looking for somewhere in my area to buy live rock I have a 55 gal and need about 55lbs so I really need a good deal any ideas? I live in Lamar which is between Russellville and Clarksville.
Hiya, If you're coming to the meeting this Saturday, I bet someone could bring some dry rock for you. It'll turn into live rock in your tank...it's usually cheaper then live rock. Kim/Benton, AR
Yeah you can buy dry rock for $3 a pound at most fish stores and even cheaper from an individual. Using dry rock will keep you from starting out with nasty pests also. It we'll worth the wait of a longer cycle IMO. Sent from uh......
I agree, I just started my frag tanks with about 100lbs and seem to have forgotten how long the new cycle takes with dry rock. Into the diatoms now, should pass soon and I will be ready to pick up some new corals. CUC will be here Thursday and get things going faster.
But let's not discount the benefits of actual live rock. Many even believe that you need to introduce new bacteria on the form of new live rock annually.
There are definitely advantages and disadvantages of both ways. I have gotten pests from frags and corals (eucinid worm, zoa eating nudibranch). I also got them with my live rock (nasty polyclad worms) but a lot of beneficial ones too (brittle star, cup coral, feather dusters, porcelain crabs). With 60 lbs of live rock and 110 lbs of dry rock my tank cycled in less than 10 days. Just depends on how adventurous you feel. The hunt can be fun.
My first tank a 10 gallon reef cycled in around 6. I had a mix of cured live and fresh uncured in my tank. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
I cannot make it to the meeting I work on Saturdays... I thought about doing a mixture just wasnt sure I could. I will buy the live sand also. How do I arrange the rocks do I glue them or just stack them? Sorry for all the stupid questions but we are complete newbs to this and thank yall so much for the info!!
There are no stupid questions. A lot of people use reef epoxy to keep their rocks together. If your rocks interlock well you can just stack them. I have a mixture of both. If you're like me, you'll rearrange the rockscape several times.
No stupid questions. You can glue them for the desired look and also for waterflow purposes or stack them and hope they stay like you want them to. Before you start make a rectangle with tape the size of your tank. Then start stacking them the way you want outside of water. Its a pain trying to get things to stay the way you want in a tank full of water without splashing water all over the place. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
also make sure the rocks are on the bottom of the tank not on the sand. I use eggcrate on the bottom but thats just me
I agree eggcrate is a must to protect the bottom glass. Also you can use rigid airline tubing or small pvc and drill your rocks to make shelves, or hold hard to stack pieces. This works better (I think) than epoxy if you ever plan to take any rock out for fragging attached corals or changing your aquascape. Place your dry rock on the bottom, then the live rock if you want to use any, and then add the substrate. This keeps any digging critters like pistol shrimp/gobies from digging under your rock and collapsing your aquascape.
I'd actually use 1/2in. cpvc pipe or acrylic rods if you can find them and a 5/8 mason bit for drilling. Its best to drill under water though to keep it lubed up. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
You can also do what another member did and make small eggcrate shelves to stack the rock on. Look it up. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
PEX plastic pipe at Home Depot or Lowes is cheap, can be purchased in 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" sizes, and easily cut. Usually available in white or gray. I find easier to work with than PVC and it can be heated with a hairdryer and bent if needed. http://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBite-1-4-x-5-ft-Gray-PEX-Pipe-U850G5/202033023?N=25ecodZ12kx%2FNtk-All%2FNtt-pex%25252Bpipe
