Marco Dried Rock- Experiences? - Page 2

happyclam · 08/22/2008, 03:35 PM

So everyone agrees the Bulk Reef Supplys Pukani & Shelf rock is just as good as Marco's, but with faster shipping? And that minimal LR (a couple piecs) is a sure- fire way that even a begginer could have success with, and promotes better circulation, thus preventing detritus build-up, leading to healthy SPS corals, and that you could still have a fair amount of fish in the tank? And GSMguy, you say that as long as I use the Zeovit system, I wouldn't need any LR at all (not that I would use this method, though I am curious)? Oh, and TulsaReefer, nice builld thread! The rock looks really cool! Do you have a pic with all the rock assembled in the tank? I didn't see any in your thread.

TulsaReefer · 08/22/2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by happyclam
...Oh, and TulsaReefer, nice builld thread! The rock looks really cool! Do you have a pic with all the rock assembled in the tank? I didn't see any in your thread.

No pics of rock in the tank yet, I'm still in the middle of setting it up. I'm having a tank moving party tomorrow and if all goes well I should have some pictures of the rock in the tank in the next few weeks. It's been slow going since I have to existing tanks that have to be moved first to make room for the new one, and then I have to move everything over to the new tank.

happyclam · 08/23/2008, 10:08 AM

I finally found XTM's build thread and WOW! Even though my tank doesn't have those dim., I hope it can turn out to be at least half as beautiful. So shallow sand bed for asthetics, a couple dried shelf rocks, and a protein skimmer should allow me to have a successful, sure-fire reef? Is there anything special I will need to dose to keep parameters in check (ie: would vodka become a nessessity with this set-up?)? BTW, I have a Tunze 9010 skimmer currently, do you think that'll work, or would I need a more powerful skimmer?

happyclam · 08/23/2008, 04:53 PM

Do you think the Tunze 9010 would be powerful enough for a 135 gal SPS tank with a couple dried shelf rocks, BB, & no fuge?

Bruno3047 · 08/23/2008, 07:55 PM

I bought 45 lbs. of Marco Rubble for my 60G rock wall and aquascape. This is what the final product looks like before adding water and sand:

The smaller pieces (1"-2") were used for the rock wall, the larger pieces (3") were glued together (silicone) to make the aquascape.

Still have about 6 or 7 lbs. of - 1"- 2" pieces left over that I'll use for mounting frags, etc.

You definitely get your money's worth with the Marco Rock. Using silicone to glue the dry rock together works very well.

bristle · 08/23/2008, 11:21 PM

I emailed him a week ago and no response yet.

RobynT · 08/24/2008, 03:57 AM

I bought a total of 90 lbs pukani rock from bulk reef supply and I was very pleased. It is so light and porous and has great character!
Another thing.........I soaked my rock in a bleach mixture 5% for a day first, expecting all sorts of gunk to come off and it never did. I don't know if they power wash their rock or what but there never was any old stuff that came off of the rock at all like others have written about when buying dry LR. I love my rock and highly recommend it!!

happyclam · 08/28/2008, 03:42 PM

Update- I got just got my Bulk Reef Supply Shelf Rock! So excited! Great shipping to- ordered on Monday, arrived today (Thursday). Really cool, one has a 3 x 1" "fish hole" in it. Although now for a few questions. Do I need to cure it in a separate vat, or can I just powerwash it off with a hose & then just directly stick it in the tank, and shouldn't really have a am. cycle? I have a fuge attached that has already been set-up for a couple months, and has seeded the main tank with about a million 1/8-1/4" clear worms, so I think it should come alive pretty quickly (I will also seed with cultures form Indo-Pacific Sea Farms). I just didn't want to get alot of amonia in the tank (as I only have the capacity to do a max 18 gal/week water change on my 165 total gal system).

Runfrumu · 08/28/2008, 05:13 PM

I ordered marco rock 8-14 and havent gotten it yet, though I'm in no big hurry since I'm cycling it in the garage for a month or so and then adding to an existing tank, I would like to have it soon so I can get it going and figure out where I'm going to add it to in the tank.

Looking at the site, I think they got the shipment in, so I'm hoping it comes sometime next week when I'm off work.

