65 Gallon Tank: CHEAPO ROCK :D (this is a question)

charzar-g · April 21st, 2009

Hey all,
I am going saltwater soon for my 69 (US Gallon) Tank, just put the water in (haven't got the saltmix yet, getting that off the internet next month, i'm just leaving plain water with the filter for now)
So getting onto the question.
I am pretty broke all the time :l And i read somewhere, or got told, i don't quite remeber, that you can get plain rock, then put a few peices of live rock in to 'seed it'.
I was wondering. What type of rock do i use? I mean, i don't want to just go around picking up rocks so it looks like a big pile of mishmash rocks!!.
So should i go to a garden centre to get rocks? Or my fish shop? Lava rock looks good, but i heard it isn't too great for the water?? Is this true?

What kind of rock should i be looking for that ISNT live what will become live later on?
Any help?

agabr123 · April 21st, 2009

i dont keep saltwater tanks so someone who does will have a LOT more info for you, but until they come along for SW tanks the rock that they're referring to is actually live rock, not the kind of rocks that you can pick up off of the ground, and it's fairly expensive. you can click on the words live rock for more info, they should be underlined in blue for a link

cerianthus · April 21st, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by charzar-g

Hey all,
I am going saltwater soon for my 69 (US Gallon) Tank, just put the water in (haven't got the saltmix yet, getting that off the internet next month, i'm just leaving plain water with the filter for now)
So getting onto the question.
I am pretty broke all the time :l And i read somewhere, or got told, i don't quite remeber, that you can get plain rock, then put a few peices of live rock in to 'seed it'.
I was wondering. What type of rock do i use? I mean, i don't want to just go around picking up rocks so it looks like a big pile of mishmash rocks!!.
So should i go to a garden centre to get rocks? Or my fish shop? Lava rock looks good, but i heard it isn't too great for the water?? Is this true?

What kind of rock should i be looking for that ISNT live what will become live later on?
Any help?

Lava or Tuffa rock are Ok but they are macro porous which will trap detritus w/i the rocks. When that happens with time, may need to rinse them out in bucket otherwise can/may become nitrate factory.
How about if you check your local listing (such as Craigs List in US). You maybe able to find either LR or dried out LR for cheap. Dried Lr rock will be as bio-efficient when given enough time to be seeded with actual LR.
If you can find other micro porous rock, especially calcium based (Lace Rock?), will also become bio-active with time.

Mike · April 22nd, 2009

What about making your own?

Check this out: http://www.athiel.com/lib3/arago.htm
and here: http://www.garf.org/class.html

I have never done this myself, but it looks like it could be a cool project.

Then pick up a few pounds of real live rock to seed it.

Matt · April 22nd, 2009

WOW Mike that site is really interesting

-Matt

charzar-g · April 23rd, 2009

thanks everyone, sorry for a later reply here too,
i will check out those sites you posted mike, thanks again all

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