Dry base rock => Live rock

[Johnny U]

I looked at marcorocks.com and like the look of those rocks.

Right now my tank is FO with about 40 lbs of base rock recently added.

If I bought 50 lbs of this dry rock and put a little live rock and live sand in a seperate tank with heaters and a powerhead how long would it take to cycle and turn into live rock? (These are the instructions on the website to cycle their rock. Is this what is meant by "seeding") They say it's safe to put it in your tank once the rock is cycled but say nothing about how long it takes to be an active and flourishing live rock.


I hope these aren't rediculous questions...

 

[pimpinitup6969]

no question is rediculous! I personally love their rock! I would just put the rock into a trash can with a powerhead heater and a piece of live rock to seed it. change the water as needed for a few weeks then you should be golden!

 

[vyerous]

As for how long it takes for it to be "truly seeded live rock" we could argue until we are blue in the faces, that is something that would have to be determined by first when is something full alive? As soon as you place that rock in water that contains microscopic bacteria they will start to attach to the rock instantly.

As for how long it takes until it is considered "seeded", no idea. I can tell you it took base rock about 2-3 months to go from bone white, to bright green, to dark green, to dark green/brown with coralline growing.

If you take dry rock, give it a good rinsing to get dust and what not off of it, you can stick it right where its going to be permanently, that is what I did anyways.

I would only do the trashcan method if you already have an established tank and you are introducing more live rock. This ensures the die off is done and the rock is no longer leaching ammonia and nitrites.

 

[EnglishRebel]

Re: Dry base rock => Live rock

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14723617#post14723617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Johnny U
I looked at marcorocks.com and like the look of those rocks.

Right now my tank is FO with about 40 lbs of base rock recently added.

If I bought 50 lbs of this dry rock and put a little live rock and live sand in a seperate tank with heaters and a powerhead how long would it take to cycle and turn into live rock? (These are the instructions on the website to cycle their rock. Is this what is meant by "seeding") They say it's safe to put it in your tank once the rock is cycled but say nothing about how long it takes to be an active and flourishing live rock.


I hope these aren't rediculous questions...

Check out the Eco Rox over at Bulk Reef Supply. I got 200 pounds of the Fiji and after about four weeks with some LR in the tank the Eco Rox is coloring up nicely. They also guarantee no Aiptasia of Majano anemones and you don't have to cure it by putting in a trash can as most people have to do with Marco Rocks.

 

[Johnny U]

It looks like the Eco Rox is cheaper (or atleast pretty close) as long as you buy in bulk.

I noticed Marcosrocks has "Key Largo" rocks on sale for 119.00 for 50 lbs but regularly it is more expensive than Fiji.

What is the difference? They look pretty similar.

 

[vyerous]

Exact different I'm not sure, but I hear everyone is a huge fan of Eco Rox and I was going to buy a bunch myself but they were sold out when I was in the market.