Ocean Rock/live Rock

[oldson]

hi folks
i am new to marine fish keeping and was hoping someone could explain (in simple terms) what live rock actually is? are there varying qualities? and does dead rock (ocean rock) become live over time (if in tank with live rock!

 

[SkiFletch]

Live rock is porous rock taken from the ocean floor itself. It contains many species of bacteria and other micro-organisms which help filter aquarium water. These bacteria in many cases are capable of fully completing the nitrogen cycle and even process nitrate in some of the anaerobic zones near the center of the rock.

If LR is removed from water for too long it will fully die and pretty much just be porous rock. Over time it can re-seed if placed in an aquarium with live rock and become live again itself. Dead LR can also be prone to nuisance algae breakouts so beware.

Ocean rock usually refers to non-porous heavy rocks that are not very good at all for filtration. Its the fact that LR is full of tiny holes that makes it different than most other types of rock.

 

[rl1oyd]

Think you just answered my question then! My Malawi tank is full of Dead Ocean rock im thinking if i was to add it with Live rock would the ocean rock become colonised obvioulsy then by what you say it would However i have been told the reason people use Ocean rock in the Rift Valley aquariums rather that Tuffa rock is because Ocean rock has good flow through it?

 

[SkiFletch]

Heh, wow you UK guys really have a lot of terms for rock... If the rock is very porous (has lots of holes) it will seed to become "live" in 6-12 months. During that curing stage, if your tank conditions are not optimal that "dead" rock will be very prone to nuisance algae outbreaks (see my diary). So make SURE that if you do decide to use dead live rock to suppliment actual live rock that you go VERY slowly with the tank and have infinite reserves of patience. The last thing you want to do is enter the algal wars I've gotten myself into.

 

[mr.dark-saint]

hi folks
i am new to marine fish keeping and was hoping someone could explain (in simple terms) what live rock actually is? are there varying qualities? and does dead rock (ocean rock) become live over time (if in tank with live rock!

Rock itself is not "Live" it's what inhabit the rock be it worms, copepods, algeas (micro or macro) and bacterias (regular or anarobic). Qualities are priced by what one can see on the rock, be it explosion of coraline algae and other "desireables". Any rock left in a tank will become "Live" (to an extent) some only on surface because of the density of the rock like granite or something less "solid" like Bull Rock. Now just because it can become "Live" does not make it desireable for everyone nor will it get the primo price as if it were say Fiji rock.

Dead LR can also be prone to nuisance algae breakouts so beware.

This is new to me but I recon if the critters die in the rock then dry out then later add water it would make on interesting soup. I could see a ammonia and nitrate spike.

Think you just answered my question then! My Malawi tank is full of Dead Ocean rock im thinking if i was to add it with Live rock would the ocean rock become colonised obvioulsy then by what you say it would However i have been told the reason people use Ocean rock in the Rift Valley aquariums rather that Tuffa rock is because Ocean rock has good flow through it?

When I converted my 125 gallon Reef in to semi- Tanganykan tank I killed off the less colorful (then) live rock since it had cool nooks and crannies. Besides it's calcium based and I already had them. I think the Fiji rock I have are nice and holey but I weeded out all the "solids" lacking nooks just because it would be of no use for my application. Same thing with the "Plenum" in the 125 which I just left it alone since I recon it too would become like it was intended to be in Reef application.

Heh, wow you UK guys really have a lot of terms for rock... If the rock is very porous (has lots of holes) it will seed to become "live" in 6-12 months. During that curing stage, if your tank conditions are not optimal that "dead" rock will be very prone to nuisance algae outbreaks (see my diary). So make SURE that if you do decide to use dead live rock to suppliment actual live rock that you go VERY slowly with the tank and have infinite reserves of patience. The last thing you want to do is enter the algal wars I've gotten myself into.

Dead "Live" rock are good inexpensive base rock to start the "stack" as in the initial start up. Since, the lower stack will have less light it wouldn't pay to spend the big bucks just to watch it bleach out.