do u recomend live rock?

[Fuzzy]

im probaly not going to get very much live rock for the 30 gal im gettin for xmas. cause my dad owned a 30 gal and he didnt have any live rock and he had no problems. im just gonna get what i can with what i have left.

 

[Sea Hunter]

Live rock isnt necessary to have a good tank but it definatly helps with the bioligical(sp) aspect of the water condition.

 

[Fuzzy]

at least some one agreesith me im probaly gonna get some but mostly cause at the store i noticed all the crabs only hung around the live rock.

 

[Eelzor]

Wait this makes me think. So there are only 2 ways to cycle a saltwater tank? With Live rock or with damelfish? Is there another way?

 

[Fuzzy]

let it cycle its self. i might be using some chemicals to, dont no what they r. my dad always cycled tank without live rock, it always worked.

 

[superman]

I don't ever use chemicals in my saltwater tanks, and have never had problems starting up a tank, because of some of the following reasons..

I ALWAYS have made sure that I have some live rock from an already established tank

I use sand from an already established tank

I at least have one tough fish (preferably not a damsel) to help with the ammonia levels needed to correctly cycle the tank.

With the 4 saltwater tanks I have set up, I have NEVER seen a large cycle taking place when I started any of them, no water cloudiness, and nothing but a very small rise in hair algae. I am a strong believer that the reason for no large cycle is because I used elements like live rock and live sand from an already established tank.

The reason that I don't use damselfish to cycle the tank is that they are very territorial to other fish, so introducing them to the tank as the first and only fish let's them claim the whole tank as their territory. And down the road if you decide to get more beautiful fish or very shy fish, it can be a daunting task to catch the damsel to take it out of the tank, even in a tank as small as a 20 gallon! I spent hours trying to fish my damsel out of the live rock and nooks and crannies of the tank, they are extremely quick!

These are my personal opinions that have worked wonders for me.

 

[ste2k3]

if you would like live rock, then you can get a rock called reef bones 9may be called diferent over there) but it is basicaly dead live rock and costs a fraction of the price. all you need to do is add a couple of pieces of live rock and it will re-populate. most of my tank was done this way. as for cycling. I just put the rock (cured ) and reef bones in, sand and left it for 2 months. then i added cleaners etc. i didn't add any chemicals, any hardy fish or anything. tanks will cycle them selfs in time.

 

[Sea Hunter]

sorry and I know some peeps dont like it but I used Damsles. and squeezens from a already astablished tank and used the filter bag as well.

ste2k3, I think your talking base rock? thats what we call it over in my neck of the woods. lol. and i'd have to say 60% of my rock is made up of it. hehe

 

[Landlocked]

I use a combination of base rock and live rock.