Live rock question

[Maho.B]

Hello to all. A little while back my RS seam failed and lost the system. My new aquarium has arrived! I am going to start with all live rock and looking for an opinion. I realize the "cons" of live rock potentially having bad hitchhikers. I'm thinking of ways to maybe avoid some (like bad crabs/shrimp, etc) and wonder if this method would achieve anything?

I could set up a temp trough/basin for the live rock with the right water, temp, light, circ pump, etc and place egg crate on the bottom, elevated 6 inches or so leaving a void space on the bottom, place the rock on top. The thinking is if any hitchhikers come out, explore and go to through the egg crate, end up on the bottom they would not be able to climb the plastic basin sides back to the rock.

Does this make sense or is it stupid and fall into the "over thinking it" category.

I do think the "pros" outway the "cons" with liverock, just trying to think of a simple method to hedge against potential bad hitchhikers.

Thanks for any thoughts/opinions in advance.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Interesting idea. Though shrimp can swim and crabs can flutter up for short bursts.

Not sure how effective it would end up being.

 

[Maho.B]

Interesting idea. Though shrimp can swim and crabs can flutter up for short bursts.

Not sure how effective it would end up being.

Good point. Maybe a bunch of PVC tubes on the bottom, they may like the hiding spots down there. Thanks

 

[fishface NJ]

Best bet is to do 2 or 3 high salinity dips to get them out of the rocks

 

[Maho.B]

Interesting. I wonder if that would harm the beneficial bacteria/organisms on and in the rock. I'll look into that more. Thanks!

 

[X-37B]

Just get a mantis trap. It will catch crabs, whelks, mantis shrimp and other snails.

 

[X-37B]

Interesting. I wonder if that would harm the beneficial bacteria/organisms on and in the rock. I'll look into that more. Thanks!

No it wont harm them but it wont get them all, lol.

 

[Maho.B]

Excellent, thanks for the trap pic

 

[Indiana Reefin]

Smart thinking! I don’t think gorilla crabs or the mantis shrimps that come on live rock from TBS or the gulf are that big of a deal. I just removed when I first got the rock and removed the remaining one by one when I would spot them in the tank. I had a mantis and multiple gorilla crabs and I never had an issue with losing fish. The mantis I caught was only 1” long and they max out at 2-3”.

 

[Maho.B]

That's good news! I'm likely going to use a combo of TBS and Australian.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Best bet is to do 2 or 3 high salinity dips to get them out of the rocks

I was going to say the same. I have read that if you place the rocks in high salinity (1.035) for a few, the critters will leave the rock trying to escape the high salinity. Then remove the rocks, and only keep the critters you want!

 

[X-37B]

Smart thinking! I don’t think gorilla crabs or the mantis shrimps that come on live rock from TBS or the gulf are that big of a deal. I just removed when I first got the rock and removed the remaining one by one when I would spot them in the tank. I had a mantis and multiple gorilla crabs and I never had an issue with losing fish. The mantis I caught was only 1” long and they max out at 2-3”.

Carefull with mantis. In my 150 it killed all crabs, shrimp, then started on snails, lol. I removed it but still have one in my 50 its 3" and I add snails to keep it fed. I have had it for 2 years in this system with 4 fish.