Live rock Vs Dry rock
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The Aquatic Arsenal
2500 Club Member
Live rock
Pros:
Cycle faster
Already seeded with good bacteria
Cons:
If it didn't come from your tank, you don't know what may be hiding in it
Dry Rock
Pros:
You start fresh, unless it was dried out after being in use. You will have to deal with die off messing with parameters possibly
Cons:
Your cycle will take longer, but you can supplement with a live bacteria culture
I am sure others will chime in...
Pros:
Cycle faster
Already seeded with good bacteria
Cons:
If it didn't come from your tank, you don't know what may be hiding in it
Dry Rock
Pros:
You start fresh, unless it was dried out after being in use. You will have to deal with die off messing with parameters possibly
Cons:
Your cycle will take longer, but you can supplement with a live bacteria culture
I am sure others will chime in...
BeejReef
2500 Club Member
I used some of each and would do so again.
Agree with ^^
Just anecdotally, you see so many more threads about people throwing up their hands trying to get a tank full of dry rock across the finish line than you do people crashing out of the hobby over a little bubble algae or some aptasia. It's fun to watch crabs eat bubble algae and berghia eating aptasia :) Feels like winning.
For a first tank, I'd go with at least some live rock again. Though I understand why hardcore pros running 400 gallons or a propagation system might have other priorities.
Agree with ^^
Just anecdotally, you see so many more threads about people throwing up their hands trying to get a tank full of dry rock across the finish line than you do people crashing out of the hobby over a little bubble algae or some aptasia. It's fun to watch crabs eat bubble algae and berghia eating aptasia :) Feels like winning.
For a first tank, I'd go with at least some live rock again. Though I understand why hardcore pros running 400 gallons or a propagation system might have other priorities.
Take my opinion with a grain of salt because I have only ran one tank by myself. But in the past I had a tank with my dad that we worked on together and we used live rock. I used dry rock on my current tank and I can tell you it’s been much more of a struggle to get the tank stabilized than we ever had with live rock. I am at the 6 month mark now and I am just now starting to get a handle on algae issues in my tank.
hyprc
Well-Known Member
I think the first reply sums it up pretty well. It's a simple give-and-take. If you want to deal with as few pests as possible (and are willing to inspect/clean new frags/snails well), dry rock is probably what you want. It took my system, starting with 100% cured dry rock, about 2 years to be able to sustain acropora, about 1 before it would keep montipora really happy, but just about everything else didn't care - a lot of this could also be due to lack of nutrients, starving SPS out).
I don't have experience with a tank started with live rock yet, but I'm pretty much ready to start a new system using some rock I've been cooking in my sump for about a year. Hoping to skip the cycle/new tank BS all together if I'm careful enough, but that's wishful thinking.!
I don't have experience with a tank started with live rock yet, but I'm pretty much ready to start a new system using some rock I've been cooking in my sump for about a year. Hoping to skip the cycle/new tank BS all together if I'm careful enough, but that's wishful thinking.!
Bryce M.
Valuable Member
I would go for Dry
Live
Pros-
Fast Cycle
Diversity
Cool hitchhikers(sometimes)
cons-
VERMETID SNAILS
well and any other pest
hard to control
can get out of hand
Dry
Pros-
Able to control what's in your tank
Able to manipulate rock scape better
Can look how you want it to look
Can prevent outbreaks of pests
cons-
Slow cycle
Won't get any interesting hitchhikers (which I find fun)
Longer to make it look nice
If you forget a certain type of small critter to put in most likely you won't get it, like strains of coraline
Live
Pros-
Fast Cycle
Diversity
Cool hitchhikers(sometimes)
cons-
VERMETID SNAILS
well and any other pest
hard to control
can get out of hand
Dry
Pros-
Able to control what's in your tank
Able to manipulate rock scape better
Can look how you want it to look
Can prevent outbreaks of pests
cons-
Slow cycle
Won't get any interesting hitchhikers (which I find fun)
Longer to make it look nice
If you forget a certain type of small critter to put in most likely you won't get it, like strains of coraline
mta_morrow
Of course I have room for 1 more fish!
I have only ever started tanks with dry, clean rock. It’s easy and no unwanted stuff. If you do your research and find some to help you along that knows how to start up a tank w clean, dry rock, it’s the way to go IMO
mta_morrow
Of course I have room for 1 more fish!
Within a month I had rbta nems in the tank. Within 4 months I had a clam, H Magnifica and LTA. If you can keep parameters stable, there are no issues.
There's probably at least a hundred threads on this debate...lol.
