Should I use Live Rock?

[Vegannah]

Hi All,

I am fairly new to this hobby and I wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations on where to get live rock, and also is it possible for me to "make" live rock? Thanks!

 

[thirty6]

I would buy live rock from someone breaking down a tank, take a look through marketplace

You can buy Plain old rock and in time it will become "live" The benefit with this is the rock would be pest free and considerably cheaper allowing you more cash for everything you'll need. Just my 2 cents. This si how i recently set up my tank and now it's a diatom mess.....

 

[isnyc300]

i would look into dry rock

 

[Coralreefer1]

Both replies to your thread Vegannah are right on. You can save yourself money by starting off with dry rock or even base rock encountered at various pet shops. Also, if you know someone breaking down a tank or that is willing to give you or sell some rock cheaper than at your local pet shop or online, that is another viable alternative.
Having said this, however, you may want to purchase a few pounds of live rock, either cured or uncured, depending on your circumstances, because this rock contains many unique and diverse life forms from bacteria to microcrustaceans and polychaete worms endemic from where the rock is found. This adds to your flora and fauna in your tank!

 

[Vegannah]

I should have mentioned that I got the tank from a friend with a few pounds of live rock, but I was told by someone at a pet shop that I needed more. How will I know when it's all ready? All my nitrate, ammonia, nitrite levels are fine, as well as the ph. I just need to raise my salinity.

Thanks!

Hannah

 

[thirty6]

Tough question really to answer. Some Lfs will take you for a ride if they think they could get away with it and some are excellent and won't sell you something it's necessary or you want it.
What size tank do you have? How much do you have now, sand?
When you say levels are fine, how long has been set up for, did you transfer a tank from your friend, anything in tank yet for live stock?

 

[Vegannah]

It's a 30 gallon tank, been running For a week and I just saw a snail crawling around in the sand today! We put a Molly in yesterday, but he's been staying at the top of the tank, which worries me. The tank came with sand and rock that were with the previous owner about ten years.

 

[thirty6]

The moving of tank could have shifted the sand around and could have caused some minor issues. Anyways, how much rock would you say you have in tank now? 50 to 60 would be decent amount of rock for tank that size and if your going to do fowlr maybe a little less to leave more. Room for swimming around. Theresprobly a few critters in the sand that will slowly start to pop out

 

[skene]

Live Rock... :lol2: