using half 'dead' rock in setup

[Sk8r]

The ordinary advice now is 1 lb live rock per gallon, and for sure, the cycle happens faster with that setup.

In the dino days, however, we used to start with ALL dead rock, live rock not being generally available; and it just took a couple of weeks longer. The deal was---you had to be a bit of a geologist and avoid the volcanic rock and stick to things without a metallic content and know your mineral content, etc. You also had to know 'where that's been,' ie, that nobody had dripped fertilizer on it [if you got it from a greenhouse, etc.]

But using dead rock would seem to have a couple of advantages: cost---way cheaper---traded for a little extra time; and, granted one clumsy freighter can do more devastation than a thousand reefers wanting rock---seems that it might be more eco-friendly to get at least half our rock from the rockpile instead of out of the ocean.

Opinions? Discussion?

 

[chewie]

I used "recycled" rock on my current tank. 95% of the rock came from my old setup.

The rock sat in my backyard for 2 years in a trash can. I decided to boil the he l l out of it, scrubbed, swished, plucked, basted, and boiled again.

Then I cycled it for about 3 months using water from a water change, and re-seeded it with 1 rock out of an established tank. It took about 6 months for the life from that 1 rock to spread out to the rest of the rocks.

It has almost been a year now, and it is a nice mixed reef. I have lots of bugs, worms, sponges, and coralline. It is setup with a bare bottom.

It was worth the wait, and effort to clean.

I just had a buddy take some decent pics last night, I will add a pic to this thread as soon as I can.

 

[jerryreefrigger]

I think that the cycle time is not as much of an issue as the natural filtration capicity that develops over time. Eventhough your tank may have cycled with mostly dead rock, it will take significantly more time for the rock to develop into live rock, and perform at the capicity that 1lb per gallon should.

I believe G.A.R.F is known for making their own rock from porous concrete. I think it is a great alternative, if you have the patience.

My $0.02

 

[Sk8r]

Interesting. A reefer with some spare space could set himself up a little side business with a few tanks, I'd think...to the good of existing reefs.

I've seen some of the GARF arrangements, and of course one of the really good points of concrete is the ability to shape it as you wish, with caves, hollows, etc. Has anybody had experience with it?

Back in the 80's, start-up involved a lot of 'dead' rock and as I recall, some live; and it took about 6-8 weeks to have things lively enough to support a good lot of softies: but I had a carpet anemone that took over 50g of a 100g tank, at least in zone of hazard. That thing grew like a bandit under those conditions.
Zoos did well. Of course mh lights cost the moon, so I used HO, and had good luck with leathers, zoos, mushrooms, after I moved the 'nem out to the lfs.

 

[illcssd]

Chewies recycled lr tank:
(man, am i good, he didnt even ask)

 

[illcssd]

This pic also shows good stuff on his rock: