1# FIrst of all I certainly make a distinction between wild and maricultured live rock and rock that just has nitrifying bacteria added to it, this later is a waste of money IMO. I still have some Florida Worm Rock from the 90s. Best stuff I've gotten is Walt SMith's wild collected fiji rock. Have been pretty happy with GulfLiveROck.com.
2# I back in the 90s I liked it because it was great for starting reef systems and like Delbeck and SPrung said in their book with seasoned (QTed) live rock a system can be set up that can have corals added immediatly. Now, after reading current research on Microbial processes, DOC and sponges it's essential to get the sponges that deal with not only the hydrophobic stuff but also the hydrophyllic stuf that promotes pathogenic microbial shifts in coral microbiomes/holobionts. And it does it 1000X faster than the bacterioplankton removed by skimmers.
2# I back in the 90s I liked it because it was great for starting reef systems and like Delbeck and SPrung said in their book with seasoned (QTed) live rock a system can be set up that can have corals added immediatly. Now, after reading current research on Microbial processes, DOC and sponges it's essential to get the sponges that deal with not only the hydrophobic stuff but also the hydrophyllic stuf that promotes pathogenic microbial shifts in coral microbiomes/holobionts. And it does it 1000X faster than the bacterioplankton removed by skimmers.