Can Base Rock become True Live Rock

[luke33]

I've heard many people talk about base rock becoming LR. I understand it grows algae and so forth, but does will it ever have the anerobic denitrifing aspect of true live rock? Not sure. If you do know, how long does it take to become true live rock.
Thanks

 

[AllenFord_SC]

It sure does! There is no certain amount of time but it's not going to happen over night. If you seed a lot of base rock with alittle bit of LR it will take a lot longer, and vice versa. It's all of the micro organisms that make their homes inside the rock that give it it nitrifying capabilities.

 

[Warnberg]

120 lbs of base rock in my tank and 165 lbs of live rock, base rock looks just like the live rock with coraline all over it now, took about a year....

 

[steri]

Thanks Luke. Good thread!

 

[kiknchikn]

After 6 months my base rock is becoming barely distinguishable from my live rock.

 

[drummereef]

Yes it will all be live at some point. I would seed the base rock with a few pieces of cured live rock though. You can't really get a diverse population of detrivores if you have a purly 'steril' system (all base rock). By seeding your system you are introducing all kinds of critters that will benefit your rock.

 

[yeldarbj]

I agree with kiknchikn - about 6 months and you can't really tell which is which, and my live rock started out being about 90% coraline covered and base rock was near bleached white. I started with about 60/40 base vs live.