Gyaradoite
New member
I'm setting up a 100/120 gallon tank. I found out that live rock would cost a fortune so, will dry rock work the same?
Thank you, Gyaradoite
Thank you, Gyaradoite
Dry rock vs Live rock
- Thread starter Gyaradoite
- Start date
ryan_ferguson25
New member
Lots of people use dry rock only... add some bacteria additive and u'll b good to go.
juniorrocketdad
New member
I understand the appeal of live rock,my tank was live rock but if I did another tank I would never go live again. Dry is much cheaper, comes pest free and makes aquascapijg much easier since you can do it with the rocks out of he tank
gone fishin
New member
I agree 100%. good luck
You can buy dry rock, you can also make it. Do a quick search on youtube for indo-pacific sea farms. They have a decent video that covers how to make it, necessary three components, and the mix rate of each. Then form it up to the shape and size you want, and be done.
You can also buy aqua cultured, man made, live rock. As you said it is not for the feint of heart but in this case there is a reason for the cost. However, you do get what you pay for with the overall quality, extra good and bad things that come in the package(s), and quickness to turn around a tank from empty to full.
Lastly, if you choose to make your own or buy dry, you would go through the normal cycle process. Get tank set up how you want, verify leaks, flow rate, emergency drain, sump holds back flow, etc. Once done add in the sand if you are using it, then rock. Aquascape what you can see, finish on second day or so. Test water parameters within the first week, adjust by doing a change. Somewhere in the cycle and process you will add in a piece or two of shrimp or prawn you would get from the butcher and toss it in...
If you haven't, pick up a copy of Marine Aquarium Handbook by Martin Moe. Old, updated, not a lot of specific talk about fish or corals but it covers the cycle process one would see using a dead rock, sand, environment. It really is a great book that explains it step by step and what you should see over time. Progression.
I'll tell you what, this is the route I went with my 100 gallon. Sand, some dead rock, watched it. Then about 90 or so days later if not more added some live rock from Fiji back when we could do that, then dumped that in. I was amazed at what grew on the dead rock initially and again later with the addition of mother natures rock.
Best of luck.
You can also buy aqua cultured, man made, live rock. As you said it is not for the feint of heart but in this case there is a reason for the cost. However, you do get what you pay for with the overall quality, extra good and bad things that come in the package(s), and quickness to turn around a tank from empty to full.
Lastly, if you choose to make your own or buy dry, you would go through the normal cycle process. Get tank set up how you want, verify leaks, flow rate, emergency drain, sump holds back flow, etc. Once done add in the sand if you are using it, then rock. Aquascape what you can see, finish on second day or so. Test water parameters within the first week, adjust by doing a change. Somewhere in the cycle and process you will add in a piece or two of shrimp or prawn you would get from the butcher and toss it in...
If you haven't, pick up a copy of Marine Aquarium Handbook by Martin Moe. Old, updated, not a lot of specific talk about fish or corals but it covers the cycle process one would see using a dead rock, sand, environment. It really is a great book that explains it step by step and what you should see over time. Progression.
I'll tell you what, this is the route I went with my 100 gallon. Sand, some dead rock, watched it. Then about 90 or so days later if not more added some live rock from Fiji back when we could do that, then dumped that in. I was amazed at what grew on the dead rock initially and again later with the addition of mother natures rock.
Best of luck.
Green Chromis
New member
:fish1::fish1:
:fish1: I'm just the opposite, I would never use anything other then, a very high quality live rock. All live rock is not the same, some are just rock that is placed in a holding tank with only live bacteria, while others are collected form reefs or designated area's that are full of life. This is the main reason I use a very high quality of live rock, I just enjoy looking at all the critters that come on the rock, mostly good by the way. Yes live rock is expensive, but after all this is your main source of biological filtration along with the live sand I collect from the outer reefs. Having a Reef Tank is not a cheap hobby, so expect to spend a lot of money on your system. :fish1:
:fish1: I'm just the opposite, I would never use anything other then, a very high quality live rock. All live rock is not the same, some are just rock that is placed in a holding tank with only live bacteria, while others are collected form reefs or designated area's that are full of life. This is the main reason I use a very high quality of live rock, I just enjoy looking at all the critters that come on the rock, mostly good by the way. Yes live rock is expensive, but after all this is your main source of biological filtration along with the live sand I collect from the outer reefs. Having a Reef Tank is not a cheap hobby, so expect to spend a lot of money on your system. :fish1:
worldbook
New member
Very informative. Reef keeping can be very expensive, but there are definitely ways to save money. I would rather save it in using dry rock than buying a cheap light or skimmer. Be patient with the dry rock, it will eventually rise from the dead.
The problem with dry rock is that it is unencrusted. Every inch of surface area is ripe for algae coverage. With it, you are looking at a long, slimy algae phase. Not so with live rock. It is already completely encrusted, with stuff you want.
To keep costs down, just buy a lot less rock than is traditionally used. This will give your tank much more open space for coral growth and natural fish behavior. The wall of rocks look is dead.
My 180 gallon planted tank (not a reef) has ten pounds of live rock. I bought it from Gulf Live Rock. All their packages include shipping! Plus, you are getting ecologically sustainable farmed rock.
Sure, you can mix in some dry rock, but live rock brings so much biodiversity and stability to your tank, helping to get the bottom of the food chain started in your tank.
To keep costs down, just buy a lot less rock than is traditionally used. This will give your tank much more open space for coral growth and natural fish behavior. The wall of rocks look is dead.
