OK Another ? Dead rock... What would I have to do to use dry dead rock? Is it a bad idea?

geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
Many of us use base rock, the equivalent of your "dead" rock. Base rock is used as filler, but you will need some truly live rock to bring desirable hitch hikers into your tank and to seed it with desirable bacteria. You will have to be patient if you use base rock to give the rock time to become "live", that is, populated with bacteria and other neat stuff. Be sure not to put any organisms into the tank that require a mature tank (anemones, for example) untill the rock is ready.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
I agree, it will become somewhat live. It will never be as good as freshly harvested live rock, but it will turn out to be good enough.
 
mkroher

mkroher

Member
When I started my tank, I had maybe 25lbs of "live rock". I then bought 50lbs of marco rocks (dry man-made dead rock). Six months later, I can't tell which rocks are which.
It's all about balancing the bio-load. That same 25lbs of live rock in a 55gal tank will filter the same bio-load in a 225gal tank. Introduce an imbalance (new fish), the bacteria will multiply to balance it again. This is why we (should) add new live stock slowly, and also the need to have test kits.
 
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