Caribsea Liferock Verdict

[Aaron75]

What's the verdict on Caribsea Liferock? I know it's not live. But, will it work? I don't want to spend $25/lb on Australian live, or $140 total for 20lb from Tampa Live if I can get 20lb life rock for $75 and ultimately get the same end product. I've seen stuff about not getting Coraline or it not being porous because it's painted. I'm just trying to set up a 15 gallon cube. I'd appreciate any input.

 

[sc50964]

Been using nothing but caribsea LR for all my FOWLR for the past few years - so far so good!

 

[Tamberav]

What's the verdict on Caribsea Liferock? I know it's not live. But, will it work? I don't want to spend $25/lb on Australian live, or $140 total for 20lb from Tampa Live if I can get 20lb life rock for $75 and ultimately get the same end product. I've seen stuff about not getting Coraline or it not being porous because it's painted. I'm just trying to set up a 15 gallon cube. I'd appreciate any input.

It is not the same, not even in the end, well maybe in 10 years…but you can set up a tank with life rock or dry rock. Many do it. It just may take longer to stabilize. Especially if you want SPS.

If you just want beginner corals and fish for awhile then it isn’t as big of an impact. The one down side is pests can sometimes be more of a problem because there are no competitors in a young tank. Just need to be on the look out and never let your nutrients hit 0.

 

[HBtank]

What's the verdict on Caribsea Liferock? I know it's not live. But, will it work? I don't want to spend $25/lb on Australian live, or $140 total for 20lb from Tampa Live if I can get 20lb life rock for $75 and ultimately get the same end product. I've seen stuff about not getting Coraline or it not being porous because it's painted. I'm just trying to set up a 15 gallon cube. I'd appreciate any input.

I would use both, liferock has more potential for aquascaping and Australian live (what I would use) will seed the tank with diversity.

 

[anthonymckay]

My tank is 30% live rock from my old tank, and 70% caribsea liferock. After a couple months it's all covered in Coraline, etc, just like all my live rock. Haven't had any issues, tank is stable and coral is growing really well.

 

[Aaron75]

Keep the responses coming. So far I have 2 great reviews and 2 that leave me on the fence.

Been using nothing but caribsea LR for all my FOWLR for the past few years - so far so good!

Years huh, that's promising? Did it fade or chip or anything like that?

 

[trandk]

No issues here. Covered in coralline with months.

 

[sc50964]

Keep the responses coming. So far I have 2 great reviews and 2 that leave me on the fence.

Years huh, that's promising? Did it fade or chip or anything like that?

No chipping but some did fade a little

 

[AydenLincoln]

I love CaribSea rock. Petco also sells live rock or you can get live rock that was once dry super cheap at most fish stores it’s typically called base rock and seeded with bacteria.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I'd definitely go with at least some live rock from the ocean for the biodiversity... although it's definitely possible to have a successful tank with all dry rock, the biodiversity live ocean rock gives you will speed up the maturation process, lessen the ugly stage depending on how much you use you may be able to totally bypass that stage, and you can't really artificially recreate the bacterial diversity found on wild or maricultured live rock...first two statements are my opinions but the last is a fact

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I'd definitely go with at least some live rock from the ocean for the biodiversity... although it's definitely possible to have a successful tank with all dry rock, the biodiversity live ocean rock gives you will speed up the maturation process, lessen the ugly stage depending on how much you use you may be able to totally bypass that stage, and you can't really artificially recreate the bacterial diversity found on wild or maricultured live rock...first two statements are my opinions but the last is a fact

I have a plan/idea... we ship @AydenLincoln some real live rock she will have to put it in something... Then she will discover "The Magic" LOL...

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I have a plan/idea... we ship @AydenLincoln some real live rock she will have to put it in something... Then she will discover "The Magic" LOL...

I'll ship some over to her from BKK fresh out of the ocean haha

 

[Sink_or_Swim]

I love it. You can get some really cool shapes to work with. It's a nice color (I've also tried "RealReef" Rock and it's too reddish looking for my taste). I've had some minor chips on mine when receiving shipped pieces, and unfortunately it is white underneath, BUT I was able to glue some little chips back on just fine and covered any other white spots with purple marco cement. It IS heavy though, and dense, just be aware. I actually like the weight since I have fish who burrow around the base of it and I know it won't move. To make up for the lack of as much porosity as other types of rock, I have a bunch of MarinePure bioballs in my filter for extra biological filtration, and a 3-4" sandbed. Last big plus - no hitchhikers (some people consider that a minus, but not me). So basically, I give it two thumbs up, lol.

 

[d2mini]

Not live???

 

[old salt reefer]

Nothing but CaribSea Liferock in my newest tank(coming up on 2 years old). I guess the only con to it would be it's not as porous as dry rock. So I would say dry rock with Microbacter7 is the same thing starting and better in the long run.

 

[anthonymckay]

For reference, this is my 4mo old tank with ~70-80% Caribsea Liferock. It's all completely covered in coraline at this point.