Live rock or not?

[Reefer911]

My tank has been up and running about 10 months. I am wondering if it would still benefit to add some real live rock from the ocean, even a few pounds in the sump, for the bacterial diversity.

I currently dose MB7 and MBclean every week.

 

[fishface NJ]

Yes it would be beneficial

 

[Adamantium]

Seconded. I’m a huge proponent of bacterial diversity.

I just added some Gulf Live Rock, and boyyyyyyyy the hitchhikers I got. Most good, but not all, so be warned.

Edit: To be less cryptic, I got all sorts of awesome critters (limpets, mussels, barnacles, sponges, corals) and macroalgaes (halimeda and Red Sea grapes), including the attached manicina coral. However, there were also some pretty mean Aiptasia (bigger than a quarter). Not the biggest deal, I just want to make the point that you’ll have to be careful and use good judgement.

 

[paragrouper]

I did a few months ago and I do not regret it.

 

[Reefer911]

Seconded. I’m a huge proponent of bacterial diversity.

I just added some Gulf Live Rock, and boyyyyyyyy the hitchhikers I got. Most good, but not all, so be warned.

Edit: To be less cryptic, I got all sorts of awesome critters (limpets, mussels, barnacles, sponges, corals) and macroalgaes (halimeda and Red Sea grapes), including the attached manicina coral. However, there were also some pretty mean Aiptasia (bigger than a quarter). Not the biggest deal, I just want to make the point that you’ll have to be careful and use good judgement.

Do all of those critters thrive when placed in an aquarium?

 

[Reefer911]

Also, which vendor would be the most reputable?

 

[Reefer911]

one more question, do the rocks come quarantined?

 

[doubleshot00]

one more question, do the rocks come quarantined?

No you have to QT it or not.

 

[doubleshot00]

Also, which vendor would be the most reputable?

I ordered from https://aquabiomics.com/product/live-reef-rubble 2x to add more bio-diversity to my tank.

But Tampa Bay saltworks is great to.

IMO your entire rock work doesn't need to be live rock but a mix would be beneficial. Or just add the live rock to your sump and pick out the critters as they come out.

 

[Reefer911]

I ordered from https://aquabiomics.com/product/live-reef-rubble 2x to add more bio-diversity to my tank.

But Tampa Bay saltworks is great to.

IMO your entire rock work doesn't need to be live rock but a mix would be beneficial. Or just add the live rock to your sump and pick out the critters as they come out.

Yeah that’s what I’d do at the very least…place it in the sump, so I can monitor for hitchhikers.

 

[paragrouper]

To answer a couple of your questions

1. I went with Tampa Bay Saltwater and I was pleased with their product and service.
2. I chose to run mine in a brute container with a heater and a power head for about 10 days. During that time I set traps and observed rock. This allowed me to remove a Mantis shrimp and other undesirable flora/fauna.

 

[fishface NJ]

Also, which vendor would be the most reputable?

Kp aquatics. No aiptasia

 

[dadnjesse]

Kp aquatics. No aiptasia

That's what they claim. I Quarentined the rock I got from them and it clearly had Aiptaisa on it.

 

[jda]

It is beneficial. Put it in the display, not the sump.

Bottle traps get crabs and shrimp pretty easily - save a few soda or water bottles.

 

[fishface NJ]

That's what they claim. I Quarentined the rock I got from them and it clearly had Aiptaisa on it.

That is very odd. I have placed 4 orders with them....one order each year for the past 4 years...never had aiptasia