Seeded Dry Rock V Live Rock

[jake296]

Hi all,

Recently set up a new tank and I have sand and dry rock from a 18 month old nano setup which can go in the sump. Main display is marco dry rock.

I’ve smashed up the rock to throw in the sump as the whole rocks were too big for the chamber. Question is, do you think this will have enough biodiversity to get the tank up and running fairly quickly or would adding some genuine live rock be a big benefit or just a waste of money? I’m a bit worried about adding random critters with live rock, hence why I’m a bit sceptical and hoping it will be enough without. On the other hand, I aren’t the most patient guy and want to get basic SPS in the tank as soon as possible (6 months I’m thinking). What do people think?

Tia

 

[Dan_P]

Hi all,

Recently set up a new tank and I have sand and dry rock from a 18 month old nano setup which can go in the sump. Main display is marco dry rock.

I’ve smashed up the rock to throw in the sump as the whole rocks were too big for the chamber. Question is, do you think this will have enough biodiversity to get the tank up and running fairly quickly or would adding some genuine live rock be a big benefit or just a waste of money? I’m a bit worried about adding random critters with live rock, hence why I’m a bit sceptical and hoping it will be enough without. On the other hand, I aren’t the most patient guy and want to get basic SPS in the tank as soon as possible (6 months I’m thinking). What do people think?

Tia

If you are asking whether the old smashed up rock can get rid of ammonia, the answer is “yes”, but I would go ahead and confirm how well it does by dosing a few tenths ppm ammonium chloride and observing how long it takes to disappear. Simple right?

As for “is there enough biodiversity”, there is no correlation available between success growing SPS and a list of organisms. Biodiversity is a badly abused term in this hobby

Good luck with the new aquarium.

 

[Uncle99]

That’s fine,

Maintain stable chemistry to speed development and reduce pest type algae’s and bacteria.

 

[Outlaw Corals]

Live rock is king !!! that macro rock is , you will run into nitrate and phosphate issues down the line, everyone i know that put that stuff in their tank’s all tell me the same thing, “ i should have went with live rock”, don’t rush for anything it takes time so be patient and you will have better success

 

[Oldreefer44]

Suggest watching this weeks Reef Bum. Tells you all you need to know about dry rock.

 

[jake296]

Thanks all for the replies. Appreciate it.

I guess what I really was asking was whether the transfer of the rock and sand would be adequate from the nano (which had SPS) will be enough to seed this one for success. But time will tell, I’m expecting many humps along the road like the rest of you. Just nice to try and get things going and help the tank along the best I can.

I’ll watch that reefbum episode, thanks for the heads up.

Jake

 

[William Chiavetta]

Live rock is king !!! that macro rock is , you will run into nitrate and phosphate issues down the line, everyone i know that put that stuff in their tank’s all tell me the same thing, “ i should have went with live rock”, don’t rush for anything it takes time so be patient and you will have better success

+1 to this

 

[twentyleagues]

Plenty of successful tanks started with marco dry rock.
Plenty of successful tanks started with live rock from the ocean or from the lfs.
Is it different yes is one better than the other its debatable.

@jake296 What size is the new tank and how many pounds of cycled rock do you have? Either way it will probably be fine and insta cycle your new tank. Good luck on the new tank!

 

[gassdoc]

Suggest watching this weeks Reef Bum. Tells you all you need to know about dry rock.

Which episode is it? None of them are dated for that week. What was the title??

 

[danimal1211]

Suggest watching this weeks Reef Bum. Tells you all you need to know about dry rock.

Reef Bum discusses his woes with a certain brand of dry rock that is not Marco Rock.