dry vs uncured LR

[benthos]

would there be any difference in the time it takes to cycle with dry rock compared to uncured rock? would either be more benificial than the other?

 

[Anonymous]

If you mean dry, as in the decorative rock that is setting in boxes, then I think you will find that the denitrifying bacteria will not be present in significant ammounts. Using uncured live rock you could get all the die-off you could ever hope for to start a cycle.

With the dry rock you will probably need to feed the tank to kickstart the nitrogen cycle.

 

[benthos]

right, I understand that bacteria would need to be present and In my case would be seeded from some LS from another tank. My point is in trying to save money setting up a new tank...there is a LFS that has a couple boxes of aragonite rock that is dried out for like a dollar a pound.
compared to uncured for 3 to 5 a pound, your going to lose some coraline either way but would the cycle take twice as long waiting for dry rock to absorb all the denitrifying bacteria?

 

[fireblade]

I was once told to avoid using dry rock because you can never really know for sure why it is dry, ie did it come from a tank that was dosed with copper, in which case the tank crashed and items were returned to your lfs. You might want to look into where the rock came from if possible.

 

[Anonymous]

I have used dry base rock in tanks before. It never occured to me it may have been exposed to something unsuitable for your tank, but I guess that is something to think about!!!

After a while it becomes just like live rock. But it will not look as attractive at first.

 

[ZooKeeper1]

You can buy the stuff from CaribSea. It is a great base rock. It is just petrified coral skeletons. I used it, and nobody can tell the difference. Coralline covers the rock very quickly.

 

[benthos]

I was once told to avoid using dry rock because you can never really know for sure why it is dry, ie did it come from a tank that was dosed with copper, in which case the tank crashed and items were returned to your lfs. You might want to look into where the rock came from if possible.

good point, I'll stay away from the stuff at the LFS

ordered a 40lb box of reef bones just the other day, would of been around a $1 a lb but with shipping, etc...

I didnt know this stuff was around, I wonder why I dont hear more people saving money this way. I will be finishing the tank off with some nice looking cured pieces, thanks for the tip

 

[Anonymous]

I used about 50% base rock in my tank and was happy with the decision. Most of the base rock ended up under the Hati rock I used for the rest.