Mixing live rock and dry rock

[digitlhaze]

Hey folks!

Long time freshwater, first time reefer here with what may be a silly question.

When I went to setup my hardscape, my lfs only had a small bit of live rock and some rubble. I stuck those pieces in the tank and the rubble in my filter and just built up the rest with dry rock. Well they just called and said they have a bunch more live rock ready to go.

My question is, should I take out the dry rock and rebuild with all live (it's only been cycling about a week), or will the small amount I have in there already be a decent enough starter culture for bacteria?

You can see the three chunks in the picture here. And the tank is a biocube jr (I know, starting with a nano tank probably isn't the greatest idea lol)

 

[Fish Fan]

I'd probably go with all live rock if it's available now. If you do, you will be basically instantly cycled, so you could add livestock almost immediately.

 

[Boehmtown]

Sprinkle the media on the rocks. Put it in the filtration later. Keep as much dry rock out of the light as possible. If it's sprinkled on the rodk for a couple months it'll spread way faster

 

[ScottJ]

If your budget allows, you could replace a large rock or two. It certainly wouldn't hurt. And it'e nice to have some leftover rock. Believe me, you will find uses for it.

I like the look of your tank, BTW. Nice job.

 

[dgmj101]

If you can use live rock bc it will cycle faster than dry rock. I can say my reef tank now is ALL dry rock, it took longer to cycle. My reason for using dry rock was bc No LFS had any for sell. Also live rock online is ridiculously in price. LR with shipping was like 4 x higher than buying dry rock from the LFS. I personally would add dry rock slowly after the tank os fully circled..

 

[digitlhaze]

Well just as an update I learned I should always ask for a rough size of the rock. These were less live rock and more live boulders...some looked bigger than my whole tank lol.

I didn't think attempting to smash a huge rock into smaller pieces would be in my best interests so I'm stuck with the dry rock for now until I can find another supply.

 

[ScottJ]

Well just as an update I learned I should always ask for a rough size of the rock. These were less live rock and more live boulders...some looked bigger than my whole tank lol.

I didn't think attempting to smash a huge rock into smaller pieces would be in my best interests so I'm stuck with the dry rock for now until I can find another supply.

The rock is really pretty easy to break. It's mostly old coral skeletons if it's 'real.' You can use an old screwdriver like a chisel and wack it with a hammer to break up a large chunk.

That said, you should be fine with what you have. There's nothing wrong with it. Like I said, it looks nice

'

 

[Mebbid]

Well just as an update I learned I should always ask for a rough size of the rock. These were less live rock and more live boulders...some looked bigger than my whole tank lol.

I didn't think attempting to smash a huge rock into smaller pieces would be in my best interests so I'm stuck with the dry rock for now until I can find another supply.

That's where all the fun is. Busting it up into shapes and assembling them into an aquascape :D

 

[kichimark]

How's the tank doing so far?

 

[digitlhaze]

How's the tank doing so far?

It's going well I think, my lfs has been over-generous with coral so probably a bit too much much too soon on that, but everything seems relatively happy so far (I've shopped at this store for over a decade with freshwater so I know the owners pretty well).

I did answer my own question on the dry vs live rock thing, my live rocks are looking great and I'm currently battling gha only on the dry rock lol.

 

[kichimark]

Ha, we have all been there with getting more than what is planned but its looking good right now. You are making me want to get firefish again.

Do you know the origin of your dry rock? I myself am currently bleaching the new pukani that came out and plan on running GFO when its all in the tank. I do plan on getting some of the algae in there though haha. It happens :).

 

[digitlhaze]

I have no idea to be perfectly honest - it was just in a big bin that said "dry rock" lol