Real Reef Rocks Real Solutions

[TiffT27]

Hello everyone, I have a question I have my live sand (not opened) and my real reef rocks that came in for my 40g breeder. My husband and I decided we want to repaint the inside of the house so we’re going to paint the wall behind the tank first so it won’t have to be moved later when full. Is it best to leave the real reef rocks sealed in the box until I’m ready? I haven’t opened anything yet. I have everything I need to start it except for light (which I plan to get later) and protein skimmer. I bought it second hand like new with 20G sump. Thank you very much

 

[twentyleagues]

Hello everyone, I have a question I have my live sand (not opened) and my real reef rocks that came in for my 40g breeder. My husband and I decided we want to repaint the inside of the house so we’re going to paint the wall behind the tank first so it won’t have to be moved later when full. Is it best to leave the real reef rocks sealed in the box until I’m ready? I haven’t opened anything yet. I have everything I need to start it except for light (which I plan to get later) and protein skimmer. I bought it second hand like new with 20G sump. Thank you very much

There is a lot of dry rock that is called things like real, or life or something with that type of name. If this is direct from the ocean packed and shipped wet either in water or wrapped in wet paper it needs to be out of the box and in salt water as soon as it arrives or it will die. If this is one of the dry not actually from the ocean products than it can sit in the box for eternity without ever seeing the light of day.

So the real question is where did you get it and is it dry or wet?

 

[TiffT27]

Hello everyone, I have a question I have my live sand (not opened) and my real reef rocks that came in for my 40g breeder. My husband and I decided we want to repaint the inside of the house so we’re going to paint the wall behind the tank first so it won’t have to be moved later when full. Is it best to leave the real reef rocks sealed in the box until I’m ready? I haven’t opened anything yet. I have everything I need to start it except for light (which I plan to get later) and protein skimmer. I bought it second hand like new with 20G sump. Thank you very much

There is a lot of dry rock that is called things like real, or life or something with that type of name. If this is direct from the ocean packed and shipped wet either in water or wrapped in wet paper it needs to be out of the box and in salt water as soon as it arrives or it will die. If this is one of the dry not actually from the ocean products than it can sit in the box for eternity without ever seeing the light of day.

So the real question is where did you get it and is it dry or wet?

Hi it’s this stuff manufactured to look like reef rock so not from the ocean.

 

[Submerge]

I’m just learning about this product. I copied this from the website

Once the Real Reef Rocks are created, they go through a pre grow-out preparation. This pre grow-out freshwater curing process lasts for a minimum of 12 weeks. Once the rock has completed the curing process, it is then transferred to saltwater grow-out for a minimum of 12-16 weeks. Our marine grow-out facility consists of large 3,000 and 10,000 gallon fiberglass raceways in our climate controlled greenhouses. It is in these filtered closed system raceways that Real Reef becomes a biologically active aquarium rock. It is from these grow-out raceway systems that Real Reef is prepared, packed and shipped to distributors and retailers worldwide.


So it seems they are saying it is manufactured live rock. If true seems to me like you would want it in the tank asap to maintain that bacteria colony. But you can always cycle with dry rock too if you need to delay to the point the bacteria dies off.

Is it shipped dry? Website doesn’t specify.

 

[Fish Fan]

Hi it’s this stuff manufactured to look like reef rock so not from the ocean.

This is effectively a dry rock that’s colored with some included bacteria like you’d get from a bottled bacteria product. You can treat this rock like any other dry rock. This needs no special care until you’re ready to unbox it and use it, though getting it cycling in advance isn’t a bad idea.

 

[twentyleagues]

I’m just learning about this product. I copied this from the website

Once the Real Reef Rocks are created, they go through a pre grow-out preparation. This pre grow-out freshwater curing process lasts for a minimum of 12 weeks. Once the rock has completed the curing process, it is then transferred to saltwater grow-out for a minimum of 12-16 weeks. Our marine grow-out facility consists of large 3,000 and 10,000 gallon fiberglass raceways in our climate controlled greenhouses. It is in these filtered closed system raceways that Real Reef becomes a biologically active aquarium rock. It is from these grow-out raceway systems that Real Reef is prepared, packed and shipped to distributors and retailers worldwide.


So it seems they are saying it is manufactured live rock. If true seems to me like you would want it in the tank asap to maintain that bacteria colony. But you can always cycle with dry rock too if you need to delay to the point the bacteria dies off.

Is it shipped dry? Website doesn’t specify.

The stuff the op is talking about is dry. I dont think its the same stuff. You cannot dry out live rock and have it be live anymore. The name may be similar, I think I have seen the or a product like you are talking about but I can't find it on the web rn. The only thing I find with this name or close is the ops stuff.

@TiffT27 dry can wait until ready to go as @Fish Fan says.

 

[TiffT27]

Hi it’s this stuff manufactured to look like reef rock so not from the ocean.

This is effectively a dry rock that’s colored with some included bacteria like you’d get from a bottled bacteria product. You can treat this rock like any other dry rock. This needs no special care until you’re ready to unbox it and use it, though getting it cycling in advance isn’t a bad idea.

Okay thank you another question if you don’t mind how would be the best way to start the cycle and once I do how long can it stay in the container cycling? I have 40lbs of it not sure what to put it in to cycle. Thank you I’m in no rush, I’m hoping to have it up by Nov 1st if possible. I have a lot of patience and want to do it right. I thought it would be better to paint wall behind it now before getting it all in place. Thank you!

 

[Fish Fan]

Okay thank you another question if you don’t mind how would be the best way to start the cycle and once I do how long can it stay in the container cycling? I have 40lbs of it not sure what to put it in to cycle. Thank you I’m in no rush, I’m hoping to have it up by Nov 1st if possible. I have a lot of patience and want to do it right. I thought it would be better to paint wall behind it now before getting it all in place. Thank you!

I do think it's best that you take care of your painting before putting the tank in place.

You can wait and cycle the rock right in your tank, that's what most people do. You can get a little ahead of the game by pre-cycling the rock before you setup your tank. You can do this in any reef safe container, many use Brute trashcans for this, which have a nice lid. You take your container and add saltwater, a small circulation pump, and ideal a heater. You then add your rock, I'd add some additional bottled bacteria, and you add a source of ammonia such as bottled ammonium chloride, a piece of shrimp from the seafood market, or by adding fish food to the container. You can let that all "brew" for several weeks to months in an effort to well-cycle your dry rocks, but again, most don't go to this extent, and cycle the rock in the tank from the start.

If you're brand new to saltwater tanks, this like provides some great info:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/
Here's some additional info on cycling:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/cont...mClAOEL0sLNdmv3GD8HOzEdpKfOuF_ve4456UQtiXd8w9
I hope that helps, post back if you have further questions!