Myths or True!?
- Thread starter mjc041800
- Start date
hotelbravo
Active member
the live rock ones are garbage
Heatherabel3
New member
I do #1 in reverse. I feed my corals, not every day, but when I do I focus feed them and my fish get the leftovers. There is always plenty that the corals don't catch.
I also agree with not adding live rock over time, but not to mess with it at all and just use dead rock.
I also agree with not adding live rock over time, but not to mess with it at all and just use dead rock.
Reefer54
New member
no. 1 is not true.....when you figure your nutrient levels and coral\fish consumption, you will know better.
no. 2 is mostly true..... i believe entirely in distilled water, but YES, KNOW what is actually in tap and bottled water.
Using dead rock is to keep an environment without unwanted pests and sickness by never allowing them in in the first place. If you intend on QTing every animal you buy and never allowing other water to enter your system , then dead rock is the way to go, as it is an effort to control what is introduced to the environemnt. IF you are not going to qt EVERY animal and may be less scrutinous of others' water, then buy cured live rock and let the cards fall where they may....there have been countless successes this way as well with dead rock.
add LIVE rock whenever you want....every time you buy a coral on a rock, that is adding LR.... Shipped live rock WILL have a cycle and should be cycled separate from the system. Storebought live rock will have a very minimal cycle if any at all. 2x i have started tanks with LR, LS, CUC, and Fish all bought with the tank (both were under 30g, only 1 was actually my tank), and on both occasions there was no cycle at all, and the first fish i ever bought lived for 5 years in that tank til it saw a tasty morsel on the carpet.
Welcome to Reef Central....you are going to find a lot of contradictory answers here. Research first, and take things slowly....you always have 5 min to google something before you buy it, livestock and equipment alike. Nothing good happens instantly in our aquariums.
no. 2 is mostly true..... i believe entirely in distilled water, but YES, KNOW what is actually in tap and bottled water.
Using dead rock is to keep an environment without unwanted pests and sickness by never allowing them in in the first place. If you intend on QTing every animal you buy and never allowing other water to enter your system , then dead rock is the way to go, as it is an effort to control what is introduced to the environemnt. IF you are not going to qt EVERY animal and may be less scrutinous of others' water, then buy cured live rock and let the cards fall where they may....there have been countless successes this way as well with dead rock.
add LIVE rock whenever you want....every time you buy a coral on a rock, that is adding LR.... Shipped live rock WILL have a cycle and should be cycled separate from the system. Storebought live rock will have a very minimal cycle if any at all. 2x i have started tanks with LR, LS, CUC, and Fish all bought with the tank (both were under 30g, only 1 was actually my tank), and on both occasions there was no cycle at all, and the first fish i ever bought lived for 5 years in that tank til it saw a tasty morsel on the carpet.
Welcome to Reef Central....you are going to find a lot of contradictory answers here. Research first, and take things slowly....you always have 5 min to google something before you buy it, livestock and equipment alike. Nothing good happens instantly in our aquariums.
Saltliquid
New member
The live rock, yes!! Base or sterilised rock will give you far less potential grief!
Corals dipped, yes!! Always better to do this, if you can.
Protein skimmer, no!! Never have one going during the cycle and later on, on or not, if off just a couple more water changes or a ton of algae, that’s all.
Foods yes, varied is best!!!
Feed corals, for sure!!! Phos reduction is so easy these days, but fat sexual reproducing corals, they need food to do this via the symbiotic algae being fed the coral polyps waste.
Tap water neutralised is fine, for basic inverts and just fish that is, for all reef life, you need a massive anoxic zone and algae system for importing and converting or purchase inorganic reduction methods or do with out delicate symbiotic inverts.
The trimming thing? if that is algae, don’t bother!! near no one understands its proper use to provide near pure sea water. I have never been able to get any one to understand or use it the way i do.
Corals dipped, yes!! Always better to do this, if you can.
Protein skimmer, no!! Never have one going during the cycle and later on, on or not, if off just a couple more water changes or a ton of algae, that’s all.
Foods yes, varied is best!!!
Feed corals, for sure!!! Phos reduction is so easy these days, but fat sexual reproducing corals, they need food to do this via the symbiotic algae being fed the coral polyps waste.
Tap water neutralised is fine, for basic inverts and just fish that is, for all reef life, you need a massive anoxic zone and algae system for importing and converting or purchase inorganic reduction methods or do with out delicate symbiotic inverts.
The trimming thing? if that is algae, don’t bother!! near no one understands its proper use to provide near pure sea water. I have never been able to get any one to understand or use it the way i do.
Perth_reefer
Member
Personally I prefer dead/dry rock. It allows you the time to create structures, bond rocks together etc. Plus you have the added bonus of no nasties getting into your tank. Downsides are a longer cycle period and no good hitchhikers, but everything good comes with time.
firemountain
New member
The biodiversity of adding LR to system can't be beat. I built my aquascaped with Reefsaver dry rock, then added some LR to seed the tank. I dealt with some aptasia, but that's it. Aptasia- X worked like a charm.
If you are brand new to the hobby....the dry rock will give you less of a headache in the beginning. Your call....but either way I would suggest to read ALOT here.....you will learn a lot overtime.
If you are brand new to the hobby....the dry rock will give you less of a headache in the beginning. Your call....but either way I would suggest to read ALOT here.....you will learn a lot overtime.
Saltliquid
New member
With nothing but water in the aquarium, externally to run an aquarium easily, I can establish a completely matured bio system to can handle anything thrown at it to sustain multitudes of fish and inverts in 10 to 14 days, the bacteria to establish a reef tank more so coming from live rock is a fairy tail!!!
Of course delicate symbiotic inverts will need help with inorganics.
From one cup of fresh ocean water or one from some ones mature tank and a small amount of matured media like a hand full of rubble/grit added at the right time, you can establish a stable and healthy eco system far better with out live rock!
From that one cup or a donated cup of media or a small piece of base rock from a matured aquarium will come all that will run an aquarium.
The mutating capacity of microbes and protists that run reef aquariums are unbelievably understated and misunderstood!
From live rock comes potential for hair algae, potential mantis, crabs, worms and toxins for some time and many things that are at best useless!
Of course delicate symbiotic inverts will need help with inorganics.
From one cup of fresh ocean water or one from some ones mature tank and a small amount of matured media like a hand full of rubble/grit added at the right time, you can establish a stable and healthy eco system far better with out live rock!
From that one cup or a donated cup of media or a small piece of base rock from a matured aquarium will come all that will run an aquarium.
The mutating capacity of microbes and protists that run reef aquariums are unbelievably understated and misunderstood!
From live rock comes potential for hair algae, potential mantis, crabs, worms and toxins for some time and many things that are at best useless!
saltyskier
New member
I added 90% dry rock and 10% live rock from a known tank without non reef same animals. It's worked well for me.
gone fishin
New member
Depending on your tank and what your doing a skimmer is not a necessity, they are nice but not required.
You can feed your coral without causing the apocalypse.
You can add either live or dead rock to a tank after it has cycled. Add a little at a time.
OP be very wary of blanket statements like you posted. In almost all cases circumstances will dictate what can and should not be done. Good luck just my 2 cents worth.
You can feed your coral without causing the apocalypse.
You can add either live or dead rock to a tank after it has cycled. Add a little at a time.
OP be very wary of blanket statements like you posted. In almost all cases circumstances will dictate what can and should not be done. Good luck just my 2 cents worth.
