Live Rock Vs. Dry Rock

[Live Rockin]

Ok it has been a little while since I have been in the hobby (7 Years) and some things have changed or I wasn't aware of them back then LOL... For the experienced reefers what do you suggest I start my tank with 1.) Live wet rock from my local LFS or 2.) Dry Rock that can be purchased on line? I guess my only concern about the dry rock is how long will it take before it starts showing signs of life? Suggestions??

Thanks in advance

 

[FraggledRock]

Dry Rock.

Less chance of pest hitchhikers and it will become "live" by the beginning of the end of your cycle.

you will get an abundance of life simply from getting corals, inverts and if you will have a refugium Chaeto or cualerpa algae.

 

[Mishri]

I don't believe the dry rock will ever show signs of life unless you seed it. So if you need a lot of rock, order the dry rock for "base rock" and then buy some live rock at a local fish store. Could just be one piece so the living stuff will spread on the other rocks. If you are wondering when they'll be covered in coraline algae that might take quite awhile.


edit: if you mean "live" as in doing it's job in the tank cycling then it works like live rock.

 

[FraggledRock]

I don't believe the dry rock will ever show signs of life unless you seed it. So if you need a lot of rock, order the dry rock for "base rock" and then buy some live rock at a local fish store. Could just be one piece so the living stuff will spread on the other rocks. If you are wondering when they'll be covered in coraline algae that might take quite awhile.


edit: if you mean "live" as in doing it's job in the tank cycling then it works like live rock.

Not necessarily, bacteria will form over time. it will just take a bit longer for it to happen.

EDIT: that is if you introduce a form of ammonia of course

 

[cloak]

Ok it has been a little while since I have been in the hobby (7 Years) and some things have changed or I wasn't aware of them back then LOL... For the experienced reefers what do you suggest I start my tank with 1.) Live wet rock from my local LFS or 2.) Dry Rock that can be purchased on line? I guess my only concern about the dry rock is how long will it take before it starts showing signs of life? Suggestions??

Thanks in advance

Are you looking for a bunch of biodiversity in your tank? (pods, worms etc) If so, your either going to have to purchase some quality live rock, or buy one of those detrivore kits they sell online. Dry rock is basically just a media. The beneficial bacteria will grow on pretty much everything that's submerged given time and the right conditions. Your heater, your return pump, the back glass if left untouched etc will all have filtration capabilities.

 

[rlm2005]

I'm one who likes live rock and that's how I start every tank.

 

[Live Rockin]

Thank you all for your reply's.. I'm leaning towards the dry rock because it looks like I can take my time with it in doing the aquascaping. I have a 90 gallon tank that will be circulating through a 29 gallon sump/refuge with a skimmer/heater etc. I am looking to try my hand at soft corals and work my way up to the hard ones. In my last set up I used live rock and didn't have any issues, but the aquascaping was done on the fly and never really had time to work with it. Since I am in a new build I have plenty of time to get it set up like I want it Just spent the 1st month building the stand and canopy Starting on the sump this week. If I do go with the Dry rock then I just need to cycle with a dead shrimp or ammonia additive correct?

 

[Pmj]

If I could start over I would buy almost all dry rock and then either get a small live rock or buy something like bio-spira.

For one, the dry rock I bought from BRS looks 1000% better than the majority of live rock I've seen at LFSs near me. This is the one I bought to see if I liked it: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-reef-saver-dry-aquarium-live-rock.html
It is exactly what they picture, tons of nooks & crannies for critters and extremely good looking.

It's also very cheap compared to what I spent on live rock (although you can sometimes find bulk deals on Craigslist). The BFS reef saver can be put straight into water and you don't have to worry about leeching phosphates and stuff.

 

[Live Rockin]

Thanks for the link PMJ... That stuff looks Awesome!

 

[igot2gats]

If you're going the dry rock route, be sure to do an acid bath. That way, there's 0% chance of any phosphates leaking from it.

 

[FraggledRock]

If you're going the dry rock route, be sure to do an acid bath. That way, there's 0% chance of any phosphates leaking from it.

I think he means Vinegar by acid.

 

[Pmj]

Again with BRS Reef Saver you apparently do not need to do anything to it.

 

[lespaul339]

Again with BRS Reef Saver you apparently do not need to do anything to it.

I used it and am currently battling some hair algae. My tank has been up and running for 4 months now. I've always used RO water and I actually work at a water conditioning wholesale outfit so I get filters and membranes free and always change filters when needed. I feed minimal and watch the amount of nutrients I put in my tank. The only place phosphates can be coming from is leaching from my rock. In my opinions it still leaches some phosphates. That being said, I would still do dry rock again in a heartbeat. It's worth it so you don't have to deal with pests and aiptasia.

 

[FraggledRock]

I used it and am currently battling some hair algae. My tank has been up and running for 4 months now. I've always used RO water and I actually work at a water conditioning wholesale outfit so I get filters and membranes free and always change filters when needed. I feed minimal and watch the amount of nutrients I put in my tank. The only place phosphates can be coming from is leaching from my rock. In my opinions it still leaches some phosphates. That being said, I would still do dry rock again in a heartbeat. It's worth it so you don't have to deal with pests and aiptasia.

