Dry Rock. What needs to be introduced?

[sir_dudeguy]

I meant it was the same visually... You said fake looking, but it's the same as live rock other than the lack of coralline, which there's plenty of people that don't have even that on live rock. Obviously there is a lot more to live rock than just bacteria, but like I said once all that stuff is introduced it will all turn the same eventually. This is assuming there's at least some bit of live rock added at some point to introduce coralline, pods, macros, whatever it may be. There's plenty of "live rock" on the market that is completely bare of any life other than bacteria (or at least close to bare).

But unless you never add any coral that wasn't dipped, or any bit of live rock rubble in the sump, or say a bit of chaeto into a fuge... Stuff will eventually get in there and that plain old dry rock will eventually be just the same. Obviously nowhere near as quick as just buying good live rock, but it will happen.

 

[Frostyfishman]

My rock was mined from the land so the reduced environmental impact is certainly a positive point to. I guess aqua culture is cool too but I like the idea of minimising any impact on coral reefs. I will be looking for fish that were captive bred too.