I recently came across a ceramic rock alternative to live rock.. It is designed to function as live rock. Its called vidarock and made by a USA co called cerameco. Ive got some nice pieces and have them in my tank. The porosity is great and I really think they have alot of advantages over LV.
ceramic reef rock
- Thread starter talofalava
- Start date
There is a web site for Vida Rock, ( http://www.cerameco.com/index.html ). They have some information and pictures of their products. It doesn't appear that you can purchase them online at this time however. I think if a product can be manufactured which can be seeded with the proper bacteria and cridders thereby creating an alternitive to harvesting rock from coral reefs it would be a good thing. It seems many in our hobby are resistant to change. The only way to see if it works is to try it and evaluate its performance over time. I am not suggesting that you through out all your live rock and use this product but why not evaluate it? I have also seen a live rock alternative at Bulk Reef Supply which is a mined calcium carbonate rock that should also function similarly to live rock when seeded. This rock may also assist in maintaining calcium levels in the tank.
Tanks for the infomation on the Vida Rock. Please keep us posted on your experiance with it.
Tanks for the infomation on the Vida Rock. Please keep us posted on your experiance with it.
As for the porosity, the ceramic rock pieces I purchased are lighter than some of my natural live rock and the pieces are bigger so I assume this means that it is more porous and less dense than real LV. Obviously it still should probably be used in conjunction with natural live rock because it needs to be seeded somehow.
talofalava":189bjr5m said:
Bear with me, as I'm not gifted when it comes to the technical side of our hobby, but I think what worries me is whether the spaces in ceramic rock with work in the same way as spaces in live rock. Having those little spaces is good, but will they function in the same way that the tiny spaces created by coral when they grow? Will the bacteria grow throughout the rock in the same way?
I think I need a scientist to explain this to me...
I don't see any issue with the physical property as long as it has similar pore size and similar permeability as the natural rock, or at least can show scientifically that the pore size and permeability is as good for the bacteria as the natural stuffs. To visualize why these two parameters is important, you can picture a rock with one large empty cavity like a china-doll. Or one that is completely impervious to water that the inside will always be sterile.
To further illustrate my erudition on this ceramic topic, I propose that the bacteria colony be added to the clay mixture before putting it into the kiln. This way, there will be no need for seeding it later, and it surely can ensure the uniformity of the bacteria distribution throughout the structure.
To further illustrate my erudition on this ceramic topic, I propose that the bacteria colony be added to the clay mixture before putting it into the kiln. This way, there will be no need for seeding it later, and it surely can ensure the uniformity of the bacteria distribution throughout the structure.
AFAIK it would work just fine. That said it's so much more then the bulk reef supply eco rock or marco rocks, or caribsea dry base rock that it doesnt make much sense to use it at this point.
I do think the large towers with lots of outcroppings would be cool to coat in acros, or in a soft coral tank lots of zoas. I just wonder why is so friggin expensive.
I do think the large towers with lots of outcroppings would be cool to coat in acros, or in a soft coral tank lots of zoas. I just wonder why is so friggin expensive.
>...I just wonder why is so friggin expensive.
There are certain additional costs associates with ceramic that may account for that. It is certainly more labor intensity, and large amount of energy is needed to fire the clay. Clay, in general, is more expensive, and the yeild for the firing process may be lower than 100%. The mixing of the clay can also be tricky. I am not into ceramic, so I have no idea how all these costs can justify the selling/asking price, but just to say that it would be more than mined products.
There are certain additional costs associates with ceramic that may account for that. It is certainly more labor intensity, and large amount of energy is needed to fire the clay. Clay, in general, is more expensive, and the yeild for the firing process may be lower than 100%. The mixing of the clay can also be tricky. I am not into ceramic, so I have no idea how all these costs can justify the selling/asking price, but just to say that it would be more than mined products.
I visited with the manufacturer of Vida Rock, a ceramic live rock substitute. This rock is manufactured in Salt Lake City Utah and is a very customizable product. While I was there they were making a custom background for a 150G Reef Tank. The background was constructed of 3 pieces and completely obscured the center overflow. It had many caves, arches and ledges. They had also sculpted several hundred freestanding pieces as well as plates and arches that can be stacked between the upright bases. Each piece is hand crafted and unique.
I spoke with Mark from CeramEco the manufacturer regarding the porosity of the porduct. He explained to me that the product gets its porosity from organic particles and fibers that are mixed into the clay. These particles completely burn off when fired leaving a clay thea is porous all the way through its structure. when water touches the fired clay it is immediately sucked deep into the rock. If it will host the proper bacteria this rock should be able to fucntion similarly to live rock when properly seeded.
Mark allowed me to select a few sample pieces from the batch that was ready to be fired. They are being fired today and I should have them by saturday. I will include some pictures of the rock when I get them and also pics of the tank they will be going into. I am looking forward to seeing how corals accept them as well as how they look once colonized with coraline and other algae. Overall I was quite impressed with the product.
I spoke with Mark from CeramEco the manufacturer regarding the porosity of the porduct. He explained to me that the product gets its porosity from organic particles and fibers that are mixed into the clay. These particles completely burn off when fired leaving a clay thea is porous all the way through its structure. when water touches the fired clay it is immediately sucked deep into the rock. If it will host the proper bacteria this rock should be able to fucntion similarly to live rock when properly seeded.
Mark allowed me to select a few sample pieces from the batch that was ready to be fired. They are being fired today and I should have them by saturday. I will include some pictures of the rock when I get them and also pics of the tank they will be going into. I am looking forward to seeing how corals accept them as well as how they look once colonized with coraline and other algae. Overall I was quite impressed with the product.
This rock is really no different than other forms of artificial reef rock except with one main exception. It most likely doesn't need the curing time that many other forms do. Its unlikely that this will add much if anything to the water, I doubt it will add any appreciable form of calcium or carbonate to the water column.
This is very similar to volcanic rock in its porosity. The more organics they introduce the more porous it will be. I would also suspect that they have varying densities of rock based on needs or loads(structural).
Once in the water within a matter of days it will be fully covered with bacteria and working just like natural rock. Within a few weeks it will have coraline and in months completely covered depending on your tank conditions.
From the web site and others comments i see no real reason to not use this as starter rock or aesthetic rock to create some wonderful forms for your corals and fish.
I do disagree that taking of live rock destroys reefs however.(http://www.cerameco.com/gpage1.html). There is more rubble rock out there than all the reefers in the world can possibly use, and given the current collection methods it also helps promote the care and welfare of the reefs as a sustainable money generating effort by the locals.
This is very similar to volcanic rock in its porosity. The more organics they introduce the more porous it will be. I would also suspect that they have varying densities of rock based on needs or loads(structural).
Once in the water within a matter of days it will be fully covered with bacteria and working just like natural rock. Within a few weeks it will have coraline and in months completely covered depending on your tank conditions.
From the web site and others comments i see no real reason to not use this as starter rock or aesthetic rock to create some wonderful forms for your corals and fish.
I do disagree that taking of live rock destroys reefs however.(http://www.cerameco.com/gpage1.html). There is more rubble rock out there than all the reefers in the world can possibly use, and given the current collection methods it also helps promote the care and welfare of the reefs as a sustainable money generating effort by the locals.
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