mudplayerx
Active Member
Having just purchased another 50 pounds of live rock, I wanted to share some of my experiences. I hope this answers some questions.What is live rock?
Live rock is not actually alive. The term comes from the fact that the rock is populated with many micro and macroscopic organisms from the ocean. Most live rock is not rock at all, but rather the skeletons of dead corals and other calcareous creatures. Live rock can be either cultivated from the wild or farmed. Cultivated rock is generally collected pieces of rock that have broken off naturally and settled at the bottom of the ocean. Farmed rock is "dead rock" that has been dumped into the ocean and recollected after it has become alive.
What are the different types of live rock?
First of all, there is "inshore rock" and "outshore rock." This just explains from how far out in the ocean the rock was gathered. Inshore rock tends to have more desireable growth on it.
Live rock is further categorized by the geographic location from where is was gathered. The differences that occur from region to region are weight, shape, porosity, type of macroalgae & critters and price. I have found that the shape of the live rock impacts it's pricing more than any other factor. Oddly-shaped pieces with interesting features usually demand more dollars per pound than bulky, featureless pieces.
Some regions where live rock is collected from are: Fiji, Uaniva, Vanuatu, Tonga, Bali, Pohnpei, Alor, Haiti, etc. Most live rock is gathered from the shores of 3rd world countries, islands, and countries with lax collection limitations, for obvious reasons.
What is cured live rock, and why is it more expensive?
When live rock is extracted from the ocean, the act of removal from the seawater is traumatic for some organisms. Shipping the rock is also detrimental to the organisms on the live rock as there is little to no water in the packaging. These and other factors lead to a condition called "die off."
Die off is when some of the micro and macro-organisms living on the rock perish. This is inevitable no matter what precautions are taken. Certain organisms such as sponges and seaweed are almost guaranteed to die during the transition from ocean to tank. The ones that survive do so because they are either hardy, retreat to the center of the rock, or they live within the rock itself.
The reason "cured" rock is more expensive than "uncured" rock is that the seller has already gone through the process of letting the live rock undergo the die off phase, thus eliminating much work for the buyer. Curing rock can take anywhere from one week up to a month, and takes a labor force to manually remove some portions of the decay. Most shipped, cured live rock will still require further curing by the buyer, but the amount of time spent doing this will be drastically lowered.
How much does live rock cost?
The price of live rock varies greatly from seller to seller. I have personally seen prices ranging anywhere from $1.50 per pound all the way up to $10 per pound (2005). This aspect of the hobby requires research on the buyers' part. While one seller may have very inexpensive live rock, he/she may charge exorbitant shipping fees, and vice versa.
The price of your liverock generally reflects onto the quality of the rock itself. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. A good avenue for obtaining inexpensive live rock is the internet. Prices on the internet are generally very competative and tax free. Many internet sites also pay for shipping if you place a large enough order.
Local fish stores tend to be more expensive than the internet, especially when you figure in tax, but they have a couple of benefits over internet purchases. First of all in a local store you can personally inspect each piece before you buy it. This way you can be sure you are getting pieces with interesting shapes and good growths of coraline algae. Secondly, in a local store you can haggle for a better price. Many stores will give you very low rates if you buy in bulk, especially if you are a regular customer and have rapport with the staff.
Do your reasearch, visit internet forums, ask questions, and you should be able to match a good quality live rock with your budget.
Why do I need live rock?
Live rock acts as a giant filter in it's natural setting, the ocean. It contains the important bacteria that break down and process harmful chemicals realeased when creatures produce waste. The most toxic of these chemicals is ammonia, which is broken down into nitrites by one type of bacteria, and further down into nitrates by another type of bacteria.
Live rock is also populated by other organisms large enough to be seen by the
[hr]
eye. Although most of these are nocturnal and only come out at night, they are there. These consist of worms, arthropods, echinoderms, mollusks, etc. Most of these creatures are detrivores, which means they feed on the wastes of other creatures. While the main functions of these organisms are to keep the tank clean and the water quality pure, they also serve as food sources for your tank inhabitants.
Live rock (and base/dead rock) also provides the framework for reef tanks. If you plan on having invertebrates such as corals, anemones, feather dusters, etc, then you will need rockwork.
Aside from a protein skimmer, live rock is probably the most efficient means of keeping the water in your tank clean and pure.
How much live rock do I need?
