Marco dried rock or Live rock?

[Elmareefer]

1 pound per gallon has always seemed perfect for me.
I just used 40 pounds of This in a 75 gallon tank

Mixed with live rock from TBS

Thanks, the cost of some of this live stuff is nuts

Is that pretty porous stuff? Or is it very heavy/dense? Is that painted on bacteria like Real Reef company does.
Thanks again!! I’ll be posting a new reef build on this forum when I get it all in

 

[griss]

Thank you
How’s the Marco live rock say compared to KP? I only see comments on the white dried Marco Rock

I have no idea. Never used the Marco live but, I’ve seen people are happy with it. Obviously, coming from the ocean, TBS, KP or Gulf will have a lot more life on it.

 

[griss]

Thanks, the cost of some of this live stuff is nuts

Is that pretty porous stuff? Or is it very heavy/dense? Is that painted on bacteria like Real Reef company does.
Thanks again!! I’ll be posting a new reef build on this forum when I get it all in

Yes, it’s dry rock, colored to look like coralline and I don’t believe any bacteria.

Hint: This hobby is expensive and addictive lol.

 

[Uncle99]

Thanks, the cost of some of this live stuff is nuts

Is that pretty porous stuff? Or is it very heavy/dense? Is that painted on bacteria like Real Reef company does.
Thanks again!! I’ll be posting a new reef build on this forum when I get it all in

I use the Carib-Sea version of the same.
Good live rock makes sense financially, if you’re reasonably close to the source, don’t need much,or very rich.

There’s always been a debate about which is better. I think in the end, they both work well. Ocean bacteria’s and algae’s get into the system with your fish and coral adds anyways.

For me, I want to ensure no pests enter the system. This goal I stick to. Way too much time getting out, things I don’t want in.

The uglies I can deal with easier.

 

[griss]

So, as seen in this thread, there is no single “correct” way to be successful in this hobby. Trial and error and find what works for you and your tank

 

[wvned]

Those things you call pests. They are animals from the sea. I love keeping and watching them.
It is why I do this.

I would like to add, I don't think the live rock we get now is nearly as good as what it used to be. I think the turnover has increased to meet demand and it isn't in the sea as long. Just a guess.

 

[griss]

I would like to add, I don't think the live rock we get now is nearly as good as what it used to be. I think the turnover has increased to meet demand and it isn't in the sea as long. Just a guess.

I agree. The rock we used to get from Fiji, Tonga, Namoli, Kaelini, Marshall Islands, etc was fantastic rock. It was all so full of hitchhikers and corals.

 

[wvned]

So, as seen in this thread, there is no single “correct” way to be successful in this hobby. Trial and error and find what works for you and your tank

I assure you, there are only a few ways to be correct but an almost infinite number of ones to screw it up.
When you screw up things die. I have killed some things but not nearly as many as some people considered go to people now.
That is why only a few stick with it long term.
I did a lot of reading on the net when I started but most of the places are gone now. I don't know where you would find that knowledge now.

There is a dichotomy in what reefing means now.
A sterile environment started with dead rock that contains only what is placed in it.
Not for me. I wanted a tiny bit of the sea in my home with all of the things that few square feet would normally contain on a reef.
I succeeded for a while but time and life has caught up to me now. I do have a few corals much larger than my head still. I don't have the energy to clean the glass most weeks anymore. I have about 20 feet to do.

It's your tank. It should be what you want. Neither way is wrong, but it explains the polar opposites in answers to some questions.