A bit Disappointing

[gregzz4]

Have you tried speaking with Jeff about this issue ?

If that doesn't work out, honestly, you're better off using live rock

I regret using base in my build, as do many others

[mikellini]

I think you'll find far more people regretting the pests that came with their live rock...

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by mikellini

I think you'll find far more people regretting the pests that came with their live rock...

Doubt that -lol

[mikellini]

OK, so you think more people have problems related to using base rock (maybe a nutrient release if not properly prepared, take a long time to become "live") than problems related to using live rock (cost, die-off, aiptasia, majano, dinoflagellates, bryopsis, predatory hitchhikers, many other rarer/deadlier/more difficult to eradicate pests, and not to mention the destruction of live habitat in the ocean)?

OK then

[monza]

Curious Mikellini what is your rock of choice if it does noy come from the ocean?

[mikellini]

Originally Posted by monza

Curious Mikellini what is your rock of choice if it does noy come from the ocean?

If I had the money, I'd be looking at the engineered live rock that J&L carries (RealReef I think it's called). Failing that, I used a combination of old dry rock I had lying around and some mined base rock similar to Marco rock.

[monza]

Some of the engineered rock is pretty cool, the ceramic stuff would be nice. Ya it's expensive, I didn't know J&L carried any I'll check it out. I've always kinda done live rock but I see the benefit of engineered.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by mikellini

OK, so you think more people have problems related to using base rock (maybe a nutrient release if not properly prepared, take a long time to become "live") than problems related to using live rock (cost, die-off, aiptasia, majano, dinoflagellates, bryopsis, predatory hitchhikers, many other rarer/deadlier/more difficult to eradicate pests, and not to mention the destruction of live habitat in the ocean)?

OK then

Yes, exactly what I think.

Ok then.

[Ryanerickson]

Live rock is the only way for me 😄 by the way I have houndreds of pounds pest free willing to let go of some cheap if needed.

[Aquattro]

OK, I can't leave well enough alone

Most threads I read from people using dry/dead rock end with algae problems. In time, they also suffer all the other pests introduced from corals bases, etc.

Originally Posted by mikellini

(cost, die-off, aiptasia, majano, dinoflagellates, bryopsis, predatory hitchhikers, many other rarer/deadlier/more difficult to eradicate pests, and not to mention the destruction of live habitat in the ocean)?

Cost - It's an expensive hobby, live with it
die off - seriously? It's a few days curing and skimming
aiptasia/majano - can happen regardless of source of rock
bryopsis - algae, it comes in with other stuff as well, keep your nutrients in check
Predatory hitchhikers - almost always easy to remove
Rarer/deadlier? - not even sure what you're talking about
Destruction of habitat - again, seriously? Unless you have a tank of rock, I'm guessing you have some ocean creatures in your tiny glass box. I'm sure they appreciate your effort to preserve what used to be their home. Although the fact that they will eventually die in your livingroom probably reduces that appreciation by some degree.


I have used at least 500 pounds of real live rock over the last 12 years, mostly bought from J&L. I once got a mantis. It jumped out of the rock back into the box it shipped in. Troublesome indeed. Another time I got 9 isopods. Nasty little blood suckers. Took 20 minutes to catch them and it was kinda fun.
Mostly I just had really nice tanks with 0 nutrient or algae problems ever. Biggest regret? I'm a bad resource for giving advice on dealing with problems encountered with everything you claim is bad.

ok then.