Ocean rock

[Young Frankenstein]

Is any rock harvested from the ocean "Live Rock"

 

[kiknchikn]

If you're asking if any rock from the ocean is suitable for your tank, then the answer is probably not. I would think many rocks in the ocean are made of materials that would not be suitable for a reef tank, but I could be wrong.

I'd define live rock as any rock that contains the beneficial bacteria and critters we need for bio-filtration in our aquariums. They don't necessarily need to be from the ocean. There are several threads in the DIY section that show you how to make your own rock, which can then be cured into live rock.

If you're considering taking rock from the ocean around Florida I'd do some research into the laws first.

 

[A.T.T.R]

in fl any rock that touches the water is called live rock
AND IS A CRIME to take it

 

[Young Frankenstein]

I am aware of the law people thanks for the reply. You partially answered my question kickingchikn whats the difference between rocks found at the bottom at the ocean and what we call live rock?

 

[kiknchikn]

The way they were made and what they're made of. Live rock is typically made of coral skeletons and other calcerous materials. Other rocks might have been created in other ways, such as by volcanic activities for example, which would be ferrous (iron-based).

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Kiknchikn your explanation makes allot of sense but the only rock thats made of coral skeletons that the FLS has is Fiji LR. Hatian rock and other rocks I saw were probably volcanic rocks. Maybe is more beneficial to the reef tank to get the coral skeletons LR ?

 

[kiknchikn]

I believe calcerous rocks help buffer the pH in your tank, but I'm not a chemist, so I can't say for sure

I have some volcanic sand in my tank and it hasn't caused any noticeable problems, so volcanic rock is probably alright. Silicate-based rocks (quartz for example) probably aren't ok though.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Kiknchkn very nice web site you have. Its unclear to me if you do any watter changes or you just add 4 gallons of watter to compensate for evaporation?

 

[kiknchikn]

Thanks! I do weekly 4g water changes and I have about 3 gallons of fresh water top offs to fight evaporation. My next project is a DIY auto-topoff, since the tank is at work and I cant be there over the weekend to top it off.