Reef cleaners dry rock and new setup

[kevin21]

What's up all,

Thoughts on reef cleaners dry rock that is supposedly cured already and 100% phosphate leaking proof?

Have a waterbox 50.3 on the way. Any cons to starting with 75lbs of reefcleaners rock? Will try to seed it with a good piece of live rock with coralline.

I need the 50.3 to cycle completely before I transfer everything over from my stocked 28g. Is this process safe? Or should I go the cured live rock route, in order to limit a cycle and help the transfer process go smoothly?

Thanks all!

 

[cowdawg]

I bought 100lbs from them recently and I think the rock looks great. As far as phosphates, the rock has only been cycling for 3 or 4 days but I ran a test today that came back at zero (salifert). I've never used their rock before this, but I went with them because of the good reviews regarding no leaching. So far so good.

Your transfer sounds safe, assuming you transfer your old rock to the new tank as well. I would be nervous moving a lot of livestock all at once to a system with only freshly cycled dry rock. Hope that helps.

 

[kevin21]

That’s what I was thinking. Sadly, I have some pests on that rock that I don’t want to transfer over. Some aiptasia as an example. Glad you like the rock! Can’t beat the price either for rock that doesn’t leach phosphates. Hope that’s true. I heard within a year, you can barely tell it was base rock to start.

 

[cowdawg]

Can you keep the old tank set up for a couple months after your new tank cycles? That way you could transfer slowly.

I’m really happy with how the reefcleaners rock looks. Other than a little dust from storage/shipping it came very clean. So far I’m not expecting any problems with phosphate.

 

[kevin21]

Thanks for the info. And yes, I can keep that tank going I think. It just means my 50.3 will be running with only 1 light and one Mp10 to start lol if I don’t transfer my rock, I could always pick up a few pieces of live rock and cure it and add it with the reefcleaners rock no? I think that would help with the bioload/cycle

 

[cowdawg]

No problem at all! If it were me, I’d do what I could to introduce your critters as slowly as possible. Not just for the safety of the live stock, but also to prevent any nutrient/algae issues in the new system. Adding some live rock like you said would definitely help, but it would still be a slow transition in this scenario if the tank was at my house. Just my opinion of course. Enjoy the new tank!

 

[kevin21]

Downfall of it is not having the benefit of all the critters that come with live rock. Anyone else with great things to say about reefcleaners rock or comments about my upgrade plan with the rock? Need to transfer 4 Fish and some coral over once the new tank is ready and want everything safe

 

[NikonN8]

Kind of no matter what, unless it's ocean-cured it's going to need time and a little monitoring to, well, rock (pun intended). Just keep up on your testing and follow-up on this when you can. I'm sure more of us would like to hear about the zero phos leaching and if it's true or not.

 

[kevin21]

Haven't actually bought the reef cleaners rock yet. Was hoping to get a bunch of reviews and experiences from it before I made a decision. I have only ever started tanks with live rock, and have never went the dry rock route before. I wish I could just transfer over the 30lbs I have now, but I really don't want to take a chance and have the same issues with aiptasia and some other pests that I have had pop up over the years.

 

[smatter]

I'd continue your tradition of using live rock personally. I have purchased Reef Cleaners rock, and while the shapes are nice, well... It's still stark white dead rock. Save money elsewhere.

 

[kevin21]

Really? Did it take that long to color up? Or it just never really did? I love tampa bay saltwater, but just balk at the price. Wonder if i could do a small order from them and try to find some live rock locally. I do not like the dead white look either.

 

[smatter]

It takes incredibly long to color up with pink and purple. Green and brown on the other hand will show up quickly. Real live rock is definitely more expensive but it looks so much better, plus it's way more fun. I have ordered from TBS and KP. The last batch I ordered was from KP and I am quite pleased. I was a little concerned about die off since they don't ship in water but was pleasantly surprised as it was very minimal. KP's aquaculture site is apparently less conducive to the colonization of barnacles because there are none. My TBS rock was completely covered with them.

 

[dmsprague]

I have used Reef cleaners for dry rock also and was happy. I had live rock to mix with it.

 

[kevin21]

Thanks guys. I have no heard of Tampa Bay Rock having barnacle problems before. That is interesting. I will definitely look into KP rock as well. I was going to try to avoid mixing, as I really don’t like the unnatural look