Dry rock v live rock

[arawona1964]

Please help me decide what one .
Can you out live Rick in the sump and dry rock in the display

 

[19Mateo83]

There is no comparison to live rock. Definitely go live rock.

 

[arawona1964]

I’m thinking that way tbh everything I read says live
Thanks

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Live rock gets my vote every single time. Increased biodiversity in your tank is the biggest reason to get live rock over dry.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Live rock hands down. Its the reason I could add nems immediately to a new tank. The bio diversity you get cannot be bought in a bottle like live rock.

Yes you can use dry rock in the display and live rock in the sump. Or mix and match. I know for some the aquascape will be hard with live rock. So mix and matching in display is also something you can do.

 

[X-37B]

Go 100% live if you can afford it. 50/50 minimum. I did 35lbs of caribsea and 35lbs of live rock in my old 120.
This was the result.

 

[Waters]

Depends on what you are looking for? Live rock offers better biodiversity....dry rock gives you more options when creating scapes. They can both be successful. Either way, even if going dry, I would recommend at least a piece or two of live in the sump. My current tank was all dry because I wanted to create some complex shapes which are easier to mortar together with light, dry rock.

 

[arawona1964]

Thanks everyone for all your replies I’m going to go dry in the display and live in the sump and let it do its thing I’m in nor rush so easy does it

 

[arawona1964]

Go 100% live if you can afford it. 50/50 minimum. I did 35lbs of caribsea and 35lbs of live rock in my old 120.
This was the result.

Amazing
It’s not money it’s scaping if I go 50 display dry 50 lineup should be good

 

[BZOFIQ]

LR

 

[steveschuerger]

I contemplated doing a bit of dry to make creating specific structures easier, but decided in the end to do all live. 10 lbs base from KP, 15 lbs primo from Gulf Live Rock for the 25 gallon I’m setting up. Always used live for initial set up.

 

[X-37B]

Amazing
It’s not money it’s scaping if I go 50 display dry 50 lineup should be good

The dead rock will get the uglies. After 6 months your dead will look like live rock.
I don't, but many do with success, add live to the sump and an all dead rock scape. Just make sure the sump has adequate light for all the live rock.

 

[BryanM]

If you can afford it, live rock FTW.

 

[X-37B]

My new 112 will get around 50-75lbs of live rock.
My current 15g aio 10 months from live rock start.

 

[Waters]

This tank was set up with 99% dry marco rock....one piece of live rock in the sump. This tank is about 9 months old. Never had anything undesirable on the rocks at all. You can see the two pieces of additional dry rock I just added for comparison. My last several tanks have been set up the same way. I just add microbacter clean daily for about two weeks then microbacter 7 for a couple of weeks. That plus the single piece of live rock in the sump has worked very well for me. Add CUC as soon as you are able.

 

[tbrown]

I have not ever done live rock, unfortunately. I'm far from opposed to it though!

I have always started my tanks with old, dead rock other tank tear downs or from making my own Aragocrete rocks. Live rock definitely has some perks and benefits that Aragocrete and dry rock don't.