Is it beneficial to add live rock to a dry rock system?

flyingscampi

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 20, 2021
Messages
285
Reaction score
347
Location
SE England
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
it was great for my tank. I added one chunk of live rock and this is what started to grow out of it, it eventually spread to the dry rock.

Capture.JPG
 

AlexG

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 20, 2013
Messages
2,112
Reaction score
4,897
Location
Illinois
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I am a big advocate of seeding a dry rock system with real live rock and live sand. The biodiversity: Bacteria, macro algae, and microfauna are beneficial to the system. I know that large hitchhikers can be a concern but a way to avoid that is to add the live rock to a refugium tank which I did for my previous 1600 gallon system. With just 60lbs of live rock in the refugium and 60lbs of live sand in the display the entire aquarium system was crawling with life within a month.
 

Timfish

Crusty Old Salt
View Badges
Joined
Jul 22, 2012
Messages
3,738
Reaction score
4,927
Location
Austin, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
What they said! :D

Besides beneficial microbial stuff, wild or maricultured live rock also adds cryptic sponges essential for healthy reef ecosystems.

 

ReefGeezer

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
1,972
Reaction score
2,849
Location
Wichita, KS
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I certainly agree with everyone here. In addition, live sand from the same sources has a lot of value... although in some cases, it looks more like small shell pieces and tiny bits of rubble. It might be better suited for a refugium rather than the display tank.
 

Reefing102

Metal Halides Til The End
View Badges
Joined
Apr 25, 2021
Messages
3,632
Reaction score
4,814
Location
Central Ohio
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I definitely agree with everyone, it’s very beneficial (I started with all live rock though but yea). I do have a curiousity question though, are you having any current issues you’re thinking might resolve by adding live rock?
 
OP
OP
doubleshot00

doubleshot00

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 13, 2022
Messages
2,653
Reaction score
2,601
Location
Wilmington
Rating - 0%
0   0   0

Schulks

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 2, 2022
Messages
380
Reaction score
223
Location
Kentucky
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My fluval is far too clean. I'm ocd about cleaning it but I need to lose this battle more lol.
Where can I get the most alive live rock? I feel like avoiding shipping is smart should I pick up a good piece from the big store an hour away?
 

livinlifeinBKK

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
May 31, 2020
Messages
5,720
Reaction score
5,189
Location
Bangkok
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My fluval is far too clean. I'm ocd about cleaning it but I need to lose this battle more lol.
Where can I get the most alive live rock? I feel like avoiding shipping is smart should I pick up a good piece from the big store an hour away?
The most "alive" live rock would definitely be from the ocean. Some LFS carry live rock from the ocean and I know you can order it from companies like KP Aquatics although I saw you are trying to avoid shipping...
 

Susan Edwards

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 28, 2016
Messages
5,462
Reaction score
7,003
Location
Tracy, California
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I started my new tank with all new dry rock (man made) and live sand and added the rock from the old system with corals--4 chunks plus some into the sump. Did not have to cycle as that, along with some bottled bacteria was enough to get my tank going. Added fish from old sys into new right away. No issues. I also added all the sump media
 

ScubaFish802

Just keep swimming
View Badges
Joined
Sep 5, 2020
Messages
3,066
Reaction score
12,508
Location
Vermont
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Make sure to QT your live rock first. There are some pests that are better left out of the tank..
 
Back
Top