Can you make your own live rock/sand

Can you make your own live rock and if so how? Would you not just get a cleaned rock and let it cycle in a tank?

 

Welcome to FishLore!
I don't know the answer to your question but wanted to welcome you to our site
One of the saltys will be along soon hopefully with an answer.
carol

 

Ha-ha! Saltys!

Yes, just talk to your lfs that deals with saltwater fish and have him order some Marcos dry rock also known as base rock. Or you could order some from bulkreefsupply.com.

Then get a rubbermaid brute can and fill it with your saltwater, powerhead, heater and if you want you can add a light. Toss your rock in and add raw shrimp like once a week. Your going to fishless cycle this can with the rock in it. Takes a couple months but its a lot cheaper.

 

You can also make your own rock - google "agrocrete rock". Here's a link to a word document from michiganreefers.com on agrocrete rock

 

In addition to Sharkdude and Mike's comments, there's a lot of videos and guides about making your own base rock. Youtube and Google are your friends for this

 

There very much is but takes a very llllloooonnnnggg time to have the beneficial bacterias to actually start growing, so if you are preparred to take it very very slow on start up just be preparred to do so. Just my opinion....

 

Yeah well its my only option as if I fork out for live rock I won't have enough for a single fish.... so can I cycle it in the actual tank I am going to use??

Also can I use any old rock as that is easier to grt hold of for example stones that have been thouroughly cleaned?

 

Yes you can cycle in the tank if you want, some people do that so they there coraline algae to grow.

Depending on what kind of rocks you want to use. Generally you should use the most porous rock.

 

So if I can find some random stones for the sump that would be okay?? and have actual live rock in the tank?

Could I use flowerpots as they are pourous?? And also could I use aquarium gravel that I have spare from my freshwater tank as live gravel for my sump?

 

Aragonite based sand is recommended as it is natural and holds more bio than other sands, that and it helps maintain proper PH and can even help calcium levels(which only matters for corals and inverts).

Pots are porous but not like the rocks used for live rock. They don't hold enough bio to matter. Stick with the dry rocks mentioned previously and you won't regret it.

For a deep sand bed I used 2/3 sugar grain sand and 1/3 larger grain sand. Both were Caribsea Aragamax. After rinsing them out mix them up good before you put it in the refugium. Then top it off with some rubble and chaeto.

 

Well in that case where can I get this stuff ultra cheap

 

I get my dry rock from two different lfs. One is an hour drive and the other is a two hour drive. So you may have to go a long way, I'm not really sure on your lfs availability in your area, let alone Europe. Check there first then online. I'm not sure if BRS ships worldwide. Try and Google search for equivalent distributors.

Oh and the cheapest I get it is $2/lb.

 

Well in that case where can I get this stuff ultra cheap

There should be plenty of places in England.... Have you tried your local Marine Society/Club?

Too, if you're close to London, try the London Aquarium (at the base of the London Eye), you could always ask if they know a reputable place.

But, I must admit, reef environments are not exactly 'natural' to London/England, so getting fresh stuff could be expensive.

I would probably try places closer to the Mediterranean, Spain, Italy, Greece, France (maybe). They all have some sort of reef off their coast.

Random stones are not great. I would suggest having a look at the LFS, get an idea of what Live Rock looks like. It is nothing like a "River rock" so to speak.