The general rule of thumb for a reef tank is one to two pounds of liverock per gallon. However, one has to take the density of the rock into consideration before using this guideline. Depending on where the rock came from and what it is comprised of, two rocks of identical size can be very different in weight.
The best method, if possible, is to view the live rock before you buy is so that you can pick an appropriate size and density for your tank. There is nothing more dissapointing than ordering a shipment of live rock, only to find that you have a few very heavy pieces that do little in giving your tank that full reef look.
Why is base rock cheaper than live rock? Can I use it instead?
Base rock is also referred to as dead rock. It is completely dried out and contains absolutely no living organisms. Because of this, the rock needs no special holding tanks or shipping considerations, so it is much less exspensive than live rock
Many people opt to use base rock to create the foundation for thier live rock. This is when one layer of base rock is put into the tank, and the rest of the structure is built using live rock. Other hobbyists choose to build the entire structure from base rock and place just one or two pieces of live rock on the top, and wait for the live material to spread to the dead rock.
Some aquarists have highly negative views on base rock, while others have very positive views. In an effort to maintain a neutral point of view in this article, I will only state proven facts on the subject rather than opinion or less documented facts. Base rock is cheaper than live rock by a large degree. Base rock takes a considerably longer time to grow macroalgae and coraline algae than live rock (the good stuff). Live rock has a chance to contain both beneficial and malignant hitchikers on it, much to the joy or dissapointment to the hobbyist. Base rock has no chance of containing either. Base rock contributes nothing to helping a tank cycle.
Can I put live rock into my tank during my cycle?
Both cured and uncured live rock are safe to put into your tank during its initial cycle. In fact, live rock can be used to help cycle the tank instead of using bacterial additives, a dead shrimp, or the outmoded tactic of adding damselfish. One word of caution though: if you put uncured rock into a tank during the initial cycle, it will stink. I have heard of varying degrees of stink ranging from a slight, unpleasant odor around the tank to having a smell so foul that not even the dog would enter the room.
Cured rock can be put into a cycling tank but this will more than likely result in more die off due to unstable water conditions. This die off will help cycle the tank but the problem arises in your pocketbook. There is no reason to buy precured live rock if you plan on cycling your tank with it. Save a few dollars per pound and buy the uncured rock.
I have heard that adding live rock during a cycle can speed up the process in the range of anywhere from one week to three weeks.
Live rock is not actually alive. The term comes from the fact that the rock is populated with many micro and macroscopic organisms from the ocean. Most live rock is not rock at all, but rather the skeletons of dead corals and other calcareous creatures. Live rock can be either cultivated from the wild or farmed. Cultivated rock is generally collected pieces of rock that have broken off naturally and settled at the bottom of the ocean. Farmed rock is "dead rock" that has been dumped into the ocean and recollected after it has become alive.
What are the different types of live rock?
First of all, there is "inshore rock" and "outshore rock." This just explains from how far out in the ocean the rock was gathered. Inshore rock tends to have more desireable growth on it.
Live rock is further categorized by the geographic location from where is was gathered. The differences that occur from region to region are weight, shape, porosity, type of macroalgae & critters and price. I have found that the shape of the live rock impacts it's pricing more than any other factor. Oddly-shaped pieces with interesting features usually demand more dollars per pound than bulky, featureless pieces.
Some regions where live rock is collected from are: Fiji, Uaniva, Vanuatu, Tonga, Bali, Pohnpei, Alor, Haiti, etc. Most live rock is gathered from the shores of 3rd world countries, islands, and countries with lax collection limitations, for obvious reasons.
What is cured live rock, and why is it more expensive?
When live rock is extracted from the ocean, the act of removal from the seawater is traumatic for some organisms. Shipping the rock is also detrimental to the organisms on the live rock as there is little to no water in the packaging. These and other factors lead to a condition called "die off."
Die off is when some of the micro and macro-organisms living on the rock perish. This is inevitable no matter what precautions are taken. Certain organisms such as sponges and seaweed are almost guaranteed to die during the transition from ocean to tank. The ones that survive do so because they are either hardy, retreat to the center of the rock, or they live within the rock itself.
The reason "cured" rock is more expensive than "uncured" rock is that the seller has already gone through the process of letting the live rock undergo the die off phase, thus eliminating much work for the buyer. Curing rock can take anywhere from one week up to a month, and takes a labor force to manually remove some portions of the decay. Most shipped, cured live rock will still require further curing by the buyer, but the amount of time spent doing this will be drastically lowered.
