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I compromised and went with man made Life Rock (basically dry rock with a bacteria coating). That way you get rock with beneficial bacteria but without the pests.
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I hope this isn't percieved as being off topic, but has anyone seeded dry rock with bacteria is a bottle? Is this a viable alternative for helping dry rock along?
I hope this isn't percieved as being off topic, but has anyone seeded dry rock with bacteria is a bottle? Is this a viable alternative for helping dry rock along?
If this is true crushed reef-rock and -rumble must the best media for bio-filters and for to be used in calcium reactors!?The most important attribute to live rock is the porous structure and being phosphate free - dry rock is good at neither of these for a while, but up to a few years.
A clean bucket filled with fresh made aquarium water. Put a few drops of Urean (30N) in it and see what happens.Generally you do need to add a source of bacteria to dry rock since there is no natural bacteria to jump start the process.
Agree to the last statement! I was.doing some research on coon pests in saltwater realized it is just about as bad as fresh water plants and such... They can do harm but it is usually easily taken care of with some extra work!I apologize for not reading through the entire thread, but live rock is definitely worth it IME. Put it this way if your in this for the LONG HAUL, getting rid of a mantis shrimp or perhaps a red eye crab is just part of the experience. It's kind of fun, (like fishing) plus you get some of the other micro fauna too. (hopefully) If you just want things to "fall in your lap" so to say then I don't really know what to tell you. Nobody want's to work anymore unfortunately...
Your wording and way of explaining at the end made so much sense to me! I am a urban homesteader so I totally understand everything you said and actually helped me think it through better than just thinking if diversity!Ok my turn...totally go with the plastic reef and fishes! But don’t add water because you will still have stupid algae;Lurking Better yet buy a really nice HD TV and put a video on it of someone else’s tank...ULM BABE
IMO it doesn’t matter what you do. Your going to get it handed to you ether way. It’s like this, you want it in the growing or hit in the nose? In 5 years, 3 tanks, if you are still in the hobby, you will be a marine biologist like everyone else. There is no ease button, but after the five years, your going to have a crooked nose and walk funny as you gaze upon your amazing reef!
That said, my next build, as previous ones will be with ocean LR. I do appreciate what has been said previously about the timing of events, also emphasized in BRS’s ULM series. I think with my previous builds, to much effort was put in to aquascape in the beginning and having the notion of moving the rock around was voodoo;Mask. In the future, I think I will pull some thought from ULM. Build the bio filtration first down below, have a bear bottom, killer LR in the DT with very low light. Anything I want... on the LR will live in low light, fish to feed the new biodiversity and eat the undesirables. BB will allow me to better capture pests. I can move the rock from left to right and back again at will....until all is clear as can be and then aquascape with the rock I want to keep. Add sand little at a time if I want?
Here is another take. I am a ornamental horticulturist. I can grow tomatoes, that’s right TOMATOES, ether by hydroponics or a quality soil media. I will always choose to grow my vegetables in the richest organic composted soil I can find and or make! This biodiversity is EXTREMELY difficult to replicated through hydro. You ever wonder way that beautiful tomato from the grocery tastes like water;Vomit? Just because it looks good doesn’t make it nutritious.
As said previously, as a novice, your may need the biodiversity (cool visuals) to pull you through the educational process. With dry rock it’s more like starting your first garden hydroponically, the book you read... is not going to be enough! Sorry
You can’t do that with dead rock?? Please elaborate!Live Rock or something from a well established tank is essential. If you don't you run the risk as I did of dino infection. You need a good balance so that the bad stuff stays in check. You can't do that with dead rock. Yes you will get some stuff like apatsia or bubble algae but guess what...it will be in there eventually anyway.
So my LR from KP Aquatics went in the new tank on Tuesday. Today Sunday the ammonia level is now almost zero. I did a number of large WC's during the week. I know there is a small bobbit worm in the tank. Built a worm trap today. Will see if I catch it. Wanted to see if I could catch any worms before I try to catch any crabs. If needed I can keep the tank empty of any fish and corals for awhile. Any suggestions for keeping the bacteria and pods alive without any fish in the system?
I can see a number of macro algaes are still alive, and I have my lights on but set to a low level.