<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9798057#post9798057 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bues0022
Thanks for the replies, but they are mostly looking at forms of macro life - things we can see with our eyes. I'm concerned with micro organisms. Regardless of where the rock came from, eventually it will become live in our tanks. So, lets say a year from now, which rock will be "better" for my tank. I am making the wild assumption (which may very well not be true) that TBS rock is more dense than "the competitor". More dense = less pores = less anaerobic bacterial browth = nitrate buildup possibility. (does this logic make sense?) If so, does TBS rock still hold enough porosity to keep enough anaerobic bacteria to keep tank chemical levels in check with minimal human intervention? My thoughts are that it really doesn't matter where the rock originated. As long as it's not a hunk of granite with no pores, live rock likely has the ability to sustain enough anaerobic bacteria to keep things under control.
I'm mainly asking this question as a reassurance to myself of the last statement above. I believe that what TBS is doing is awesome and will likely be ordering when I finally set up my tank. I'm just trying to do all my research first so I don't make any expensive mistakes! Thanks again for the input.
You are talking apples and oranges here....
I have head this a zillion times and never made comment...but here goes...
First of all Fiji and all the imported live rock is not 'rock' at all but coral skeleton.......ever pick up a piece of dead coral on the beach?
It is light, fragile and porous. Great for reef tanks, but unfortunately due to collection/handling/shipping techniques, is very devoid of any viable life as the way it has to be treated from Fiji to you is in a dry condition and the life on it is in rough shape by the time it gets in your tank, and then is a candidate for "curing"....basically bringing dead rock back to life, which is a good thing for folks who like the look of imported rock, eventually it will come around and usually so some signs of life.
Aquacultured live rock is just that "rock', not coral skeleton.
Ever pick up a rock on the shoreline, or at the lake?
It is heavier, and has less porosity that coral fragments. That is why I go to great effort to use only the best substrate "rock" for aquaculture. It is real coral rock-eons old coral reef, compacted and resulting in coral rock.
I also go to great lengths to provide a real live rock, which has life growing on it. This is accomplished by culturing it in the ocean, harvesting by scuba diving, transported underwater to the warehouse, packed underwater and expeditiously transported to you via air freight , underwater, so the life on the rock actually survives for you viewing in the tank.
The two products are totally different, although they will accomplish the same goal, it boils down to apples and oranges.....volkswagons and Cadillacs...they both do the same thing, just on different levels.
Without live rock imports from Fiji, there would be a huge hole in the industry, as the demand for live "rock" far outweighs the ability of domestic production, which is why you see Fiji rock in all the shops.
If there was billions of pounds of cultured domestic rock available, you would see it in all the shops as it is highly sought after. I get multiple calls a day for shops wanting my live rock, but unfortunately, I cannot produce enough for my retail customers as it is, otherwise I could fill the multiple orders for aquacultured live rock on a wholesale basis and it would be in your LFS.
As it stands now, I cannot provide any rock to the shops, as I am constantly backordered for sales to yall.
If I could produce more I certainly would like to see my rock in your LFS, but it is just not logistically possible.
This statement you made is the answer
""My thoughts are that it really doesn't matter where the rock originated. As long as it's not a hunk of granite with no pores, live rock likely has the ability to sustain enough anaerobic bacteria to keep things under control.""
Does that provide a little more insight into your question?
Richard TBS
:rollface: :rollface: :rollface:
