If you could start over: Live Rock or Dry?

joshbryer · 08/14/2010, 09:52 AM

I posed this question in my build thread, and I'm getting some response, but I thought I'd open it up to a wider audience.

With the goal of keeping a successful sps tank, if you could start over from scratch and build a new tank, would you use Dry rock or Live? Why? Cost should be ignored as a factor.

Thanks!

phenom5 · 08/14/2010, 10:08 AM

I'd go with dry rock if I were to start over, and that's probably the route I'll go on future tanks.

For me cost is a big factor. Beyond that...Pest free, less of an impact on the reefs, easier to aquascape (because you can set it up, drill it, use acrylice rods/ PVC racks/ foam/ etc all while it's dry), and the shapes I've seen out of stuff like the BRS rock & Marco Rocks is fantastic.

Reefphile · 08/14/2010, 10:16 AM

Definitely dry rocks. 2 main of reasons:

1. All the unwanted pests in live rock (crabs, algae, etc.); and
2. It takes longer to cure live rock (even if purchased as "live rock").

In a couple months all dry rock will turn into live rock in your system. IMO, it's better to add what you want to add than to have to take out what you didn't intend to add to the system.

Reefer Steve · 08/14/2010, 12:26 PM

+1
All future tanks will be started with dead rock that I seed. I am more concerned about nutrients locked in the surface of the rock than anything.

lolgranny · 08/14/2010, 01:20 PM

I typically go LR, but it makes sense what these guys say. Although how do u "seed" dry rock?

Mr. Brooks · 08/14/2010, 01:36 PM

100% dry no question.

jgrog76 · 08/14/2010, 01:41 PM

Done both. Dry is the way to go! I will never buy live rock again.

SAZAMA · 08/14/2010, 02:02 PM

dry rock for sculpting and epoxing every thing together...

joshbryer · 08/14/2010, 05:03 PM

Thanks for the responses! Keep them coming.... Has anyone had specific experiences that have motivated their answer?

Gary Majchrzak · 08/14/2010, 05:14 PM

real liverock all the way.

save the dead dry rock for FOWLR's.

wickedfish · 08/14/2010, 06:18 PM

I would only add live pieces that have been with me a year or more that had to be added but dry all the way you can aquascape without all the mess.

T Diddy · 08/14/2010, 06:47 PM

I think we have a winner...

buy_baff · 08/14/2010, 07:23 PM

Dry for sure.

lolgranny · 08/14/2010, 07:30 PM

Im about to setup a new tank this week and im torn on what to do. My buddy just got some rock from DR.Mac and it looks amazing. Im going bare bottom on the new tank so i figure this might be the route to go just to ensure i can cement them all together..

hmmmm

iap · 08/14/2010, 07:46 PM

Setting up another tank right now using dry rock. I've got some marco look alike rock. Bout the acrylic rods and epoxy. What is the easesr way to drill it without it crumbling? Masonry bit or what?

joshbryer · 08/14/2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolgranny

Im about to setup a new tank this week and im torn on what to do. My buddy just got some rock from DR.Mac and it looks amazing. Im going bare bottom on the new tank so i figure this might be the route to go just to ensure i can cement them all together..

hmmmm

Yea, though I'm leaning towards dry rock for ease of aquascaping, lack of bad tempered hitchhikers and nuisance algae, I still am going back and forth due to biodiversity issues.

JSeymour · 08/14/2010, 10:34 PM

I just setup my newest tank with all diy rock. I'm so glad I did. No nutient issues. No hydroids, aiptasia, crabs, mantis shrimp, etc. I was a bit worried about biodiversity, so I added things from other tanks of mine as well as tanks from work, bacteria, coralline, mini turbos, those little white sponges, ball sponges, copepods, small bristleworms, mini serpent stars, pygmy conch, etc. The 5 lb. of chaeto I added helped alot too. I also added the water from my frozen foods for the first week as well as carbon dosed. The tank is barely a month old, and I have undetectable nitrates and phosphates, my alkalinity is stable, and it's stocked with numerous acros and a couple fish that get fed 3-5 times daily. Definitely the fastest reef I've cycled to date.

reef_doug · 08/14/2010, 11:03 PM

Dry rock 90% with a couple pcs of LR from an established tank, (inspect for pests & aiptasia), not uncured stuff.

