Starting a new tank....how many of you use ALL live rock

joem1cha3l · 02/26/2011, 05:52 AM

Hey guys im starting a tank on some what of a budget, im finally getting back into the hobby. I was curious how many of you used ALL live rock in your tank without base rock. Also, how many used alot of baserock with small amt of live rock?

Killer Tangs · 02/26/2011, 06:05 AM

I have a 240 gal and I couldn't have possibly afforded to start my tank with all "live" rock. I used a lot of base and 6-7 nice pieces of live and the next thing you know, WHAMO! I have coralline algea over all of it. Most of the base is on the bottom of my rock structures. As time has gone by it is really hard to tell the difference between the two.

joem1cha3l · 02/26/2011, 06:11 AM

i am starting a 12 gallon long. I had intentions on ordering 10 lbs of base rock and going to the LFS and getting a nice piece of LR that i liked, mybae 3-4 lbs and adding it to the tank. Would this be sufficient? It isnt so much the cost, its the fact that there is a great site that sells some really great looking base rock that I want to order from.

Killer Tangs · 02/26/2011, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joem1cha3l

i am starting a 12 gallon long. I had intentions on ordering 10 lbs of base rock and going to the LFS and getting a nice piece of LR that i liked, mybae 3-4 lbs and adding it to the tank. Would this be sufficient? It isnt so much the cost, its the fact that there is a great site that sells some really great looking base rock that I want to order from.

For that tank size, yes, I would say it is sufficient.

Are you thinking about ordering from Marco?

ReeferBill · 02/26/2011, 06:18 AM

Hi Joe ; I used all Florida live rock For my 46 bow and 38 refugium . I would say around 100 pounds total. The only problem I had was that the rock had so much growth on it that it took a while for it to become fully cured. I probably could have saved some money using less live and more base or manmade rock. I think half and half would be a good start. Good Luck and Happy Reefing!! Also check out OceanProAquatics.com for good live rock specials.Great Prices!

joem1cha3l · 02/26/2011, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killer Tangs

For that tank size, yes, I would say it is sufficient.

Are you thinking about ordering from Marco?

Who's Marco? Maybe ill check him out? haha

billdogg · 02/26/2011, 06:50 AM

I have been keeping marine tanks for well over 20 years now. I have never bought "liverock". I always start with all base rock. I will add a cup or 2 of sand from an established tank, but that is it. I feel that there is plenty of time to get the biodiversity needed for a long term successful tank. Every time you add a coral you will be adding to it. I actually spend a lot of time at the lfs looking over prospective creatures and the rocks they are on just for that reason. I will happily pass over the big nice "show" piece for the less good looking specimen that has a bunch of other stuff coming along for the ride. I know for a fact that that is the reason I have a urchin, asterina and mini brittle stars, limpets, chitons, a variety of small feather dusters, etc, etc, etc.

It is, admittedly, slower this way, but, and this cannot be repeated often enough, NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS FAST IN THIS HOBBY!!!!!!!

HTH

jeff@zina.com · 02/26/2011, 10:02 AM

I usually start with about 80% dry rock and 20% live rock. Often the live is just moved from another tank to start the new one. Cheaper this way but, even more important, I control the hitchhikers.

Jeff

Mad_Reefer · 02/26/2011, 11:21 AM

I started with all live rock. If you added no fish and corals it would still be fun to watch all the life.
But when I went bigger, I added some dry rock I gathered myself. It works great too, although it is more dense than the live rock.

Sk8r · 02/26/2011, 11:26 AM

basically---4 weeks to cycle with all live rock; 8 weeks to cycle with dry rock and a little live. The cost difference for a large tank is huge. But the biodiversity (if there is visible life on your rock and you encourage hitchhikers [I do]) is greater with more live rock.

Best of all if you can get it from another reefer. Recycling at its finest. Of all the things reefers trade and sell, I'm surprised you don't see more people just cycling rock in their sumps and trading it around a club...

WXB · 02/26/2011, 11:49 AM

Live rock is needed. I have mostly live rock and a couple rocks that are not. Think of it as a long term project. every month add some more rock. keep doing it till you have it all done. Just think the more you do put in the better off you will be.

pr12 · 02/26/2011, 11:54 AM

I bought 30lbs of Florida live rock for my 20 gallon, and my 75 came as a complete set up with 100lbs of Florida live rock. If I set up another small tank I'll do the Florida rock again because I love all the live, but anything bigger than the 75 I'll do a combination live and base just because of the price.

