Whats your preferred product for increasing biodiversity?

[Subsea]

The question is how much better is rock looking that vs rubble pieces or sand collected from the oceon ,I think many reefers are looking for a clean aesthetic looks vs what a natural reef would look like but also wanting a healthy population of diverse bacteria to help mature a tank.

Viva La difference. It works for me.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

You could definitely do that. @Paul B used to collect water near his Long Island, NY home for water changes and I think he would scoop up some sand too. Paul can you add any insight?

I'm very interested in the concept... I live in maine which makes Boston seem tropical haha, at what range of ocean do we get to a point where my ocean life/bacteria/inverts/etc can't live in the warm waters of my tank?

 

[Subsea]

I send them a email... asking if they ship to Canada $$$

Tampa Bay Saltwater has good quality live rock as well. Don’t know if either ships to Canada.

However, during the winter, diving is difficult with the weather.

 

[Patx]

Tampa Bay Saltwater has good quality live rock as well. Don’t know if either ships to Canada.

However, during the winter, diving is difficult with the weather.

Last time i look, no shipping from tampa bay, not even rubble.
Will wait spring, hearly summer i guess.
I miss those "life on rock"...

 

[Subsea]

I'm very interested in the concept... I live in maine which makes Boston seem tropical haha, at what range of ocean do we get to a point where my ocean life/bacteria/inverts/etc can't live in the warm waters of my tank?

When I visited @Paul B on North Shore of Long Island, he collected pods in salt water marshes in Long Island Sound. He also goes to Massachusetts shore and collects Ghost Shrimp. He collects NSW in the Atlantic.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

When I visited @Paul B on North Shore of Long Island, he collected pods in salt water marshes in Long Island Sound. He also goes to Massachusetts shore and collects Ghost Shrimp. He collects NSW in the Atlantic.

I was curious about temperatures but a quick google states that the temperature doesn't really fluctuate much between NY, Boston, and Maine. I thought maybe they stayed a touch warmer but we all get down within like 5° with maine being around 31 today and 36ish in Boston and new york. I wonder how the native life would transition to a tropical enviroment?? This is a very interesting idea...

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

NSW that I’m able to get for free here in San Diego.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

NSW that I’m able to get for free here in San Diego.

Whats NSW is you don't mind me asking?

 

[rtparty]

TBS ultra live sand

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

Whats NSW is you don't mind me asking?

Natural Seawater

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Tampa Bay Salt Water live rock and sand

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I think people use biodiversity a bit…loosely here. For example everyone says how great it is to use live rock direct from the ocean. But do we know what % of that actually makes it to the tank? Does it continue to hold its ground in a tank system or do certain bacteria tend to eventually become predominant in all our tanks due to the conditions?

Mature rock from another established reef, not shipped but quickly transferred and kept wet and warm, is a tried and true method of success since I started back in the late 90s.

Places like Tampa Bay Live Rock and sand are loaded and shipped overnight in water. I figure if brittle stars, copepods, sponge, crab, fish" yes fish have been hitch hikers "coral, macro algae, shrimp ECT can make it to our tanks every thing else survived. Using just partial live rock and sand from TBSW has aloud my tank to house everything from acro to frogs and hammer's as soon as the water cleared.

 

[Northern Flicker]

Places like Tampa Bay Live Rock and sand are loaded and shipped overnight in water. I figure if brittle stars, copepods, sponge, crab, fish" yes fish have been hitch hikers "coral, macro algae, shrimp ECT can make it to our tanks every thing else survived. Using just partial live rock and sand from TBSW has aloud my tank to house everything from acro to frogs and hammer's as soon as the water cleared.

Beautiful tank!

My live rock also came loaded with sponges, stars, etc - it was man made rock that was in fellow reefers display for a couple years. I would bet it has the same benefits of biodiversity.

Here are a couple of my favourite sponges

Also came with about a thousand brittle stars and other critters I never purchased but see crawling around.

Only a few bucks a pound too since it didn’t need to be shipped in water.

 

[reefer2/19/24]

Looking to strengthen my biodiversity. Can you guys recommend me the best products for this? Looking to buy 2-3 bottles from 2-3 different brands to add to my tank.

Aqua Biomics Reef sand and Reef rubble. Very limited quantity so you will likely have to get on their waiting list.

 

[reefer2/19/24]

Places like Tampa Bay Live Rock and sand are loaded and shipped overnight in water. I figure if brittle stars, copepods, sponge, crab, fish" yes fish have been hitch hikers "coral, macro algae, shrimp ECT can make it to our tanks every thing else survived. Using just partial live rock and sand from TBSW has aloud my tank to house everything from acro to frogs and hammer's as soon as the water cleared.

Just make sure you inspect it for the Bad hitchhikers!! Gorilla crabs are the worst!

 

[reefer2/19/24]

Anyone got any experience with AF life source

I use it once a month. Good stuff.

 

[bubbgee]

Anyone got any experience with AF life source

Been dosing weekly after water change. Dinos, GHA and bryopsis disappeared for the most part. So happy with this purhcase.

 

[Barncat]

Tampa Bay Saltwater has good quality live rock as well. Don’t know if either ships to Canada.

However, during the winter, diving is difficult with the weather.

JL Aquatics (Canada) sells live rock in I believe 20 lb boxes; I'm definitely considering ordering a box for my 125 gallon upgrade tank!

I'm also now seriously considering snagging a bottle of sea water when I go visit my brother next on Vancouver Island haha.

 

[ScottF]

Just make sure you inspect it for the Bad hitchhikers!! Gorilla crabs are the worst!

I had a bobbit worm and a mantis shrimp in the live rock of the tank I setup in 2008.

 

[Jedi Shrimp]

JL Aquatics (Canada) sells live rock in I believe 20 lb boxes; I'm definitely considering ordering a box for my 125 gallon upgrade tank!

I'm also now seriously considering snagging a bottle of sea water when I go visit my brother next on Vancouver Island haha.

I’m not an expert, but I think it’s better to take sand than just water, bacteria are there. I regret not thinking about it in my last Egypt travel !