Kinds of LR

[Bojangles]

I'm fairly new at the marine tank and I just wanted to ask questions about the different types of LR. Right now I'm setting up a 200g semi-reef with mostly fish and 100lbs of live rock.

My question is if the different live rock have different functions to them or if its just preference, ie is one better for fish, flow, corals ect. Right now I'm looking into Caribbean (Haitian) or Tonga Branch. However, everywhere I look Fuji seems to be the main preference. I was wondering if there was a reason for this or is it just more readily available ect.

Thanks

 

[fredso2003]

From what I have read about live rock there are several different effects on your system depending on the type of live rock you use.I have read that "FIJI"is a lighter weight more porous rock that is more beneficial as a denytrifying filtration rock,I also read that "TONGA" is hevier and not as porous and is good for establishing a solid base or lower stable foundation,I also red that "MARSHALL" live rock from the marshall islands is lighter and very porous,I hope this helps!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Baianotang]

I agree on that but how about Carribean?

 

[hdtran]

I personally think LR is LR is LR (with apologies to ee cummings?). Get enough of it (whether aquacultured FL, which is relatively heavy) or aquacultured or collected Fiji or Tonga, and you'll have sufficient colonization for bacteria, bristleworms, pods, and the like for your tank.

I'm also a believer in having some LS (real stuff, not LS in a bag) in your substrate, and the item popularly known as a refugium, but supposedly more correctly termed an algae scrubber for additional nutrient export.

Choose your LR on the basis of esthetics is my opinion

Hy

p.s. Fuji apples are wonderful, and Fiji live rock is good, but I've never tasted Fiji apples or seen Fuji live rock 8)

 

[fredso2003]

:lol: YOU SAY FIJI I SAY FUJI AND VICE VERSA!!!!!!!!! :lol:

 

[hillbilly]

Most of the Fl. aquacultured LR I've seen were pieces that were kinda small and flat, which made aquascaping difficult. It looked like a "pile of rocks", not very interesting. It'll work, I just prefer interesting shapes to create caves and such. The stuff from the islands have the shapes I like.

 

[danmhippo]

Don't worry to much about denitrifying capability of LR. Just pick the shape and size that suit your tank best. If your tank turns out to be in optimum condition, pink and purple coralline algae will coat surfaces of any kind of rock make them absolutely indifferent from one island to another.

I've seen great tanks starting off with nothing but dead as dry base rocks.