DesertReefT4r
New member
Getting a new tank going. It will be a 90g sps reef tank. Wanting opinions on whether to go with all fresh cured live rock or BRS dry rock and seed with some live rock. Pics of tanks with both types are welcome.
Live rock or dry rock?
- Thread starter DesertReefT4r
- Start date
jraker
New member
dry rock. no pests. it will take longer to cycle, but trust me. you will thank all of us who say dry rock in the future. when you are cycling, you can use some bio spira to seed the rock with bacteria.
with live rock, chances are, you will get pests such as aiptasia or mojano anemones, nudibranchs, worms, crabs, and snails. some of these are good, but a lot can also be bad.
dry. rock.
especially if you have sps, live rock could come with flatworms. bad flatworms + sps = you crying 4 months from now.
with live rock, chances are, you will get pests such as aiptasia or mojano anemones, nudibranchs, worms, crabs, and snails. some of these are good, but a lot can also be bad.
dry. rock.
especially if you have sps, live rock could come with flatworms. bad flatworms + sps = you crying 4 months from now.
this true, i took a chance and got 1 aiptasia but was eaten by my peppermint shrimp, although my wife says my yellow tang ate it. i didnt know this was possible
DesertReefT4r
New member
Yeah i have ahd unwanted pests come into my tanks from live rock, this is one reason i am considering dry rock with a few small seed pieces of LR.
d2mini
Premium Member
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2509664
You can thank me later when you have almost no cycle, tons of life and an ultra healthy tank.
You can thank me later when you have almost no cycle, tons of life and an ultra healthy tank.
seamonster124
New member
+1 Dry rock. I am on my first Dry rock tank and while cycle took 44 days, parameters are pristine,zero pests, & no surprises. There is also the whole not raping our oceans thing... Just a theory but I think a lot of those threads with people complaining about crap growing in their tank with great water is related to unknown life forms coming from the ocean.
uncleL
New member
Well I know I'm going against the grain......but I bleach all my rock for 24hrs and tripple rinse with prime! Add live bacteria, two clowns and start adding a small amount of live rock every month. I have never lost a fish!! I only add corals after 6 months. One or two fish a month.
BrandonFlorida
New member
I used all dry rock in my 180 but eventually got a few small pieces of live rock to seed it with life. I also bought some TBS rock and I kinda wish all my rock looked like it.. One day you wont be able to tell but its really cool rock with lots of nooks and crannies..
Would never use live rock again. The best thing about dry rock is that once you start using it you are creating your own super well quarantined live rock after a while. I have dry rock that started in an 8 gallon tank 7 years ago that I use to seed my newer tanks dry rock when I upgrade.
Derekjon35
New member
I've run three tanks on LR and after battling the aiptasia, majano and worms.. Im done with a full LR set up. I would rather wait an extra month and never have to worry about the headaches I could have avoided.
d2mini
Premium Member
The problem with the people who used live rock and had problems, didn't get it from a reliable source. Forget craigslist, forget your LFS, forget live aquaria.
Use Tampa Bay Saltwater and trust me... you will have the most interesting and healthiest tank, setup for long term success right from the start. And it's eco friendly to boot!
Use Tampa Bay Saltwater and trust me... you will have the most interesting and healthiest tank, setup for long term success right from the start. And it's eco friendly to boot!
I don't see the difference as far as the number of pests you will have on your rock? There are tons of predatory crabs and shrimp, algae, anemone and other pests in the ocean that will be living on the rock.
If you are willing to deal with these I can see the allure of TBS rock since it actually has interesting things living on it as well. The live rock you get from the LFS is just pest anemone and algae with no beneficial life other than bacteria on it.
Bent
I got nothin'
Listen, I love my tbs rock, but full disclosure here.
Live rock has pests. It all has pests, even TBS. I'm still picking off gorilla crabs at night, plus I had that big polyclad which may or may not have been on the rock, and a slew of whelks.
BUT...
My tank is also loaded with other things I would not be able to have had I gone with dry rock.
Here's a list of things I have thanks to TBS:
1: a huge rock flower nem, a species I've never seen sold at that.
2: diverse coraline
3: about 20 purple porcelain crabs.
4: some really cool sponges
5: lots of tunicates
6: copepod population explosion
7: barnacles that are still living
So it just all depends on if you think the trade off is worth it. Some do, some don't. Neither way is wrong.
Personally I can't wait to get a 120g and buy more.
Live rock has pests. It all has pests, even TBS. I'm still picking off gorilla crabs at night, plus I had that big polyclad which may or may not have been on the rock, and a slew of whelks.
BUT...
My tank is also loaded with other things I would not be able to have had I gone with dry rock.
Here's a list of things I have thanks to TBS:
1: a huge rock flower nem, a species I've never seen sold at that.
2: diverse coraline
3: about 20 purple porcelain crabs.
4: some really cool sponges
5: lots of tunicates
6: copepod population explosion
7: barnacles that are still living
So it just all depends on if you think the trade off is worth it. Some do, some don't. Neither way is wrong.
Personally I can't wait to get a 120g and buy more.