REEEFMAN · 02/26/2011, 02:54 PM

The second time I bought 125lbs of LR to add to my 200lbs of base rock.

02/26/2011, 05:52 AM	#1
joem1cha3l Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,158	Starting a new tank....how many of you use ALL live rock Hey guys im starting a tank on some what of a budget, im finally getting back into the hobby. I was curious how many of you used ALL live rock in your tank without base rock. Also, how many used alot of baserock with small amt of live rock? __________________ IM10G Nano - MP10, AI Nano, RKL

02/26/2011, 06:11 AM	#3
joem1cha3l Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,158	i am starting a 12 gallon long. I had intentions on ordering 10 lbs of base rock and going to the LFS and getting a nice piece of LR that i liked, mybae 3-4 lbs and adding it to the tank. Would this be sufficient? It isnt so much the cost, its the fact that there is a great site that sells some really great looking base rock that I want to order from. __________________ IM10G Nano - MP10, AI Nano, RKL

02/26/2011, 06:18 AM	#5
ReeferBill Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1,906	Live Rock? Hi Joe ; I used all Florida live rock For my 46 bow and 38 refugium . I would say around 100 pounds total. The only problem I had was that the rock had so much growth on it that it took a while for it to become fully cured. I probably could have saved some money using less live and more base or manmade rock. I think half and half would be a good start. Good Luck and Happy Reefing!! Also check out OceanProAquatics.com for good live rock specials.Great Prices!

02/26/2011, 06:50 AM	#7
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I have been keeping marine tanks for well over 20 years now. I have never bought "liverock". I always start with all base rock. I will add a cup or 2 of sand from an established tank, but that is it. I feel that there is plenty of time to get the biodiversity needed for a long term successful tank. Every time you add a coral you will be adding to it. I actually spend a lot of time at the lfs looking over prospective creatures and the rocks they are on just for that reason. I will happily pass over the big nice "show" piece for the less good looking specimen that has a bunch of other stuff coming along for the ride. I know for a fact that that is the reason I have a urchin, asterina and mini brittle stars, limpets, chitons, a variety of small feather dusters, etc, etc, etc. It is, admittedly, slower this way, but, and this cannot be repeated often enough, NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS FAST IN THIS HOBBY!!!!!!! HTH __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

02/26/2011, 11:26 AM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	basically---4 weeks to cycle with all live rock; 8 weeks to cycle with dry rock and a little live. The cost difference for a large tank is huge. But the biodiversity (if there is visible life on your rock and you encourage hitchhikers [I do]) is greater with more live rock. Best of all if you can get it from another reefer. Recycling at its finest. Of all the things reefers trade and sell, I'm surprised you don't see more people just cycling rock in their sumps and trading it around a club... __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/26/2011, 06:05 AM	#2
Killer Tangs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Cols, OH Posts: 20	I have a 240 gal and I couldn't have possibly afforded to start my tank with all "live" rock. I used a lot of base and 6-7 nice pieces of live and the next thing you know, WHAMO! I have coralline algea over all of it. Most of the base is on the bottom of my rock structures. As time has gone by it is really hard to tell the difference between the two.

02/26/2011, 10:02 AM	#8
jeff@zina.com Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3,345	I usually start with about 80% dry rock and 20% live rock. Often the live is just moved from another tank to start the new one. Cheaper this way but, even more important, I control the hitchhikers. Jeff

02/26/2011, 11:21 AM	#9
Mad_Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 249	I started with all live rock. If you added no fish and corals it would still be fun to watch all the life. But when I went bigger, I added some dry rock I gathered myself. It works great too, although it is more dense than the live rock.

02/26/2011, 11:49 AM	#11
WXB Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 258	Live rock is needed. I have mostly live rock and a couple rocks that are not. Think of it as a long term project. every month add some more rock. keep doing it till you have it all done. Just think the more you do put in the better off you will be.

02/26/2011, 11:54 AM	#12
pr12 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: colorado Posts: 198	I bought 30lbs of Florida live rock for my 20 gallon, and my 75 came as a complete set up with 100lbs of Florida live rock. If I set up another small tank I'll do the Florida rock again because I love all the live, but anything bigger than the 75 I'll do a combination live and base just because of the price.

02/26/2011, 02:54 PM	#13
REEEFMAN Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 51	The second time I bought 125lbs of LR to add to my 200lbs of base rock.

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