The first time I ordered it arrived within a week and wasnt very dirty at all, Good looking rock, lots of caves and such.

happyclam · 08/28/2008, 05:53 PM

Also, would I be fine placing rocks directly on the bottom? Whould I run the risk of the bottom cracking from a pointed rock w/ too much weight on it? Do you think if I washed off the rocks, I wouldn't have a ammonia cycle in the tank, or should I cycle it in a separate vat?

in_flight · 08/28/2008, 07:18 PM

i'm guessing my 200lb order from bulkreef is going to fill my 240g just fine, it does seem like you get a lot more rock

L98-Z · 08/28/2008, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yeldarbj
You might want to consider BulkReefSupply's Eco Pukani dry base rock. I received a small order from them to fill some holes and was surprised at how light and porous the rock was. For the weight I ordered, I received about 50% more rock than I expected because it was so light. It's great stuff, with great service and from an RC sponsor.

This is what I used, I bought over 180lbs of it, but split it with a friend. I'm a huge fan of their rock. Looks much better to me than much of the more "dense" rock I've seen else where.

happyclam · 08/29/2008, 04:07 PM

anyone have any ideas if the rock would add ammonia to my water even if it is washed off?

TulsaReefer · 08/29/2008, 04:13 PM

If it has any organic matter that will decompose it will add ammonia as part of the decomposition process. A couple of my rocks were really clean, a couple had a little dried algae way down inside that I tried to pick out but couldn't get it all. So I've put mine in a large tub out on my back porch and will let it soak for a while to be safe. I'll check for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate after a week or so and if there isn't any then it's good, if there is I'll change out the water and give it some more time. There's really no way to know for sure since every rock could be different. Some may be really clean, I know the shelf rocks I got were as clean as they could be, the Pukani with all the cracks and crevices could have stuff down in it you might not be able to see.

Bruno3047 · 08/29/2008, 04:42 PM

This is my Marco Rock Wall/Aquascape "cooking" in my 60G in natural seawater.

The process just started and the rocks were not prepped in any way before this. The tank is now covered with black hefty bags to eradicate algae growth. I'm hoping that the seawater will provide the necessary bacteria to cycle/cure/cook the rock. The rocks did not appear to be overly filthy with dead matter, but Iâ€™m sure there is enough to cause a significant cycle.

From what Iâ€™ve read, in a few days this tank should reek from the dead/decaying stuff on the rock. The thread for this build can be found here:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1449401

I'll be updating that thread regularly in the next few weeks with news as the cooking progresses.

08/28/2008, 05:13 PM	#34
Runfrumu Hi Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NC Posts: 1,014	I ordered marco rock 8-14 and havent gotten it yet, though I'm in no big hurry since I'm cycling it in the garage for a month or so and then adding to an existing tank, I would like to have it soon so I can get it going and figure out where I'm going to add it to in the tank. Looking at the site, I think they got the shipment in, so I'm hoping it comes sometime next week when I'm off work. The first time I ordered it arrived within a week and wasnt very dirty at all, Good looking rock, lots of caves and such. __________________ Red Sea Max 130d and 125 gallon mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon oceanic tank, Lighthouse Pro XLS, 72" outer orbit fixture, H&S 150-F2000/1 skimmer, H&S 110 Calcium Reactor, Tunze 7096, 2 Tunze 6105's , Tunze Osmolator, Prime 1/4hp drop-in chiller. 5 years running. Red Sea Max, 3 years.

08/29/2008, 04:13 PM	#39
TulsaReefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,252	If it has any organic matter that will decompose it will add ammonia as part of the decomposition process. A couple of my rocks were really clean, a couple had a little dried algae way down inside that I tried to pick out but couldn't get it all. So I've put mine in a large tub out on my back porch and will let it soak for a while to be safe. I'll check for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate after a week or so and if there isn't any then it's good, if there is I'll change out the water and give it some more time. There's really no way to know for sure since every rock could be different. Some may be really clean, I know the shelf rocks I got were as clean as they could be, the Pukani with all the cracks and crevices could have stuff down in it you might not be able to see. __________________ Lee Current Tank Info: 220G mixed tank, LPS, zoas, and softies. New 200 in-wall at my new house.

