New Rock Votes...

[postie]

I am getting ready to set up a 46-gallon bowfront and dispose of the smaller tanks I have after the cycling process of the 46. I haven't purchased any live rock in a pretty long time and just wondered what are the favorites now? I've always been really partial to Figi, but I hear rumors that people are using other types and loving it. What kind of rock would everyone suggest I start out with in this new tank...for cycling and also a great look later? THANKS!

 

[Anonymous]

here is one idea: http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthr ... did=153788

They have limestone quarries here and that rock sells for $20/ton.

After a year or less you would not be able to tell the difference between either and the expensive live rock. Which IMO should be left in the ocean.

Just an idea.

 

[Anonymous]

Ignoring Bob's usual crapola, the nicest rock I've seen in a while is from Lalo Eua.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Kilr67]

I've liked what i have seen from tampa bay saltwater.

 

[Anonymous]

I did a mix of base and Hatian rock in my tank. I like the way it turned out and after 3 years you can not tell the difference between them. I would not get rocks from a quary.

 

[Anonymous]

TBS and Gulf-View are my favorites. The downside is Mantis Shrimp, Cirolanid Isopods, and Crabs, also the density of the rock. The upside is the 100's of other critters.

 

[Anonymous]

Just FYI and in Bob's defense (somewhat) Last I was on their site, Tampa Bay Saltwater (TBS) was using quarried coral from dry land that was dumped into the sea off from barges to get populated. Since they have no control over the organisms in the ocean, your chances of getting a nuiscance hitchhiker are pretty good.

If you do it Bob's way and get some Garf Grunge or live sand from someone else and cycle your liverock like that, you may spend a little more time getting to the point that you are ready for fish, but you also didn't support anyone dredging LR up from the bottom of the ocean. And all your life-forms come from the relatively well controlled environment of another tank.

I actually am in both camps here. The majority of my rock in all my tanks was dead LR second, third or fourth hand that is getting re-seeded in my new tanks. The next largest proportion of my LR has come from other people's tanks that I re-cycled. Only about 10 - 12 lbs of my (nearly 200lbs) LR has come from the LFS. I appreciate TBS rock since they are using a sustainable method of production for LR instead of breaking up living coral reef areas.

I am travelling to Florida this summer some time and I plan on bring back several hundred pounds of dead, coral rock (if I can find it where we are going) to shove into a tank I have specificially running for this task.

I am also hot to try the Garf artificial reef rock recipie. I just aquired the CC to do it and I am picking up sand and cement this weekend.

Lots of options to get your rock, some more conservation minded than others

 

[Anonymous]

shhhh!!!!!! don't say that too loud. You don't want to ruin you reputation here :lol:


You could even save some more money by using crushed oyster shells vrs the crushed coral. the shells are 97% clacium carbonate and cost ~ 10 cents per pound.

From what I understand limestone is the calcified remains of ocean life only from oceans from many many years ago. Just like the coral reefs in the ocean today.

After 3-4 months in the tank I can not tell the difference between aquarium store base rock and the limestone I added.

 

[postie]

How about Foster and Smith's (formerly ffexpress) Lalo rock? A bit pricey, but sure looks different. I guess I'm still stuck on the Figi and a deep sand bed, but finding live sand around here where I live is like mining for premium diamonds...lol

Also, this probably should be a separate topic, but....I don't have an RO unit at this new place and won't have for a little while (you know how budgets go). There's no hurry on this tank cycling or anything...I'd like to have it ready to hold what's in my smaller tanks now in a couple of months or so. How hazardous would it be to fill this new tank with tap water (rather than distilled). If there's a hazard...distilled is pretty cheap. I've kept tanks for like 9 years, but somewhere the basics went away when things started going right...LOL

beaslbob....got your pm....too cool!

 

[Anonymous]

:lol:


IMO After a couple of months of plant life filtering the water you would not be able to tell the difference between the distilled or tap. The plant life would just grow better with that tap right at first is all. All I do is use cold water, from a commonly used faucet, let it run for a minute then add it to the tank. And I have done that is 1/2 dozen cities in the US since the late 70's. With salt I do wait at least three weeks before adding fish and did wait 3-4 months before adding my first coral on my current system.

 

[fishfanatic2]

New Rock Votes...

After a couple of months of plant life...

:roll: :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

:lol:


IMO After a couple of months of plant life filtering the water you would not be able to tell the difference between the distilled or tap. The plant life would just grow better with that tap right at first is all. All I do is use cold water, from a commonly used faucet, let it run for a minute then add it to the tank. And I have done that is 1/2 dozen cities in the US since the late 70's. With salt I do wait at least three weeks before adding fish and did wait 3-4 months before adding my first coral on my current system.

What?????

 

[Anonymous]

Making your own rock is a very good option. I did tha ton my latest tank and it turned out very well. The corraline grew very quickly and now you woul dnever guess that it was made be hand and not taken from the ocean. Of course, I did use about 10lbs. of really nice rock from another tank to use as "seed".