Personally, I like live rock that is cultured in the ocean. Lots of life and that is the biggest part of the hobby for me. I've done dry rock and dry rock with a few pieces of live. I don't like it. Now I would only use dry as a base for live rock. I also hate the fake purple stuff.
As for time, I've seen people still have white rocks after a whole year. I'm patient, but not that patient.
Don't let hitchhikers scare you. Half the stuff people want to get rid of is harmless. The rest is fairly easy to get rid of if done correctly.
Personally, I like live rock that is cultured in the ocean. Lots of life and that is the biggest part of the hobby for me. I've done dry rock and dry rock with a few pieces of live. I don't like it. Now I would only use dry as a base for live rock. I also hate the fake purple stuff.
As for time, I've seen people still have white rocks after a whole year. I'm patient, but not that patient.
Don't let hitchhikers scare you. Half the stuff people want to get rid of is harmless. The rest is fairly easy to get rid of if done correctly.
living_tribunal
2500 Club Member
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Dry rock:
Pros-
- Clean and free of pests.
- Easy to create killer rockscapes since you are not concerned with die back.
- No concern of strong phosphate leeching from poor rock stewards who owned the live rock before you did.
- It takes ages to saturate the rock with phosphates which leaves you with non-measurable phosphates for a long time. (I'd pay a lot of money if someone handled this for me before adding the rock.)
- Just the time it takes to get it covered with beneficial micro-algae that prevents worse algae from covering the rocks.
MTBake
2500 Club Member
The pros and cons listed above are pretty spot on.
I started my last ank with dry rock. I'll never do that again. Too sterile. I enjoy the critters than come in on live rock myself.
I started my last ank with dry rock. I'll never do that again. Too sterile. I enjoy the critters than come in on live rock myself.
Nooooooooob1
Active Member
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I'm in the dry rock gang. No unknown pests getting in my system. You don't know how annoying they are until you have them and can't get rid of them.
Edit: unless you're getting it from a very trusted source, then live rock can absolutely be good!
Edit: unless you're getting it from a very trusted source, then live rock can absolutely be good!
U
User1
Guest
I don't believe it is a vs thing but rather a personal choice as said above by another poster. Both have benefits but at the end of the day what do you, as a hobbyist, want and what are you willing to pay? Additional not all dry or live rock is the same. Have to keep that little nugget in the back of your mind. To complicate it let us make another note with regards to your husbandry skills with the tank after your choice to include fish and coral introduction and procedures. Because if you use dry rock as some will say it has nothing bad on it. However, you introduce a coral from a source and not have proper procedures you now have the possibility of introducing something you tried, or thought, wouldn't be entered...
Live rock such from TBS is probably the closest thing to live that you can get. Almost as good as opening your back door, entering the ocean, and plucking a rock and putting in your tank. It is self sustaining, aquaculture, and shipped to air freight terminal over night fully submerged. You are not going to get anything better but you also pay a premium. Richard, owner, is one heck of a guy although I've never met him face to face I have had the pleasure of exchanging emails about scuba diving and men's health. That aside you can search and read and see what the rock is all about both good and bad (possible hitch hikers). But I will say the overall pro will out number the bad. And bad, well, isn't really that bad at the end of the day all things considered.
Live rock say from KP or other source, still great choices, are not fully submerged at least the last time I checked when looking at it. Self sustaining, aquaculture, oceanic growth. Not fully submerged but over night air. Also expensive. Also great stuff. Also good and bad (again not so bad in the bigger picture). Both TBS and these are probably worth it in my opinion.
Dry rock. Well, it is dry. I was always planning on using TBS with my 210 upgrade but with 2 in college I just couldn't fit it in. I went with 150 lbs of dry Pukani. Dry rock has its own issues but I will say I think everyone should start with dry at one point in time to learn how the cycle works and learn patience. No disrespect but wanted to call out why I think it is important. Basically you are kick starting it playing the role of Mother Nature (not replacing) by starting the bacteria cycle. You do a lot of reading, or some, on which process you want to follow. Fishless by adding ammonia or a piece of shrimp or other food. You monitor, watch, test, and compare results to monitor progress. You maybe used bacteria in a bottle and monitored that progress. Then you add fish, more monitor, coral, more monitor, etc. This is a different length of time for each hobbyist which comes to my patience point :) Not only do you learn or compare your notes with what you read but it also teaches that nothing happens over night in a reef tank :) And going slow, or at least reading a 2nd time something, helps in the longer run. I'm on the 19th month of my 210 upgrade with the Pukani and I'll say I wouldn't recommend it and I'm only how stable enough or mature enough to keep everything constant :) That could be a pukani rock thing though...
