live rock or not live rock? that is the question.

[angelofdeath132]

i want to put about 60 lbs. of live rock in my 55 gal. for filtration but my wife thinks live rock is ugly. she wants to put in this artificial rock thats made to look like live rock but with brighter colors instead. what should i do? go 30 lbs. artificial and 30 lbs. live?

 

[jakob4001]

you could compromise; but putting in man made decorations might mean higher maintenance; other words most likely that would give nuisance algae a place to grow & therefore would have to be cleaned...hmmm it is best to add most/all your LR at one time so as to prevent constant many cycles from occuring; but you could add the 30 lbs which is not really much; after a week or so; make it a point to check it out w/ a flash light after hour or so of lights out...there should be all kinds of life all over it that may not come out until night; also, eventually if done w/ proper water parameters & lighting, the purple coraline algae should spread over the rock & possibly on the glass as well...

 

[rockster]

I am not too sure about these artificial decors with paint. I don't know if they are reef safe or not. Be sure to inquire before you purchase one. I would try to convince your wife to get the LR instead. A good strategy is to take her to your LFS and let her choose the rocks herself.

 

[fshhub]

lr, is kinda ugly at first until all the pretty stuff grows, yes, but it also adds more to the system than just looks, like food and filtration as well, it is worth enduring the unattractiveness for a while to have it, trust me
and as mentioned, artificial rock is not always reef safe, including the stuff that is not painted, often the make up of the rock is not something i would put in a reef b/c the damage taht can be done(including lava rock which most think is safe)
you have to watch much more than just paint, the minerals in many rocks are not safe for sw and can destroy more than you think, even if it is safe for fw
hth

 

[glenn]

Artificial rock will get algea growth on it real quick. I had some and was cleaning it ever 3 weeks because of growth. At the time water quality was good with no high nitrates or phosphates. Live rock may not be the prettiest thing untill the coraline grows but looks much better than an algea covered piece of fake.
Glenn

 

[dinhouse]

Have you tried showing her a tank that has been up and running for a few years to show her all the different colors of coraline? Most of the fake stuff is really expensive where I live and in time it just becomes a haven for unwanted algae. Most of it also begins to fade over time.

 

[glazer]

Eye of the beholder??
Um, I have never seen a rock I didn't love!..lol
Don't put plastic rocks in your tank whatever you do man! Kids will make fun of you then there is the fights by the bike rack, then suspended then you start smokin and hangin with wrong crowd, then tattoos, then..... Oh wait, that was me,LOL
Curious though... has your wife ever seen GOOD rock especially after it has grown out? Gotta be some of natures finest work I think... kinda like having a aqua-Monet.

 

[striker]

I had thought about artificial decorations before starting out my tank but thank goodness I went with lr. It was the best part of building my reef. I was only going to have 20lbs in my 29 gallon but after the first delivery I was amazed with the quality, colors and life that was on it. I can't wait to start out a new tank just so I can order lr again. There are different types you can purchase. Tonga, fiji, aquacultured, etc... I went with premium aquacultured and was 100% happy with my choice. It costs way cheaper than decorations and will be an integral part to your biofiltration and overall quality of water. Don't make the mistake of buying decorations.

 

[sal t. nutz]

You telling me you really don't think this is pretty LR? This is what my LFS sells
<a href="http://community.webshots.com/photo/40984599/41557743tHpLUr" target="_blank">Good Live Rock</a>

 

[broomer5]

If I were in your shoes angelofdeath, I'd add the 60 lbs of live rock .... and get my wife her own 55 gallon tank to tinker with
Fake stuff in a marine tank looks like fake stuff in a marine tank.
Seriously - find a way to convince your wife that 100% live rock is the way to go.
I find that either jewelry or dinner out and a movie works well.