why live rock???

DoubleM 10 · 10/13/2010, 05:09 PM

hey guys im back with another question. On my first tank was a 30 gallon tank. One of my friends who has a beatiful reef tank now suggested to me that i should have cured dry rock and live sand. so i did just that. the tank turned out just fine after the learing curve with what animals work with what. this tank has no sump with a hang on back skimmer. not i have just set up a 55 under the same set of quidelines. and so far so good. the new 55 has a 15gal sump. lifereef overflow, 700gph aqueon pwer head. reef dynamics skimmer, and mag pump. its been about 2 months and it is stocked and the whole family in their is healthy and eating and interacting with me when i arrive at the tank. perameters are all great ans where they are supposed to be. im just trying to understand why people suggest using live rock when you start a tank, i have also heard and had sucess with the no live rock route. if someone could please explain that would be great!

Chris27 · 10/13/2010, 05:25 PM

Simply put, live rock is the heart and soul of the Berlin type filter scheme that most all of us employ in our tanks, so why not start out with a well established filter instead of a bunch of dry white rock...

Live rock can also bring a number of different organisms to a tank that just aren't available when starting a tank with dry rock, examples are macroalgae, different colors of coraline, featherworms, shrimp and various types of coral. Biodiversity and stability are two key components that we all strive for, using well cured live rock from the get go is an integral part in that.

brycerb · 10/13/2010, 05:42 PM

No rock would be a fish only or FO setup. It would be exactly like a freshwater tank except for the water has salt in it and the fish are prettier.

neoalchemist74 · 10/13/2010, 07:36 PM

The really honest answer is that I can't wait 6 months for a cycle to complete.

GT3 · 10/13/2010, 07:46 PM

Simple answer is - Yes you can do with dead live rock(dry), even if the rocks do not have decaying component for cycling. You can add a few flakes to get the ammonia going, and the cycle should start, only thing is you will have to wait a long time for all the bacteria to colonize in/on all the rocks you have. And it will take a long time for beautiful coraline to develop!

Live rock makes it a lot easier to achieve the same result.

DoubleM 10 · 10/13/2010, 07:54 PM

so its sounds like its 1) a greaat filter cause its natural 2) it makes coraline appear faster because it causes the bacteria going. other than that thier is really no different??? it seems like you can do it either way just prefferance. looking back i think i like the way i did it, but my established does look very good once i started having the coraline on the rocks a back wall.

neoalchemist74 · 10/13/2010, 08:05 PM

Look around a bit and you will notice most of the really large tanks use dry rock to start because the cost of live rock in higher volumes is just too much and trust me most of these guys know thier stuff. I believe live rock is best especially for beginners Because it allows you to see all the little creatures and other life nearly right away and when you are new you dont want to stare at an empty tank forever. Or a buch of dead fish because lets face it most of us are impatient.

10/13/2010, 05:09 PM	#1
DoubleM 10 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Steamwood, IL Posts: 1,432	why live rock??? hey guys im back with another question. On my first tank was a 30 gallon tank. One of my friends who has a beatiful reef tank now suggested to me that i should have cured dry rock and live sand. so i did just that. the tank turned out just fine after the learing curve with what animals work with what. this tank has no sump with a hang on back skimmer. not i have just set up a 55 under the same set of quidelines. and so far so good. the new 55 has a 15gal sump. lifereef overflow, 700gph aqueon pwer head. reef dynamics skimmer, and mag pump. its been about 2 months and it is stocked and the whole family in their is healthy and eating and interacting with me when i arrive at the tank. perameters are all great ans where they are supposed to be. im just trying to understand why people suggest using live rock when you start a tank, i have also heard and had sucess with the no live rock route. if someone could please explain that would be great! __________________ Matt Lions, Groupers and Eels o my! Current Tank Info: Marineland 60Gal ReefReady cube, DIY led, Euroreef Skimmer Ins-80, Mag 9.5 return

10/13/2010, 05:42 PM	#3
brycerb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Isle of wight, VA Posts: 541	No rock would be a fish only or FO setup. It would be exactly like a freshwater tank except for the water has salt in it and the fish are prettier. __________________ -Luckily, my wife is reef safe so I can use my normal income for this hobby. -My cichlids love RO waste! Current Tank Info: 7.5 gallon box with water in it.

10/13/2010, 07:36 PM	#4
neoalchemist74 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Longmont Colorado Posts: 627	The really honest answer is that I can't wait 6 months for a cycle to complete. __________________ You have two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you talk. Current Tank Info: in progress

10/13/2010, 07:54 PM	#6
DoubleM 10 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Steamwood, IL Posts: 1,432	so its sounds like its 1) a greaat filter cause its natural 2) it makes coraline appear faster because it causes the bacteria going. other than that thier is really no different??? it seems like you can do it either way just prefferance. looking back i think i like the way i did it, but my established does look very good once i started having the coraline on the rocks a back wall. __________________ Matt Lions, Groupers and Eels o my! Current Tank Info: Marineland 60Gal ReefReady cube, DIY led, Euroreef Skimmer Ins-80, Mag 9.5 return

10/13/2010, 08:05 PM	#7
neoalchemist74 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Longmont Colorado Posts: 627	Look around a bit and you will notice most of the really large tanks use dry rock to start because the cost of live rock in higher volumes is just too much and trust me most of these guys know thier stuff. I believe live rock is best especially for beginners Because it allows you to see all the little creatures and other life nearly right away and when you are new you dont want to stare at an empty tank forever. Or a buch of dead fish because lets face it most of us are impatient. __________________ You have two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you talk. Current Tank Info: in progress

10/13/2010, 05:25 PM	#2
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	Simply put, live rock is the heart and soul of the Berlin type filter scheme that most all of us employ in our tanks, so why not start out with a well established filter instead of a bunch of dry white rock... Live rock can also bring a number of different organisms to a tank that just aren't available when starting a tank with dry rock, examples are macroalgae, different colors of coraline, featherworms, shrimp and various types of coral. Biodiversity and stability are two key components that we all strive for, using well cured live rock from the get go is an integral part in that.

10/13/2010, 07:46 PM	#5
GT3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 294	Simple answer is - Yes you can do with dead live rock(dry), even if the rocks do not have decaying component for cycling. You can add a few flakes to get the ammonia going, and the cycle should start, only thing is you will have to wait a long time for all the bacteria to colonize in/on all the rocks you have. And it will take a long time for beautiful coraline to develop! Live rock makes it a lot easier to achieve the same result.

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