Base Rock Selection, For A New Tank

[CatchAndRelease]

Hello,
I'm in the process of setting up my first saltwater tank and I've been doing as much research into the topic as I can. I'm going to be starting my 29 gallon tank very soon, but I recently ran into a bit of an issue. Live vs dead/base rock.

I am planning on buying some live rock to help start my reef, however, I have been reading that it is possible to use some base rock with the live rock. This base rock will, overtime (and I've read that can take up to 6 months) become seeded with the same bacteria and micro organism that inhabit the live rock, thus cutting down on cost to me.

However, I just got back from my LFS without buying anything because I was not expecting the amount of selection in base rock available to me. I understand to avoid lava rock whenever possible, but after that I'm kind of lost. I've been reading that Aragonite based rock will be a good choice, I was wondering if anyone here had any suggestions of other types of rock that would work. Thanks!

 

[lljdma06]

Hello,
I'm in the process of setting up my first saltwater tank and I've been doing as much research into the topic as I can. I'm going to be starting my 29 gallon tank very soon, but I recently ran into a bit of an issue. Live vs dead/base rock.

I am planning on buying some live rock to help start my reef, however, I have been reading that it is possible to use some base rock with the live rock. This base rock will, overtime (and I've read that can take up to 6 months) become seeded with the same bacteria and micro organism that inhabit the live rock, thus cutting down on cost to me.

However, I just got back from my LFS without buying anything because I was not expecting the amount of selection in base rock available to me. I understand to avoid lava rock whenever possible, but after that I'm kind of lost. I've been reading that Aragonite based rock will be a good choice, I was wondering if anyone here had any suggestions of other types of rock that would work. Thanks!

Where are you?

L

 

[CatchAndRelease]

I don't understand what you mean, geographically? Ontario, Canada

Sorry if I was unclear in what I was trying to ask in my post.

 

[lljdma06]

It determines what link I send you.

 

[CatchAndRelease]

In that case, to be more specific from my last post; Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

I've kept reading on the topic and from what I've found it seems like I should be looking for a porous limestone or calcium carbonate base rock.

Right now my plan is to get 5-10 pounds live rock and another 15 pounds base rock for my tank.

 

[lljdma06]

In that case, to be more specific from my last post; Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

I've kept reading on the topic and from what I've found it seems like I should be looking for a porous limestone or calcium carbonate base rock.

Right now my plan is to get 5-10 pounds live rock and another 15 pounds base rock for my tank.

Yes, you'll want rock that is both porous and that will increase your buffering capacity.

Yes, I was going to recommend that you order base rock from Reefcleaners as everybody has high praise for their base rock, but they don't ship to Canada. What you really should do, CatchAndRelease, is look in classifieds for a tank breakdown. It's a great way to get cured LR for cheap.

L

 

[CatchAndRelease]

That's a really good idea, thanks. I've started looking and have found some great looking deals (compared with what I would be paying at a store).

However, is it generally safe to buy from someone like that? Is there anything I should be looking for to stay away from, or be worried about?

 

[lljdma06]

That's a really good idea, thanks. I've started looking and have found some great looking deals (compared with what I would be paying at a store).

However, is it generally safe to buy from someone like that? Is there anything I should be looking for to stay away from, or be worried about?

Yes, when you get rock from a tank break down you get all the good and all the bad that comes with it.

Good
1. established coraline
2. Relatively algae free, barring coraline of course.
3. Full of copepods, amphipods, and other pods
4. Little feather dusters
5. Some macro algae isn't bad and can add to the beauty of a rock

This is some nice rock, not meaning to toot my own horn, but I work hard on my tanks and keep them clean.

You see how pink and/or red it is and has relatively little in the way of algae or pests.

The bad...

1. Excessive hair algae
2. Rock with excessive aiptasia and/or majano anemones
3. Rock with a ton of flatworms and/or other pests
4. Rock that is for some reason without a lot of coraline, especially if the rock is supposed to be from a mature tank
5. Rock with cyano bacteria

All of the above indicates a problem with either a pest organism or a problem with the tank either chemically or with possible poor husbandry in the past. You want rock from a healthy, thriving system. If the person has the tank up and running while you are negotiating for the rock, this is so much better. You can see the system running. Also, look through their journals threads and don't be afraid to ask if they've kept one in a forum. A lot of salties love to chronicle their achievements. Take a look at journals here, you'll see what good healthy rock should look like.

L

 

[CatchAndRelease]

Oh, awesome, thanks again for the advice.

I'll check out the journal section, just a quick skim through them and they're looking helpful.

 

[nanoMama86]

Sorry to but in here.L, but the white sort of fuzzy stuff in your pic is EXACTLY the white stuff on my rocks! So is is good and NOT bad? And I have hair algae, but it is in little "gardens" that my shrimp tend. They will ruthlessly pull any excess off the rock.My Hermies also seem to pet the hair algae, only to be chased off by my shrimp. And is Tufa rock sold at Petco an accceptable base layer to put under mature LR?


I am sooo glad I found an answer to the white patches question!

 

[lljdma06]

Sorry to but in here.L, but the white sort of fuzzy stuff in your pic is EXACTLY the white stuff on my rocks! So is is good and NOT bad? And I have hair algae, but it is in little "gardens" that my shrimp tend. They will ruthlessly pull any excess off the rock.My Hermies also seem to pet the hair algae, only to be chased off by my shrimp. And is Tufa rock sold at Petco an accceptable base layer to put under mature LR?


I am sooo glad I found an answer to the white patches question!

What patchy white stuff, nanomama, that's rock. It's just been over-exposed a tad in the picture. Now the patchy white stuff is a type of sponge, I think. I've got some of that too, but in other rocks. It's harmless, albeit, I don't much care for it aesthetically and I'll remove it if it gets too big. There are also some tunicates that fit the description as are some colonial animals. All that I've encountered have been harmless.

Nanomama, what's your phosphate and nitrates? Does the tang touch the stuff?

Nanomama, I will PM you with a place to go for base rock. No, don't go to Petco.

L