How much does live rock cost?
The price of live rock varies greatly from seller to seller. I have personally seen prices ranging anywhere from $1.50 per pound all the way up to $10 per pound (2005). This aspect of the hobby requires research on the buyers' part. While one seller may have very inexpensive live rock, he/she may charge exorbitant shipping fees, and vice versa.
The price of your liverock generally reflects onto the quality of the rock itself. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. A good avenue for obtaining inexpensive live rock is the internet. Prices on the internet are generally very competative and tax free. Many internet sites also pay for shipping if you place a large enough order.
Local fish stores tend to be more expensive than the internet, especially when you figure in tax, but they have a couple of benefits over internet purchases. First of all in a local store you can personally inspect each piece before you buy it. This way you can be sure you are getting pieces with interesting shapes and good growths of coraline algae. Secondly, in a local store you can haggle for a better price. Many stores will give you very low rates if you buy in bulk, especially if you are a regular customer and have rapport with the staff.
Do your reasearch, visit internet forums, ask questions, and you should be able to match a good quality live rock with your budget.
Why do I need live rock?
Live rock acts as a giant filter in it's natural setting, the ocean. It contains the important bacteria that break down and process harmful chemicals realeased when creatures produce waste. The most toxic of these chemicals is ammonia, which is broken down into nitrites by one type of bacteria, and further down into nitrates by another type of bacteria.
Live rock is also populated by other organisms large enough to be seen by the
[hr]
eye. Although most of these are nocturnal and only come out at night, they are there. These consist of worms, arthropods, echinoderms, mollusks, etc. Most of these creatures are detrivores, which means they feed on the wastes of other creatures. While the main functions of these organisms are to keep the tank clean and the water quality pure, they also serve as food sources for your tank inhabitants.
Live rock (and base/dead rock) also provides the framework for reef tanks. If you plan on having invertebrates such as corals, anemones, feather dusters, etc, then you will need rockwork.
Aside from a protein skimmer, live rock is probably the most efficient means of keeping the water in your tank clean and pure.
How much live rock do I need?
The general rule of thumb for a reef tank is one to two pounds of liverock per gallon. However, one has to take the density of the rock into consideration before using this guideline. Depending on where the rock came from and what it is comprised of, two rocks of identical size can be very different in weight.
The best method, if possible, is to view the live rock before you buy is so that you can pick an appropriate size and density for your tank. There is nothing more dissapointing than ordering a shipment of live rock, only to find that you have a few very heavy pieces that do little in giving your tank that full reef look.
Why is base rock cheaper than live rock? Can I use it instead?
Base rock is also referred to as dead rock. It is completely dried out and contains absolutely no living organisms. Because of this, the rock needs no special holding tanks or shipping considerations, so it is much less exspensive than live rock
Many people opt to use base rock to create the foundation for thier live rock. This is when one layer of base rock is put into the tank, and the rest of the structure is built using live rock. Other hobbyists choose to build the entire structure from base rock and place just one or two pieces of live rock on the top, and wait for the live material to spread to the dead rock.
Some aquarists have highly negative views on base rock, while others have very positive views. In an effort to maintain a neutral point of view in this article, I will only state proven facts on the subject rather than opinion or less documented facts. Base rock is cheaper than live rock by a large degree. Base rock takes a considerably longer time to grow macroalgae and coraline algae than live rock (the good stuff). Live rock has a chance to contain both beneficial and malignant hitchikers on it, much to the joy or dissapointment to the hobbyist. Base rock has no chance of containing either. Base rock contributes nothing to helping a tank cycle.
Can I put live rock into my tank during my cycle?
Both cured and uncured live rock are safe to put into your tank during its initial cycle. In fact, live rock can be used to help cycle the tank instead of using bacterial additives, a dead shrimp, or the outmoded tactic of adding damselfish. One word of caution though: if you put uncured rock into a tank during the initial cycle, it will stink. I have heard of varying degrees of stink ranging from a slight, unpleasant odor around the tank to having a smell so foul that not even the dog would enter the room.
Cured rock can be put into a cycling tank but this will more than likely result in more die off due to unstable water conditions. This die off will help cycle the tank but the problem arises in your pocketbook. There is no reason to buy precured live rock if you plan on cycling your tank with it. Save a few dollars per pound and buy the uncured rock.
I have heard that adding live rock during a cycle can speed up the process in the range of anywhere from one week to three weeks.
