is it possible to have cold water live rock in a tropical marine aquarium?

S

saxman

Guest
Welcome...it just so happens that my wife (seahorsedreams here on SWF) is from Topsail just outside of St. John's. She's a very sharp aquarist, and I just IM'd her for her opinion.
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
A Newfie!!! You made my day!
As long as you are not taking anything from St. John's harbour or waters with an active wharf, you'll be fine as far as contaminants. The harbour goes without saying, even if they DID fix "The Bubble". But we could taste when inverts were tied up to wharfs for any length of time, as you could taste boat diesel. We go to Topsail Beach, walk out to our knees, collect some saltwater and cook us a fine feed of Lobster. Newfoundlanders respect their water like not many I've met. You cannot picture US based bodies of water and compare them with Newfoundland.
Having said that, what kind of rock would you be getting? Something other than the traditional beach rock? Is there stuff out there that isn't the smooth stuff I'm use to seeing? I'm trying to picture what we would see out snorkelling, but I can't seem to remember. If it's porous, it's good. If it's the heavy smooth stuff, it's not.
I don't know what would survive the temperature differences, but if it's porous rock, it would re-habitat itself in time.
Do you have any pictures of the rock?
Avoid ecological reserves and you'll be fine legally.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeriDoc http:///t/394374/is-it-possible-to-have-cold-water-live-rock-in-a-tropical-marine-aquarium#post_3510350
You are right - fake rock (I have lots of it in my 220 FOWLR) provides surface for aerobic bacteria that take ammonium through to nitrates, but the conversion of low toxicity nitrates to zero toxicity nitrogen can only occur where there is no oxygen (so-called anaerobic conditions). The pores in porous rock provide low oxygen and slow movement of water so that processing can occur. Wet/dry trickle filters are known as being nitrate factories because the bio-balls are specifically designed to maximize exposure to atmospheric oxygen, so they produce nitrates from the fish waste. Either water changes, or anaerobic conditions are required to complete the nitrogen cycle.
I never had heard of that, but it sounds pretty "professor-like"...LOL... Looks like we may have another heavy thinker among us. (I mean that in a very good way)
I would like to hear what "Mrs" Saxman has to say too...she hasn't been on here in a while.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
I never had heard of that, but it sounds pretty "professor-like"...LOL... Looks like we may have another heavy thinker among us. (I mean that in a very good way)
I would like to hear what "Mrs" Saxman has to say too...she hasn't been on here in a while.
Haha, he is a professor!
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by mike001 http:///t/394374/is-it-possible-to-have-cold-water-live-rock-in-a-tropical-marine-aquarium#post_3510176
Hello Everyone
Im soon about to make the big jump from fresh to salt water. And the Question i have is: I live in Newfoundland and find lots of live rock either on the beach or stuck into fishing nets. and i was wondering have anyone tried to use these cold water live rocks into a tropical marine set-up?
Live rock is $11.99 a LB and i have to drive 6 hrs to the nearest LPS But the beach and water that i find these live rock are pristine.
IMHO if you start you tank with lotsa algae (macros or algae turf scrubber) what rock you use is irrelevant.
my .02
 
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