reef building the fundamentals

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

If you where to build your system all over what would you chose for rocks.
For sharing Please specify your findings as to what and why would you do it any different...

1)I would get any(man made,natural calcium base rock) dry rocks and seed it with any live rock from LFS
2)I would get natural dry rock and seed it with live rock from LFS
3)I would get natural dry rock and seed it with aquacultured live rock from LFS


explanation of above words.
.Any live rock meaning what is available at your nearest LFS for live rock.
.Natural rock meaning dead reefs dry rock
.Aquacultured rock meaning natural rock that been cycled and seeded ready for a system without any of the pests.
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[Aquattro]

I would get specifically only live rock, not man made.

[Madreefer]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I would get specifically only live rock, not man made.

Me too.

[reefwars]

Me three

[tim the toolman]

Me four

[Magickiwi]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I would get specifically only live rock, not man made.

This

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I would get specifically only live rock, not man made.

Same here

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I would get specifically only live rock, not man made.

Me too. No dry rock for me; man-made nor natural. Man-made rock looks terrible. Natural dried rock usually needs to be leeched of massive nutrient load, and it takes a long, long time for anaerobic bacteria to establish. These two issues tend to cause persistent cyano and hair algae growth in the first year or two of using dry rock.

I've had my fair share of "nasties" come in on a load of fresh live rock, but I haven't had any trouble eradicating those pests.

You're right those Eli (?), it can certainly be tough to find a consistent supplier of good quality, FRESH live rock. Too many LFS dump a crap load of fresh live rock into a vat and let it bathe in 3+ ppm ammonia for weeks. No wonder there is no life left on it.

[titus]

Hello

Yes live rock only here.


Titus

[SoloSK71]

Originally Posted by titus

Hello

Yes live rock only here.


Titus

Given the various issues good and not good that I had with starting with all live rock I think I would go with a mix of small cured and uncured and use large dry rock for the bulk. If I could get aqua-cultured rock I would use that in preference to uncured.

Charles