Felixc395 · 08/14/2010, 11:30 PM

I couldn't agree more with reef doug. Using both types is the best of both worlds. Using some liverock for biodiversity and live rock for aquascaping and no pests. It's the route that I'm going to go with my new 75 gallon.

Zire · 08/15/2010, 03:48 AM

Definitely dry rock, then just throw one pest free rock from a well established tank and potentially a little bit of live sand in and call it a day. Takes a little longer sure but no pests, cheaper and easier to work with.

Nanook · 08/15/2010, 05:20 AM

Liverock for me because of the biodiversity it adds.

Gary Majchrzak · 08/15/2010, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanook

Liverock for me because of the biodiversity it adds.

interesting. The two lifers in this thread chose real liverock.............

SDguy · 08/15/2010, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Majchrzak

interesting. The two lifers in this thread chose real liverock.............

Make that 3

joshbryer · 08/15/2010, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Majchrzak

interesting. The two lifers in this thread chose real liverock.............

That is interesting indeed. Obviously you have pretty strong feelings on the subject, so what about your live rock experience makes it worth the pest issues?

Gary Majchrzak · 08/15/2010, 09:35 AM

biodiversity

08/14/2010, 09:52 AM	#1
joshbryer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 237	If you could start over: Live Rock or Dry? I posed this question in my build thread, and I'm getting some response, but I thought I'd open it up to a wider audience. With the goal of keeping a successful sps tank, if you could start over from scratch and build a new tank, would you use Dry rock or Live? Why? Cost should be ignored as a factor. Thanks!

08/14/2010, 10:16 AM	#3
Reefphile Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 110	Definitely dry rocks. 2 main of reasons: 1. All the unwanted pests in live rock (crabs, algae, etc.); and 2. It takes longer to cure live rock (even if purchased as "live rock"). In a couple months all dry rock will turn into live rock in your system. IMO, it's better to add what you want to add than to have to take out what you didn't intend to add to the system. __________________ Andy -------------------- 36x24x18 rimless SPS dominated tank, Hamilton Cebu 250W radium + 4 39W T5's, ATB 840 v1.5, mp40, 2 mp10's, Tunze silence return, APEX controller, BM 3 pump doser.

08/14/2010, 12:26 PM	#4
Reefer Steve Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Laguna Beach Posts: 271	+1 All future tanks will be started with dead rock that I seed. I am more concerned about nutrients locked in the surface of the rock than anything. __________________ More than a hobby Current Tank Info: 29g SPS Tank. 12g Sump, ER RS-135, 2x K3s, 8x 24w T5HO

08/14/2010, 02:02 PM	#8
SAZAMA Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northglenn ,Colorado Posts: 639	dry rock for sculpting and epoxing every thing together... __________________ I enjoy long walks, next to my reef tank...LOVE 303 Current Tank Info: water box

08/14/2010, 05:14 PM	#10
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	real liverock all the way. save the dead dry rock for FOWLR's. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

08/14/2010, 10:08 AM	#2
phenom5 Unregistered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,096	I'd go with dry rock if I were to start over, and that's probably the route I'll go on future tanks. For me cost is a big factor. Beyond that...Pest free, less of an impact on the reefs, easier to aquascape (because you can set it up, drill it, use acrylice rods/ PVC racks/ foam/ etc all while it's dry), and the shapes I've seen out of stuff like the BRS rock & Marco Rocks is fantastic.

08/14/2010, 01:20 PM	#5
lolgranny The DQ King Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chicago (McHenry) Posts: 2,414	I typically go LR, but it makes sense what these guys say. Although how do u "seed" dry rock?

08/14/2010, 01:36 PM	#6
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	100% dry no question.

08/14/2010, 01:41 PM	#7
jgrog76 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 430	Done both. Dry is the way to go! I will never buy live rock again.