My 180 gallon planted tank (not a reef) has ten pounds of live rock. I bought it from Gulf Live Rock. All their packages include shipping! Plus, you are getting ecologically sustainable farmed rock.
Sure, you can mix in some dry rock, but live rock brings so much biodiversity and stability to your tank, helping to get the bottom of the food chain started in your tank.
This is true. You can go with less, you can also mix and match, at the right time of course. Lots of options. But we all know about that dreaded word called budget
It does take a lot more time when you go dry or LFS store bought rock, and go through the whole cycle. Been there once, probably won't do it again. Not because I'm impatient but because I'll be using aqua-cultured this go around.There really is a nice learning / educational experience when starting with dry and nothing. How it is seeded, the process, various stages, etc. You are right though, it is along process when done right. But wow, the educational value alone does wonders.
This hobby requires a bit of patience when done right. What better time to learn about it while maybe saving a few bucks to divert to better quality infrastructure.
Synden
New member
Dry rock can take decades to become fully live to the core of the rock. It will become live..eventually, but initially its only the surface of the rock that does so. Dry rock WILL go through a crazy algae phase within the first year of being in the tank and can last for an extended period of time.
Whenever possible use live rock imo.
That being said, dry rock isnt without its merits. The main, and really the only plus to using dry rock, is that it gives you the ability to build custom aquascapes that otherwise wouldnt be possible with live rock.
If you arent doing a custom aquascape, and just stacking rocks in the tank, then stick with live rock only.
Whenever possible use live rock imo.
That being said, dry rock isnt without its merits. The main, and really the only plus to using dry rock, is that it gives you the ability to build custom aquascapes that otherwise wouldnt be possible with live rock.
If you arent doing a custom aquascape, and just stacking rocks in the tank, then stick with live rock only.
JZinCO
New member
Here's how I see it:
Dry Rock
Pro: You can aquascape to your delight, drill it, stack it, play with it, beat it up with a chisel, etc. Also, as cheap as 2$/lb commercially. You can do any other prep work you want such as washing it in water or solutions.
Con: Well, obviously it has no life on it.
"Live" Rock
Pro: None that are unique to this kind of rock. Aquascaping is possible but a little more limited because one wouldn't want to keep it out of water for long (though you'll see in threads some debate as to how long is too long). I just wouldn't want to pay extra just to kill some off.
Con: Paying extra for some purple coloration that will come onto all rock, dry or live, eventually.
Aquacultured Rock
Pro: Full of life. Usually the same price as live rock; sometimes cheaper than 'live' rock because people are afraid of hitchhikers.
Con: Aquascaping is limited to positions suitable for the life. "Can't squash the clam..don't want to shade out the Ulva..This side is the bottom side because of the sponges and other cryptic creatures.." For me, hitchhiker fears are overblown and I often am more surprised than dismayed.
As far as algae goes, I've bought "live" rock from a LFS and it was so loaded with phosphates that I'm still dealing with algae. I also have rock that was aquacultured for 5 years and, for some reason can sit next to my algae filled "live" rock and algae would never attach to it. So for that reason, I wouldn't make generalizations but how different rocks attract nuisance algae.
There are other considerations as well. I think a higher %age of live or aquacultured rock leads to briefer cycling times (though the difference shouldn't mean much if you are diligently patient). Dry rock is great base rock. "Live rock" is great whereever and aquacultured rock is prime decoration. I've chosen to get a mixture, but if I were to start over I would have gotten some dry rock for bases and then all aquacultured rock.
Dry Rock
Pro: You can aquascape to your delight, drill it, stack it, play with it, beat it up with a chisel, etc. Also, as cheap as 2$/lb commercially. You can do any other prep work you want such as washing it in water or solutions.
Con: Well, obviously it has no life on it.
"Live" Rock
Pro: None that are unique to this kind of rock. Aquascaping is possible but a little more limited because one wouldn't want to keep it out of water for long (though you'll see in threads some debate as to how long is too long). I just wouldn't want to pay extra just to kill some off.
Con: Paying extra for some purple coloration that will come onto all rock, dry or live, eventually.
Aquacultured Rock
Pro: Full of life. Usually the same price as live rock; sometimes cheaper than 'live' rock because people are afraid of hitchhikers.
Con: Aquascaping is limited to positions suitable for the life. "Can't squash the clam..don't want to shade out the Ulva..This side is the bottom side because of the sponges and other cryptic creatures.." For me, hitchhiker fears are overblown and I often am more surprised than dismayed.
As far as algae goes, I've bought "live" rock from a LFS and it was so loaded with phosphates that I'm still dealing with algae. I also have rock that was aquacultured for 5 years and, for some reason can sit next to my algae filled "live" rock and algae would never attach to it. So for that reason, I wouldn't make generalizations but how different rocks attract nuisance algae.
There are other considerations as well. I think a higher %age of live or aquacultured rock leads to briefer cycling times (though the difference shouldn't mean much if you are diligently patient). Dry rock is great base rock. "Live rock" is great whereever and aquacultured rock is prime decoration. I've chosen to get a mixture, but if I were to start over I would have gotten some dry rock for bases and then all aquacultured rock.
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ssick92
New member
+1
This is what I would do as well. Maybe don't need 100%, but I wouldn't go below 75%. It will also help your cycle be a lot faster too (~1 week).
juniorrocketdad
New member
What do you all think about having a tank of mostly dry rock but putting some live rock into the refugium to speed up the cycle than taking out the live rock later
homer1475
New member
This +1
This go around I used all dry rock, and am still dealing with a ton of GHA 6 months later.
If I were to do another new tank, I would pony up for all live rock, probably TBS rock.