TL;DR:
Live rock if you are upgrading from an existing tank, merging tanks, or want something established, or mature, sooner. And if you are willing to pay the premium.
Dry rock if you don't care about time, want to do the cycle for the first time, reduce cost to put money elsewhere, or need more rock than what may be financially sane.
Hybrid or both if you pre-establish dry rock by cycling in containers while building tank. Then mix live rock with the dry and meet in middle ground.
Live rock such from TBS is probably the closest thing to live that you can get. Almost as good as opening your back door, entering the ocean, and plucking a rock and putting in your tank. It is self sustaining, aquaculture, and shipped to air freight terminal over night fully submerged. You are not going to get anything better but you also pay a premium. Richard, owner, is one heck of a guy although I've never met him face to face I have had the pleasure of exchanging emails about scuba diving and men's health. That aside you can search and read and see what the rock is all about both good and bad (possible hitch hikers). But I will say the overall pro will out number the bad. And bad, well, isn't really that bad at the end of the day all things considered.
Live rock say from KP or other source, still great choices, are not fully submerged at least the last time I checked when looking at it. Self sustaining, aquaculture, oceanic growth. Not fully submerged but over night air. Also expensive. Also great stuff. Also good and bad (again not so bad in the bigger picture). Both TBS and these are probably worth it in my opinion.
Dry rock. Well, it is dry. I was always planning on using TBS with my 210 upgrade but with 2 in college I just couldn't fit it in. I went with 150 lbs of dry Pukani. Dry rock has its own issues but I will say I think everyone should start with dry at one point in time to learn how the cycle works and learn patience. No disrespect but wanted to call out why I think it is important. Basically you are kick starting it playing the role of Mother Nature (not replacing) by starting the bacteria cycle. You do a lot of reading, or some, on which process you want to follow. Fishless by adding ammonia or a piece of shrimp or other food. You monitor, watch, test, and compare results to monitor progress. You maybe used bacteria in a bottle and monitored that progress. Then you add fish, more monitor, coral, more monitor, etc. This is a different length of time for each hobbyist which comes to my patience point :) Not only do you learn or compare your notes with what you read but it also teaches that nothing happens over night in a reef tank :) And going slow, or at least reading a 2nd time something, helps in the longer run. I'm on the 19th month of my 210 upgrade with the Pukani and I'll say I wouldn't recommend it and I'm only how stable enough or mature enough to keep everything constant :) That could be a pukani rock thing though...
TL;DR:
Live rock if you are upgrading from an existing tank, merging tanks, or want something established, or mature, sooner. And if you are willing to pay the premium.
Dry rock if you don't care about time, want to do the cycle for the first time, reduce cost to put money elsewhere, or need more rock than what may be financially sane.
Hybrid or both if you pre-establish dry rock by cycling in containers while building tank. Then mix live rock with the dry and meet in middle ground.
I have used both and they both definitely have their good and bad aspects.
Live Rock
Pros
Cycles the tank much faster and looks much better than a bunch of bright white rocks sitting in the tank.
You do get some beneficial hitch hikers.
Sometimes you get an unexpected coral on it. I bought one and got a couple Zoas on it.
Make sure you get it from a place you know and have dealt with before.
Cons
You can get some undesirable critters living in the Live Rock.
You may save time with the cycle but end up spending more time trying to get rid of the unwanted critters.
Live Rock cost much more than Dry Rock and the prices are still going up.
Live rock can be a crap shoot, not always the case but it is out there.
Dry Rock
Pros
You have more aquascaping options. You can purchase pieces that have been cut to specific shapes and sizes.
Dry Rock is much cheaper than Live Rock.
You don't pick up and unwanted critters so you get a clean tank startup.
You can start cycling the rock in a container or small tank while getting your tank setup so it is cycles when you put it in the tank. Many videos on youtube about this.
Cons
You are stuck with a longer cycle period even with bacteria in a bottle.
It doesn't look as nice in the tank as live rock unless you buy the dry rock that's been stained purple but even that doesn't look as nice.
You don't get the beneficial critters like with Live Rock.
My personal opinion on this subject is use both.
I would use mostly dry rock and put a couple small pieces of live rock.
Both are great and both have their pros and cons.
My biggest tip is to take your time and don't try to cut corners to save some time or a few dollars.
You can't rush mother nature. She will find he equilibrium and cause you more headaches in the long run.
Keep Reefing my friends.
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