08/14/2010, 05:03 PM	#9
joshbryer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 237	Thanks for the responses! Keep them coming.... Has anyone had specific experiences that have motivated their answer?

08/14/2010, 06:18 PM	#11
wickedfish Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southbay Posts: 2,167	I would only add live pieces that have been with me a year or more that had to be added but dry all the way you can aquascape without all the mess.

08/14/2010, 06:47 PM	#12
T Diddy Slayer of Mice Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Augusta, Ga Posts: 1,338	I think we have a winner... __________________ America's best are not in America. Current Tank Info: 140 Gallon DSA in-wall, foam/rock wall, DIY LED, 40g sump, Precision Marine Skimmer, 100 gallon refugium, NO3, PO4,NH3/4 undetectable, Mg, Ca, KH...eeehhhhhh?

08/14/2010, 07:23 PM	#13
buy_baff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,180	Dry for sure. __________________ 150g sps display with basement sump.

08/14/2010, 07:30 PM	#14
lolgranny The DQ King Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chicago (McHenry) Posts: 2,414	Im about to setup a new tank this week and im torn on what to do. My buddy just got some rock from DR.Mac and it looks amazing. Im going bare bottom on the new tank so i figure this might be the route to go just to ensure i can cement them all together.. hmmmm

08/14/2010, 07:46 PM	#15
iap BOSS Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 691	Setting up another tank right now using dry rock. I've got some marco look alike rock. Bout the acrylic rods and epoxy. What is the easesr way to drill it without it crumbling? Masonry bit or what?

08/14/2010, 10:34 PM	#17
JSeymour Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 513	I just setup my newest tank with all diy rock. I'm so glad I did. No nutient issues. No hydroids, aiptasia, crabs, mantis shrimp, etc. I was a bit worried about biodiversity, so I added things from other tanks of mine as well as tanks from work, bacteria, coralline, mini turbos, those little white sponges, ball sponges, copepods, small bristleworms, mini serpent stars, pygmy conch, etc. The 5 lb. of chaeto I added helped alot too. I also added the water from my frozen foods for the first week as well as carbon dosed. The tank is barely a month old, and I have undetectable nitrates and phosphates, my alkalinity is stable, and it's stocked with numerous acros and a couple fish that get fed 3-5 times daily. Definitely the fastest reef I've cycled to date. __________________ - Jason Seymour Current Tank Info: Saltwater only? It takes two buckets of salt to do a 10% water change...

08/14/2010, 11:03 PM	#18
reef_doug Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hesperia/Apple Valley Posts: 3,814	Dry rock 90% with a couple pcs of LR from an established tank, (inspect for pests & aiptasia), not uncured stuff. __________________ "If you have more than one tank in your livingroom, you might be a reefneck" Current Tank Info: 180r SoCal Creations, 75g SCC1M Sump, WM EcoBAK, NextReef SMR1, TropicMarin Salt, ACIII, 3x250w HQI Phoenix 14k, 2x140w Super Actinics, ATi BM250, Eheim 1262, Tunze 2x6100+7095, Tunze Osmolator, 6 stage RODI w/ Spectrapure MaxCap

08/14/2010, 11:30 PM	#19
Felixc395 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,612	I couldn't agree more with reef doug. Using both types is the best of both worlds. Using some liverock for biodiversity and live rock for aquascaping and no pests. It's the route that I'm going to go with my new 75 gallon.

08/15/2010, 03:48 AM	#20
Zire Moved On Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Canada, Ontario Posts: 187	Definitely dry rock, then just throw one pest free rock from a well established tank and potentially a little bit of live sand in and call it a day. Takes a little longer sure but no pests, cheaper and easier to work with.

08/15/2010, 05:20 AM	#21
Nanook Ancient Eskimo Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 41,852 Blog Entries: 11	Liverock for me because of the biodiversity it adds. __________________ The wind blew, the chit flew, and then they came two by two. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Tank Info: 375g Tanganyikan Tank & 470g mixed reef

08/15/2010, 09:35 AM	#25
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	my short answer: biodiversity __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

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