tank.

3) you can do a combination of the two. Some dry rock and some LR. The LR will/should seed the tank with beneficial bacteria to start a cycle. However if you are worried that there might not be enough bacteria in the LR you can always get a cup of sand from another tank.

Teddynola · 01/17/2014, 10:56 PM

If I ever start up a new tank, it's Real Rock, all the way. It's attractive and zero unwanted hitchhikers. It may be pricey, but so is trying to rid your tank of unwanted pests.

asudavew · 01/17/2014, 11:33 PM

http://www.reefrocks.net

Great rock and free sand ! Just pay shipping.

I've ordered 3 times. It's full of holes, easy to stack, and you can ask for specific sizes.

01/17/2014, 09:33 PM	#1
mskvarenina Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 286	Setting up a new FOWLR- Where to get good rock? So after reading for a week I've decided to ditch the wet/dry and go with a Berlin sump and skimmer and LR in the tank. I'm a bit scared as I'm not sure how I will treat an ill fish but I'm hopeful everyone will stay healthy. So the next question is where to get the rock. One online dealer sells just dry rock but he recommends 100 lbs of his rock and a few pieces of LR from a LFS. He says the organisms will migrate to the dry rock and mulitiply there. Do you agree? And what about mail-order LR? I see alot of Fiji LR out there, what makes Fiji rock so good?

01/17/2014, 09:46 PM	#2
nlgill13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boulder,CO Posts: 1,291	IMO, I would set up a QT/hospital tank while your DT is cycling. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2195588 You have a couple of options with rock: 1) you can buy all LR, however this is pricey when talking about 100lbs. 2) you can buy all dry rock and seed the tank with some sand from an already established tank. 3) you can do a combination of the two. Some dry rock and some LR. The LR will/should seed the tank with beneficial bacteria to start a cycle. However if you are worried that there might not be enough bacteria in the LR you can always get a cup of sand from another tank. __________________ 90G DT w/ 30G sump, 2 Apollo SolarBlast Dimmable LEDs, 160 Reef Octopus Extreme, Neptune Apex, Mag 7, MP10 & MP40

01/17/2014, 10:56 PM	#3
Teddynola pod wrangler Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 301	If I ever start up a new tank, it's Real Rock, all the way. It's attractive and zero unwanted hitchhikers. It may be pricey, but so is trying to rid your tank of unwanted pests. __________________ 75g Oceanic RR mixed reef in progress, 40b sump. Current Tank Info: Black occ pair, lawnmower blenny, scooter dragonette, yellow tang, male and female green mandarin, one spot foxface, flame hawkfish, fire shrimp, harlequin shrimp, skunk cleaner shrimp, harlequin starfish, with softies, sps, lps.

01/17/2014, 11:33 PM	#4
asudavew Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Angelo, Texas Posts: 1,010	http://www.reefrocks.net Great rock and free sand ! Just pay shipping. I've ordered 3 times. It's full of holes, easy to stack, and you can ask for specific sizes. __________________ Be nice. Current Tank Info: 180, 125, 75