Why I like diver collected live rock

[Subsea]

It looks great and establishes multiple food webs that move carbon up the microbial loop.

 

[steveschuerger]

I fully agree with that. All my tanks were started with maricultered diver collected. This little guy is finally getting some corals in it. KP base rock and Gulf Live Primo

 

[Subsea]

I fully agree with that. All my tanks were started with maricultered diver collected. This little guy is finally getting some corals in it. KP base rock and Gulf Live Primo

Nice. Incidently, what does the cat think?

 

[jonelder68]

It looks great and establishes multiple food webs that move carbon up the microbial loop.

Oh wow! That rock is a thing of beauty! Insanely awesome.

 

[Subsea]

Oh wow! That rock is a thing of beauty! Insanely awesome.

Thank you. I struggle to identify what’s on it and I hope food webs are sufficient. I do feed two live mussels every day: gut cavity juice & all.

Here is a list of what is identified:
1. Fire engine red ecrusting sponge completely covers live oyster. There are two other live oysters on this rock.
2. Orange encrusting bryozoans (photosynthetic)
3. Orange barrel tunicates
4. Yellow ball sponge

 

[jonelder68]

Thank you. I struggle to identify what’s on it and I hope food webs are sufficient. I do feed two live mussels every day: gut cavity juice & all.

Here is a list of what is identified:
1. Fire engine red ecrusting sponge completely covers live oyster. There are two other live oysters on this rock.
2. Orange encrusting bryozoans (photosynthetic)
3. Orange barrel tunicates
4. Yellow ball sponge

How new is the rock to the tank? Also where is it from? The amount of life on that rock is awesome!

 

[areefer01]

Is 'diver collected' the right verbiage to use? It is not like hobbyist can go collect this on their own. We have to source from a licensed business.

To your overarching theme I do agree. If shipped submerged microbiome and life will be better than starting with dry. Far outweigh potential hitchhikers.

 

[shawtygotbass]

Is there risk of dish disease or parasites by bringing in rocks directly from the ocean?

Do they need to be quarantined for a while with just inverts or sustained with just a food source?

 

[steveschuerger]

Nice. Incidently, what does the cat think?

She keep on getting on top of the tank. She’s even tried to drink the water even though she gets fresh from me.

 

[ReefGeezer]

It looks great and establishes multiple food webs that move carbon up the microbial loop.

That's a great piece of live rock. I'd like to see more discussion about establishing food webs, and the associated nutrient processing pathways, in a reef tank.

So, is "diver collected" different than asking TBS or another supplier to find a special piece and ship it in water?

 

[Subsea]

Is 'diver collected' the right verbiage to use? It is not like hobbyist can go collect this on their own. We have to source from a licensed business.

To your overarching theme I do agree. If shipped submerged microbiome and life will be better than starting with dry. Far outweigh potential hitchhikers.

I think the verbiage is correct. Let’s park here. Florida permits for maricultured rock are very strict. In 1999, approved vendors mined 100’s of tons of Bryozoan limestone from inland quarries, moved by rail and barged to lease sights. Initially rock was dumped from barge. Now regulations require new rock to be placed by hand.

With respect to hobbiest collecting stuff on their own, I can only comment what Texas Wildlife & Fisheries Enforcement says about collection in general. As long as you have a fishing license, you can collect; however, you can not legally sell. Because coral is protected, it is not included in the collection list.

PS: I do not find it advantageous to ship rock fully submerged. If something dies, then it can contaminate the shipment as opposed to contaminating only the immediate area when shipped damp.

This rock was shipped damp 10 days ago. I picked it up at bulk air freight and it went straight into 25 year established tank.

https://www.reef2reef.com/attachments/image-jpg.4385607/

 

[Subsea]

Is 'diver collected' the right verbiage to use? It is not like hobbyist can go collect this on their own. We have to source from a licensed business.

To your overarching theme I do agree. If shipped submerged microbiome and life will be better than starting with dry. Far outweigh potential hitchhikers.

I think the verbiage is correct. Let’s park here. Florida permits for maricultured rock are very strict. In 1999, approved vendors mined 100’s of tons of Bryozoan limestone from inland quarries, moved by rail and barged to lease sights. Initially rock was dumped from barge. Now regulations require new rock to be placed by hand.

With respect to hobbiest collecting stuff on their own, I can only comment what Texas Wildlife & Fisheries Enforcement says about collection in general. As long as you have a fishing license, you can collect; however, you can not legally sell. Because coral is protected, it is not included in the collection list. So, I collect anemone & peppermint shrimp from the jetties in the Gulf.

 

[Subsea]

Is there risk of dish disease or parasites by bringing in rocks directly from the ocean?

Do they need to be quarantined for a while with just inverts or sustained with just a food source?

