I just can't stay out of this thread, haha
One more thought...
I've experimented with a lot of the products and sources mentioned in this thread (this topic is very, very up my alley) and I've found that there is a scale of effectiveness as it pertains to the diversity of the biome and the perceived benefits on the tank. Now this is of course just my own experience through observations on my own tanks/systems and fellow reefers I've worked with who have wanted to improve biome.
Toward the top of the list, you start to talk about things that I think show actual evidence in effectiveness. True live rock will straight up skip your tank's need for a cycle. It also adds instant maturity. You know – the same stuff that people like to talk about when they tell people they need to wait a year before adding things like acropora to a tank. When I've started tanks with KPA rock, I begin adding acropora in the first week. And these are the tanks that have been my most successful tanks. No ugly stage, no bacterial imbalances resulting in dinos and cyano that re-occur over and over. And less general "mysteries" that seem to plague tanks started with dry rock and dead sand.
Also notable with my "list of effectiveness", is that the general association with hitchhikers and perceived pests rises as you move up the list.
One more thought...
I've experimented with a lot of the products and sources mentioned in this thread (this topic is very, very up my alley) and I've found that there is a scale of effectiveness as it pertains to the diversity of the biome and the perceived benefits on the tank. Now this is of course just my own experience through observations on my own tanks/systems and fellow reefers I've worked with who have wanted to improve biome.
- Bottled bacterias come in at the bottom of the list
- Live mud is in the middle
- Live sand in the middle, usually above live mud
- Live rock is at the top
Toward the top of the list, you start to talk about things that I think show actual evidence in effectiveness. True live rock will straight up skip your tank's need for a cycle. It also adds instant maturity. You know – the same stuff that people like to talk about when they tell people they need to wait a year before adding things like acropora to a tank. When I've started tanks with KPA rock, I begin adding acropora in the first week. And these are the tanks that have been my most successful tanks. No ugly stage, no bacterial imbalances resulting in dinos and cyano that re-occur over and over. And less general "mysteries" that seem to plague tanks started with dry rock and dead sand.
Also notable with my "list of effectiveness", is that the general association with hitchhikers and perceived pests rises as you move up the list.
