Purchasing live rock ???

[Mthompson]

I am wondering if anybody has used Marco Rocks (http://marcorocks.com/) before. They sell dried out rock, so I would have to colonize it myself, but I would have to cure live rock for a while anyways with same process. My thinking is to buy some of this and some live stuff and cure/colonize the rock in the same container....

My questions are these:

- dry rock weighs a lot less, so the amount of actual rock you get is more compared to live rock, but does this mean I need to buy less rock? (since 50lbs of dry rock = ~70lbs live rock)

- I just started my tank (120gal), so is it OK to do the curing process in the tank? (just a few mollies and hermits with some already cured live rock in the sump)

Any other recommendations would be great. I am wanting to build stacks like Mr_X (http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=94755&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=40) , so if you have any suggestions on that, let me know.

Thanks in advance,

MT

 

[metalac]

I wouldn't get this stuff, since from what I heard for base/dry rock to become live again can take years. I wanted to do this to save some $$$, but I ended up getting 20lbs of base rock and 65-70lbs of live rock for my 55 gallon tank. Base rock was just used for the bottom so that i can build some caves and make a good base for live rock to sit on, other than that I don't see much use of the base rock, for at least another year or so. My tank has been runing for about 2 months and base rock looks almost the same as when I got it, while the live rock changed A LOT. Went from very dull looking to very vibrant.

 

[cindre2000]

Dry rock does take a while to get really nice; and a very long time if you don't put any effort into making it look nice. The key is to get some really nice 'seed' rock to get it started. And to have good tank conditions. It also really helps when you have coral. Coral easily covers up the rock making it look 'nice'...

I see nothing wrong with curing your rock in your aquarium. The biggest issue is the livestock already in the tank. You can put the dry rock right in; however, if the seed rock you get is really smelly, I would cure it separately so all that detritus does not enter the system.

The dry rocks are really nice for the stacks. I would get 50lbs of the marco and go from there. Sometimes people can get overzealous with the amount of rock and end up with massive piles, less can be more.

 

[Mthompson]

cindre2k- I know what you mean with the amount of rock some people have. When a tank is filled from side-to-side and bottom-to-top, it just looks like a rubble pile to me.

I really like the look of pillars that Mr_X achieved with his stacks. Plus I am more interested in larger fish species, so stacks will give them a bit more room to swim.

The aesthetics of what the surface of the rocks look like is slightly less important to me than the sizes and shapes, for several reasons...

1. I am a poor graduate student and can't afford those $6/lbs perfect rocks covered with everything.

2. I have been known to let my freshwater tanks run rampant with the green dust algae that covers rocks and all the tank sides (not the hair, slime or floating kind), simply because it looks natural and is good for the tank.

3. I have a b.s. in fisheries biology, so have studied and understand the importance of the right algal base to the health of a system. I call this the "function over fashion" mentality, whereas many people want crystal clear and clean "swimming pools" in their living rooms. Personally a natural tank looks better than an unnatural tank (if you can understand what I mean)....

Anyway, I will step off the soap box now. I am leaning towards the dry rock and live rock combo because of the $$$. It may take longer to get covered in coraline algae, but a few strategically placed live rocks, along with good conditions, should help speed up the process.

 

[DrBig]

Try ebay or something like it. I was able to get great live rock for $2 a pound and roughly $1 per pound shipping. $3 a pound. Just a little more than the charge for dry. I also requested what I wanted and got it.

 

[mr_X]

also check craigslist. i see alot of tank breakdowns advertized locally, where you can get good deals on established rock. it's a shame you aren't closer, there is a guy selling 250 pounds of live rock for about a buck a pound.
thanks much for the "kudos" too :wink:

- personally, i would buy as much live rock as i can afford, and start with that...then later get pieces here and there and add them slowly. i wouldn't purchase any dead rock.

 

[mr_X]

wow..i was just looking at my old tank thread. that's proof of evolution :lol:

 

[brandonberry]

I've also become a big believer in recycled live rock. There are literally tons of people in my area tearing down tanks and selling nice rock for $2-$3/lb. It may not have all the weird surprises on it, but it also doesn't have all the die-off. I am always sure to ask if they have ever used any medications in the tank though. The last thing I would want to do is buy some rock from someone that treated their tank with copper.

 

[Mthompson]

I check craigslist sometimes, but the pickin's here in Arkansas are nil. I had a chance at some shiped for 2.50/lbs. a month ago from up in the northeast, but school/work got in the way. I will keep my eyes posted for some recycled rock, whilst I contrast my options in my head (unless you want to donate to a poor grad. student X)?!?! :wink:

Dido on your two threads, too....one is a hooptie the other is a rolls!

 

[mr_X]

lol @ hoopty and rolls!

 

[billgraf]

I recieved my rocks the other day and all I can say is WOW, they are beautiful, better shapes and sizes than any Premium live rock I have seen, 100lbs of marco's dry rock is the same as at least 200lbs live wet rock. I ordered to much that I didn't leave enough room for Live rock to seed this rock, but Luckily I have a friend who loved the rocks so much that he is going to trade me live rock from his tank for this rock. I orderd 2 25lb show pieces plus a 50lb box. I put the rock in my tank for a test fill and to clean the rock after tank was drained for over a day each rock weighed over 55lbs.

 

[mr_X]

i'm sure the dead rock looks as nice as the live rock, but my concern would be the lack of bacteria. the purpose of live rock, besides the aesthetics, is a form of biological filtration. it's going to take a long time before that rock is helping your water parameters.

 

[Mthompson]

I wonder how long is 'a long time'.... It might be interesting to do a little experiment in some tubs or plastic garbage cans to see how long it actually take to become effective live rock. I also wonder if adding some amount of ammonia to the curing container would help speed the process up?

 

[metalac]

I wonder how long is 'a long time'.... It might be interesting to do a little experiment in some tubs or plastic garbage cans to see how long it actually take to become effective live rock. I also wonder if adding some amount of ammonia to the curing container would help speed the process up?

basically from all i heard it's YEARS as opposed to MONTHS.

 

[cindre2000]

basically from all i heard it's YEARS as opposed to MONTHS.

I strongly suspect that it does not years. It may take longer to look as nice. BUT, I would suspect that it takes no longer than a freshwater tank to get the bacterial levels up to an acceptable level.

 

[brandonberry]

It all depends on whether you seed it well or just wait for things to occur or their own. I'd get a cup or two of really good live sand from someone's established tank and scatter it across the rocks. Also, you could get someone who is scaping coraline algae off their glass to save it for you and scatter that on the rocks as well. I trully beleive that if you seed it right and maintain optimal calcium and alkalinity levels you can have that rock looking and functioning very nicely in just a few months.