After 55 years of reefing, I don’t quarantine. The juice is not worth the squeeze. Each reefer should do his own risk management

 

[Subsea]

That's a great piece of live rock. I'd like to see more discussion about establishing food webs, and the associated nutrient processing pathways, in a reef tank.

So, is "diver collected" different than asking TBS or another supplier to find a special piece and ship it in water?

when I was a live rock & tank set up business, for 1 year, I had 200 pounds a month shipped to me. That year, I processed 2000 lbs of rock. During those days, I asked for special pieces and in one case was shown a picture with rock in 30’ of water. I approved the rock and on next dive day, rock was collected in the morning and I put it in my tank at midnight: less than 16 hours from being on the reef.

Let’s park at natural food webs using micro fauna & fana.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nutrient-management-by-“old-school”-reefer.784640/
This food web, the sponge loop was discovered by Dutch researches.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279061640_2013_deGoeij_Science_Sponge_loop
As a “holistic reefer” why I like Bryozoans:

“Bryozoans are crucial to marine ecosystems because
they act as water purifiers, filter-feeding to remove particles and improve clarity; serve as habitat builders, creating complex structures for other species like small fish and crustaceans; and are a key food web link, consumed by various predators while also providing food for themselves. Their colonies add structural complexity, support biodiversity, stabilize sediment, and their presence often signals good water quality, making them vital for overall ecosystem health and resilience.“
Specific Contributions:

• Water Filtration: Like other suspension feeders (e.g., mussels, sponges), bryozoans filter tiny food particles from the water, which helps to keep oceans clean and clear.
• Habitat & Shelter: Their colonies form intricate structures, offering shelter, breeding grounds, and foraging areas for numerous small organisms, including crabs, juvenile mussels, and small fish, boosting local biodiversity.
• Food Web Role: They consume microscopic organisms and are, in turn, eaten by predators like fish, snails, and insects, placing them as important links in the marine food web.
• Ecosystem Engineers: Their calcium carbonate skeletons contribute to reef-like structures, adding physical complexity to the seafloor, similar to corals.
• Bioindicators: Because they are sensitive to changes in water chemistry and temperature, bryozoans can act as valuable indicators of environmental health.
• Sediment Stabilization: Their colonies can bind and stabilize sediments, further shaping the marine environment.

In essence, these "moss animals" are integral to marine environments, supporting life through filtration, providing essential shelter, and forming a vital part of the food chain, much like their fossilized ancestors did for millions of years.
And check out what they look like on uncured diver collected live rock.
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/90af1256-3dfc-46e5-86cb-4b2dddf55349/premium-deco-rock-17.gif/:/cr=t:0%,l:3.6%,w:92.8%,h:100%/rs=w:440,h:331,cg:true

 

[kevgib67]

Just added 50 lbs TBS and 90 lbs live sand an added the live rock from my 32g last weekend. In over 20 years of reefing I wouldn’t use anything else.

 

[56longroof]

I added 150 pounds to my tank. That with the TBS live sand was an instant cycle.

 

[Subsea]

Just added 50 lbs TNS and 90 lbs live sand an added the live rock from my 32g last weekend. In over 20 years of reefing I wouldn’t use anything else.

I saw where you got TBS shipment air freighted on February 6 into Pittsburgh. I help host a family reunion in Pittsburgh and had 100lbs of crawfish and a bushel of blue point crabs shipped in and was surprised at how far it was from passenger terminals.

Are you still manicuring your rock?

 

[kevgib67]

I saw where you got TBS shipment air freighted on February 6 into Pittsburgh. I help host a family reunion in Pittsburgh and had 100lbs of crawfish and a bushel of blue point crabs shipped in and was surprised at how far it was from passenger terminals.

Are you still manicuring your rock?

Very convenient location, I was in and out without the hassle of the main terminal! I’m pretty sure if we go back far enough we are related. When and where is our reunion? I look forward to that meal and, um, seeing the family. The rock is in and good to go. Now that you mentioned it I might trim the nails and apply some Robin egg blue nail polish followed by a clear coat.

 

[Subsea]

I added 150 pounds to my tank. That with the TBS live sand was an instant cycle.

Wow. You went all in with 150 lbs. How big of a tank?

 

[Subsea]

Very convenient location, I was in and out without the hassle of the main terminal! I’m pretty sure if we go back far enough we are related. When and where is our reunion? I look forward to that meal and, um, seeing the family. The rock is in and good to go. Now that you mentioned it I might trim the nails and apply some Robin egg blue nail polish followed by a clear coat.

“I’m pretty sure if we go back far enough we are related. When and where is our reunion?“

Kevin,
We could start at Adam & Eve!

That was 5 years ago and I had a rich nephew that gave me an open ended purchase order.

PS: We might have one this Spring in Austin. I just started floating the idea with family members: Castille’s & Roeloffs. Cajuns & Germans makes for an interesting mix.