08/22/2008, 03:35 PM	#26
happyclam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,012	So everyone agrees the Bulk Reef Supplys Pukani & Shelf rock is just as good as Marco's, but with faster shipping? And that minimal LR (a couple piecs) is a sure- fire way that even a begginer could have success with, and promotes better circulation, thus preventing detritus build-up, leading to healthy SPS corals, and that you could still have a fair amount of fish in the tank? And GSMguy, you say that as long as I use the Zeovit system, I wouldn't need any LR at all (not that I would use this method, though I am curious)? Oh, and TulsaReefer, nice builld thread! The rock looks really cool! Do you have a pic with all the rock assembled in the tank? I didn't see any in your thread.

08/23/2008, 10:08 AM	#28
happyclam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,012	I finally found XTM's build thread and WOW! Even though my tank doesn't have those dim., I hope it can turn out to be at least half as beautiful. So shallow sand bed for asthetics, a couple dried shelf rocks, and a protein skimmer should allow me to have a successful, sure-fire reef? Is there anything special I will need to dose to keep parameters in check (ie: would vodka become a nessessity with this set-up?)? BTW, I have a Tunze 9010 skimmer currently, do you think that'll work, or would I need a more powerful skimmer?

08/23/2008, 04:53 PM	#29
happyclam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,012	Do you think the Tunze 9010 would be powerful enough for a 135 gal SPS tank with a couple dried shelf rocks, BB, & no fuge?

08/23/2008, 07:55 PM	#30
Bruno3047 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,018	I bought 45 lbs. of Marco Rubble for my 60G rock wall and aquascape. This is what the final product looks like before adding water and sand: The smaller pieces (1"-2") were used for the rock wall, the larger pieces (3") were glued together (silicone) to make the aquascape. Still have about 6 or 7 lbs. of - 1"- 2" pieces left over that I'll use for mounting frags, etc. You definitely get your money's worth with the Marco Rock. Using silicone to glue the dry rock together works very well.

08/23/2008, 11:21 PM	#31
bristle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 570	I emailed him a week ago and no response yet.

08/24/2008, 03:57 AM	#32
RobynT Moved On Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Galva IL (aka Mayberry) Posts: 590	I bought a total of 90 lbs pukani rock from bulk reef supply and I was very pleased. It is so light and porous and has great character! Another thing.........I soaked my rock in a bleach mixture 5% for a day first, expecting all sorts of gunk to come off and it never did. I don't know if they power wash their rock or what but there never was any old stuff that came off of the rock at all like others have written about when buying dry LR. I love my rock and highly recommend it!!

08/28/2008, 03:42 PM	#33
happyclam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,012	Update- I got just got my Bulk Reef Supply Shelf Rock! So excited! Great shipping to- ordered on Monday, arrived today (Thursday). Really cool, one has a 3 x 1" "fish hole" in it. Although now for a few questions. Do I need to cure it in a separate vat, or can I just powerwash it off with a hose & then just directly stick it in the tank, and shouldn't really have a am. cycle? I have a fuge attached that has already been set-up for a couple months, and has seeded the main tank with about a million 1/8-1/4" clear worms, so I think it should come alive pretty quickly (I will also seed with cultures form Indo-Pacific Sea Farms). I just didn't want to get alot of amonia in the tank (as I only have the capacity to do a max 18 gal/week water change on my 165 total gal system).

08/28/2008, 05:53 PM	#35
happyclam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,012	Also, would I be fine placing rocks directly on the bottom? Whould I run the risk of the bottom cracking from a pointed rock w/ too much weight on it? Do you think if I washed off the rocks, I wouldn't have a ammonia cycle in the tank, or should I cycle it in a separate vat?

08/28/2008, 07:18 PM	#36
in_flight Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 70	i'm guessing my 200lb order from bulkreef is going to fill my 240g just fine, it does seem like you get a lot more rock

08/29/2008, 04:07 PM	#38
happyclam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,012	anyone have any ideas if the rock would add ammonia to my water even if it is washed off?

08/29/2008, 04:42 PM	#40
Bruno3047 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,018	This is my Marco Rock Wall/Aquascape "cooking" in my 60G in natural seawater. The process just started and the rocks were not prepped in any way before this. The tank is now covered with black hefty bags to eradicate algae growth. I'm hoping that the seawater will provide the necessary bacteria to cycle/cure/cook the rock. The rocks did not appear to be overly filthy with dead matter, but Iâ€™m sure there is enough to cause a significant cycle. From what Iâ€™ve read, in a few days this tank should reek from the dead/decaying stuff on the rock. The thread for this build can be found here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1449401 I'll be updating that thread regularly in the next few weeks with news as the cooking progresses.