You say RO. But i dont see DI....

 

[lespaul339]

Its from the rock. Never had a problem with my old tank and I use the same water.

Like I said above I'd still use dry rock again in a heartbeat. I just ordered a GFO reactor so I won't be putting up with this hair algae for long.

 

[tc2007]

I don't believe the dry rock will ever show signs of life unless you seed it. So if you need a lot of rock, order the dry rock for "base rock" and then buy some live rock at a local fish store. Could just be one piece so the living stuff will spread on the other rocks. If you are wondering when they'll be covered in coraline algae that might take quite awhile.


edit: if you mean "live" as in doing it's job in the tank cycling then it works like live rock.

From my experience,

Tank 1: Used live rock from LFS. Teaming with life from day one. Brittle starfish, asterinas, pods, mojano and aiptasia. Both good and bad, but very interesting tank.

Tanks 2: Used the same live rock + some more "wet" rock without any critters as such. I had put medicine in the tank so it killed all the little life remaining on the rocks from the tank transfer.

After 2+ months the tank is still devoid of any interesting critters. I got 2 more pieces of live rock from the lfs to seed it but after 2 weeks I don't see much except pods.

 

[Azedenkae]

Ok it has been a little while since I have been in the hobby (7 Years) and some things have changed or I wasn't aware of them back then LOL... For the experienced reefers what do you suggest I start my tank with 1.) Live wet rock from my local LFS or 2.) Dry Rock that can be purchased on line? I guess my only concern about the dry rock is how long will it take before it starts showing signs of life? Suggestions??

Thanks in advance

Live Rock:
Pro:
-Can come with macroorganisms.
-Already contain plenty of microorganisms.
--Therefore potentially shorter cycling time.
Con:
-Die-off can be heaps.
-May contain bad hitchhikers.

Dry Rock:
Pro:
-No hitchhikers.
Con:
-Little life.
--Therefore takes longer to cycle.
---Even then you'd only have microorganisms for the most part.

Of course, it is almost impossible to not add live rock. As guess what your corals are attached to? Live rock. A lot of corals are collected from the wild, and they are usually attached to a piece of rock. Or their skeleton is rock even. So yeah.

 

[tc2007]

For FORWLRs or with non-coral heavy tanks, live rock makes sense as it is easy to get rid of nasties. If your tank is going to be jam packed with corals, get dry rock.

 

[Mishri]

From my experience,

Tank 1: Used live rock from LFS. Teaming with life from day one. Brittle starfish, asterinas, pods, mojano and aiptasia. Both good and bad, but very interesting tank.

Tanks 2: Used the same live rock + some more "wet" rock without any critters as such. I had put medicine in the tank so it killed all the little life remaining on the rocks from the tank transfer.

After 2+ months the tank is still devoid of any interesting critters. I got 2 more pieces of live rock from the lfs to seed it but after 2 weeks I don't see much except pods.

Yeah, my LFS rock looks like it has little/no life on it. has coralline algae and that's about it. no starfish, no "good" (macro, turf) algae. I'm weird, I actually like certain types of algae in my display tank.. just not hair or bubble algae.

This time I'm going to do Tampa Bay Live rock, doing the 40 gallon "The Package" (80lbs live rock, 40 lbs sand, bunch of critters) in my 40 gallon breeder. In my 75 gallon tank I'll get his dry rock and I'll eventually move a nice rock or 2 from the 40 gallon to the 75 gallon. -Or, I'm toying with the idea of getting liveaquaria's fiji premium 40lbs box for the 75 -I've ordered that before (8 years ago) and it was some nice rock, really interesting funnel algae and leaf algae. And do some dry rock as well.. either case, I'm not doing all live rock for the 75... too expensive.

I really want to do the tampa bay live rock package though.. If anyone in this thread hasn't seen it there are threads on it, do a search. Awesome stuff. My dad ordered just the rock I believe for his 55 gallon (then he moved it to a 120 gallon). You do need to deal with gorilla crabs and mantis shrimp.. but it's not that big of a deal. At least there is no aptasia, i've fought that before, no fun.

 

[rlm2005]

Yeah, my LFS rock looks like it has little/no life on it. has coralline algae and that's about it. no starfish, no "good" (macro, turf) algae. I'm weird, I actually like certain types of algae in my display tank.. just not hair or bubble algae.

This time I'm going to do Tampa Bay Live rock, doing the 40 gallon "The Package" (80lbs live rock, 40 lbs sand, bunch of critters) in my 40 gallon breeder. In my 75 gallon tank I'll get his dry rock and I'll eventually move a nice rock or 2 from the 40 gallon to the 75 gallon. -Or, I'm toying with the idea of getting liveaquaria's fiji premium 40lbs box for the 75 -I've ordered that before (8 years ago) and it was some nice rock, really interesting funnel algae and leaf algae. And do some dry rock as well.. either case, I'm not doing all live rock for the 75... too expensive.

I'm planning a new build and am going to be getting TBS for it.