suggestions live rock

[memphisrb]

Im setting up a 35g reef and i need suggestions on the type of live rock to use,fiji or gulf? cured or uncured? I have 60lbs live sand in place and would like to cycle the tank with rock and sand only.thx rb

[mogurnda]

I like the gulf stuff, because you get a lot more life on it. Sponges, dusters, corals, macroalgae, porcelain crabs, pistol shrimp, etc for the good guys. You'll probably also get hairy crabs, and maybe a mantis as bad guys. The rock is probably a bit denser than Fiji. If you buy from Tampa Bay Saltwater or Gulf View, it will be shipped fast and in water, so there will be little die off.
If all you want is something just for denitrification, Fiji is excellent, and there are grades that come with more stuff on them. The problem is that it has had to travel across a very large ocean and a lot has died along the way. Then somebody has to cure it. And there's still a risk of bad hitchhikers. But there are some who say it is so much more porous that it makes a much better biological filter than aquacultured gulf rock.

[Guy W]

I don't know if this is absolutly true but I've heard from a couple people that Gulf Rock can actually leach phosphates into your tank, promoting uncontrolled algea blooms. Not sure if it's true, but living in S.W. Florida I don't doubt it, as I can attest to the fact that the Gulf of Mexico is not the cleanest body of water around. Run off from all the sugar cane, tomato, and orange field fertilizer is the possible culprit.

But I have not researched this extensivly, because I've always prefered the shapes and look of Fiji.

Guy

[mogurnda]

I have seen discussions of it on other message boards, but there didn't seem to be strong evidence either way. I have 40 lbs of TBS rock, and there's about 0.2 ppm PO4. I feed an awful lot, though, so I won't blame the rock. I have always had a few patches of hair algae, but never a bloom.
But I have not researched this extensivly, because I've always prefered the shapes and look of Fiji. That's an important point, a lot of people like various kinds of Pacific rock better.

[BrianH]

I have 50% fiji and 50% gulf rock from Gulf-View (http://www.gulf-view.com) in my reef tank. I personally prefer the gulf rock due to the amazing amount of life you get on the rock. Along with what was said earlier, you also get multiple colors of coraline algae. I even got a caribbean open brain on my shipment. You can also get unwanted hitchikers on pacific rock. I got hydroids on my fiji and I'm still battling them a year later.

I also like uncured rock since the cured rock is between 100% to 150% more expensive in my area. I can't see spending that kind of money for rock that they may not have even cured properly.

Brian

[gbundersea]

I received 250 pounds of Gulf-View (http://www.gulf-view.com) "base" rock on June 27, 2003. My cost was $2.00/pound, plus shipping. It was unbelieveable! I have posted a detailed account of my experience with it, along with pictures. Here are the links:

My detailed post on WetWeb (http://wetwebfotos.com/talk/thread.jsp?forum=5&thread=11813)
Pictures on WetWeb (http://wetwebfotos.com/Home?actionRequest=userview&userID=2570)
Comments from another fellow (http://wetwebfotos.com/talk/thread.jsp?forum=18&thread=12006) who bought Gulf-View rock after reading of my experience

In short, I think Gulf-View's rock, prices, and service cannot be beat. Their seed rock was originally lace rock from the Bahamas, so it's lighter and more porous than other Florida aquacultured rocks. It's been down something like 13 years, so the life on it is truly amazing.

Feel free to email me for additional pictures or information.
__________________

Don't miss my Jensalt sump horror story site (http://members.cox.net/~gbundersea/aquaria/badsumps/badsumps.htm).

Also see how to cycle a new tank with household ammonia (http://members.cox.net/gbundersea/aquaria/5gallon/cycling.htm).
__________________

Greg Bunch
http://www.gbundersea.com
Home of the Digital Lens Dock, MXTENDER, Save-A-Lens Kit, and u/w photography

http://www.reefngom.org
Co-founder and fish ID instructor
REEF Field Station of the Northern Gulf of Mexico

[memphisrb]

Thanks for the replys. I purchased 30lbs Gulf-View lr the first week on Aug and was very pleased with all the coraline colors and life on it. My tank cycled in less than 3 weeks with no major die offs or foul odors( I did a few water changes).On the 26th of aug I recieved an additional 30lbs of Dales super deco(the best stuff) and let me tell you, it was BEAUTIFUL. I did go through another mini cycle but everything seems to have survived except one mussle. Great product and great service at Gulf-View.

semi ot: What are you feeding your mussles/bivalves that came on your rock? rb

[mogurnda]

What are you feeding your mussles/bivalves that came on your rock? They are probably ark shells. They generally eat phytoplankton, but will probably get some nutrition from the debris during feeding time. DTs now makes a live phytoplankton with cells large enough for arks to eat. You can also get concentrated phyotplankton, like Tahitian Blend from Brine Shrimo Direct (http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com). www.instant-algae.com (http:Redd Mariculture has a lot of info about feeding shellfish. The arks have slowly died off after the first year, leaving only 2 at 17 months, but there are at least 3 large oysters that shjow nno signs of slowing. Phyto feeding will be good for your corals, sponges and other filter feeders as well.

[gbundersea]

semi ot: What are you feeding your mussles/bivalves that came on your rock? rb
Well, since I have quite an assortment of other inverts on the rock, including corals, I feed a mix of brine shrimp and Kent Micro-Vert, with some Vita-Chem in it too. (I soak my fish food in Vita-Chem as well.) It's only been 2+ months, but so far, so good. Out of probably 15+ large bivalves, I've only lost 2 or 3, and these died soon after receiving the rock. I have many healthy smaller bivalves too, and no doubt have not discovered them all yet.

In my 29-gallon FO tank I have a small clam. He has been in there 2.5 years, and endured nitrates as high as 80-100. I have never fed him specifically, yet he seems to be thriving. That tank is no longer overstocked, so the water parameters are much better than before. In there I also have had a murex snail (kept separated by mesh since they're predatory) for over 2 years and he has also thrived, at least doubling in size since I got him.