Selecting Live Rock

Discussion in 'Live Rock' started by Guest, Aug 12, 2004.

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  1. Shane

    Shane Plankton

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2004
    Messages:
    15
    Location:
    , ON,Ontario
    [quote author=Matt Rogers link=board=Newbie;num=1092322144;start=0#9 date=08/13/04 at 15:14:47]My diy rock is getting a lot of coralline and crawling with bugs now.

    It did take a long time to make (couple weeks playing around), longer to cure (couple months, didn't do enough water changes in the kiddie pool) and even longer to get things to grow on it. (close to a year, due to bad parameters in my tank until I got dosing down.)

    Now it looks great though and I am pretty proud of it.

    If you do it, get a masonary drill bit and drill the hell out of each rock. Makes it incredibly more realistic looking and more porous for bugs and bacteria.[/quote]

    How'd you get these critters growing on it?
     
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  3. dx7fd2

    dx7fd2 Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    May 22, 2004
    Messages:
    544
    Location:
    San Diego, CA,California
    I pretty much am doing the same thing that Matt did. The DIY rock I made took about 2 months to cure after changing water every 4 days. I think I am going to do a vinegar bath and then another freshwater bath before I start up the display tank. This will get rid of any super alkalinity that the concrete still has in it. The critters should adapt to the rock just like any other rock. The base ingredient is aragonite sand so it is pretty much something critters will like. ;D

    Matt I will be starting up my tank next month and will be posting some questions in the thread you started about the DIY rock. I will need some of your expertise Oh King of the Fishies!!! [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]
     
  4. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2000
    Messages:
    13,466
    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    Look forward to it Drew.

    [quote author=Shane link=board=Newbie;num=1092322144;start=0#10 date=08/13/04 at 17:50:11]
    How'd you get these critters growing on it?
    [/quote]

    I used live sand and unfiltered natural saltwater from a place I picked out up here in Northern California.
     
  5. aseidman00

    aseidman00 Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2003
    Messages:
    52
    Location:
    Staten Island, NY,New_York
    While the Lalo rock on the Liveaquaria website does look like a flat old coral type, I called them and they tell me that it is boulder style. In fact I did a seach on the web for someone who has already used Lalo and found the following pictures.

    http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10295&highlight=lalo

    Looks nice once the rock is cured. Real nice. Still I am deciding between Fiji, Lalo and Tonga Keilini. I'll most likely buy from Drmaccorals.com or liveaqauria.com. I spoke to people at both and they were friendly and helpful.

    Any suggestions ?

    By the way... did you see the lalo tank at the address I provided. Should I expect the tank to get that foul in the early stages of the curing ?Thanks,
    Allen
     
  6. aseidman00

    aseidman00 Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2003
    Messages:
    52
    Location:
    Staten Island, NY,New_York
    I decided to go with Tonga Rock from Dr. Mac at:

    http://www.drmaccorals.com

    They're vry nice there and happy to help a newby to reefs like me think things through and make informed decisions. I'll let you knwo how the rock is when I get it. It should arrive tomorrow !

    Allen