Rock question...

[JJ4417]

Things are brutal tonight in the 'new to hobby' forums. My fault for putting too much info in for people. So I figured I would try here with the short version.


If I start my next tank with 100% dead rock and sand, don't use anything 'live', is it unrealitic to think that I could avoid aip and majoro? Buy frags that are not attached, dip and qt everything. Could someone anal enough effectively keep bad hikers out?

I'm not worried about time for the good stuff to grow. What do ya think?

 

[kdblove_99]

If the rock was never live. Seems like you would have a good shot.

But, if the rock was ever live no matter how dead you think it is or how long you keep it in the sand that Aiptasia will reappear.

The stuff is crazy

 

[jtarmitage]

Well, you could do that to keep things out, but you will also need a source of the other beneficial organisms, like pods, coraline and such. Why not use dry rock and sand, then add a couple of scoops of live sand from a fellow reefer, and a single piece of LR that has been well inspected. If aiptasia and majano are your primary concerns, put the piece of rock in a tank by itself for a couple of weeks, and inspect frequently. If there are any present, you'll see them sooner or later. A quick dose of Joe's juice or similar will be the end of them.
Also, you could put the rock in some salt water with a heater and powerhead inside of a trash can with a lid. Leave it in the dark for awhile, the longer the better, and anything needing light to survive will disappear. The aiptasia and majano will die, and coraline will also die off, but the bacteria and pods should be alive and well. HTH.

 

[kevin95695]

You run the risk. But workarounds exist. Don't be too anal. Dive in. I've had issues with Aiptasia, majano and bad algaes. Between biological, manual, and chemical control methods -- It has all worked out. If you fret too much you'll never get off the ground. JUMP!

It is inevitable: These things you fear will plague you. Start now.

 

[MrMikeB]

I like to think it analogous to living a in a bubble to keep from getting a cold. Sure, its possible that if you never introduce a particular undesirable to a system, it cannot possibly make it into the ecosystem. But honestly, do you think you can live in a bubble - or create one for that matter and actually enjoy yourself? You have 'immunities!' at your disposal - do not be afraid to use em when you have to.

Do what you can to be careful within reason, but be prepared to use reactionary measures and not relay solely on preventative.

 

[saltykelly]

Personally I agree with armitage. You need beneficial stuff from the rock and sometimes you just get hikers. Aptasia and majano are not that big of a deal. Theres many ways to get rid of them and all are mostly simple. You should be more concerned with dipping and quarantining your corals. In the past year I've had Monti eating nudis, zoa eating nudis, hydroids, and others. Trust me aptasia are nothing compared to these.

 

[loup]

Personally I agree with armitage. You need beneficial stuff from the rock and sometimes you just get hikers. Aptasia and majano are not that big of a deal.

In a small tank, aptasia or majano might be easier to deal with. But still a pain to deal with.

When I set up my tank I basically had all the live dry out in the sun for 1-2 week then I had those rock sitting in a trash bin where I change out the water over the coarse of 1-3 month. It only take a few week with live sand to get back those beneficial bacteria. Every rock that goes into my tank are either dry base rock or dry in the sun. Even frags mounted on plug/rock, I inspect them closely or if i can break them off, I would and remount them. There's no point in taking risk and having to deal with pest.

 

[JJ4417]

Thanks for the tips. I've got the little 20, but starting the planning of 'the next tank'.

 

[MandM]

My daughter did this with her 29g and was totally anal about QT. She managed to keep her tank free of pests. We added pods and mini brittle stars after QT and she she managed to keep out the bristle worms she knew were good but gave her the creeps. It was one of the healthiest tanks I've seen. She tore it down to do some mods and broke the tank so everything moved to either my 120 or her new nano.

 

[JJ4417]

Her new nano having the same success?

 

[airinhere]

I have aragocrete in most of my tanks and I have no nuisance critters as of yet.

Aptasia, mojano, hydroids, redbugs, nudibranch, spiders, rock crabs.

Nothing.

I just jinxed myself I bet.

However, because I was careful about what I put in, I do have some tunicates, sponges and lots of coraline growth everywhere.

But aragocrete is the only way you will get truly sterile rock to use. Baserock that came from dry excavated regions would also work pretty good.

 

[JJ4417]

One of my concerns with diy rocks was the surface area. I was told that since farmed rock was at one point live coral, there is quite a bit of microscopic holes that create exponentially more surface area than diy. Anyone know or read anything on that? I know the 'general rule' of 1-2 lbs per gallon, but this is farmed LR. Wouldn't aragocrete need much more?

Sorry if this was addressed at the last meet. I wasn't able to make it.

 

[airinhere]

Yes it was covered. And soon, I will get the edited video to Steve to put on the MARS website.

Aragocrete is like a very dense sponge material. The pores are very small, but do permit water to flow throught the rockwork. It is comparable in useful surface to real live rock. Usually, you can get away with a little less DIY rock because it is dry. 100 lbs wet and 100lbs dry is quite a bit different an amount of rock

 

[JJ4417]

I knew I should have made that meet. How much different is this than the Stevens DIY rock thread? Or do you have something typed up?

 

[airinhere]

Actually, I got together with T.Stevens and Insane Reefer and they both helped me edit and refine my presentation. I will try to get the video finished sometime soon. My hours at work almost doubled for the holidays.