A new direction

If you are using live rock then the bacteria and other organisms in the live rock will seed the sand bed. I only recommend live sand when someone is starting a tank with all base rock, to start a bacteria line. Other than that I haven't seen any advantage to live sand for the cost.

That brings up another question from me...the "base rock" I have been looking at fuji live rock some of it does say "base" I took that as what should be on the bottom because it doesn't look as nice, is it that it doesn't have as much live stuff on it???
 
Not really G, normally that means it is a denser type of rock and it more than likely has no coraline algae on it at all. Doesn't mean there isn't any coraline just I have never seen it with coraline on it excpet what parts of mine stick above the sand bed and is exposed to the light.
 
Not really G, normally that means it is a denser type of rock and it more than likely has no coraline algae on it at all. Doesn't mean there isn't any coraline just I have never seen it with coraline on it excpet what parts of mine stick above the sand bed and is exposed to the light.

Ok, so if it doesn't have the coraline (which I want right), then is it ok to use? Does it get "seeded" from the rock above it? Also...if it is the base then how does the sand get "seeded" from the LR, is it just the fact it is in the water...I thought it had to touch??
 
OK, so if it doesn't have the Coraline (which I want right), then is it OK to use? Does it get "seeded" from the rock above it? Also...if it is the base then how does the sand get "seeded" from the LR, is it just the fact it is in the water...I thought it had to touch??

If it doesn't have Coraline it will as long as you have good parameters. But if it is a non-porous piece of rock I'd put it on the bottom as a support structure for the live rock above. But yes it will be OK to use I have a few chunks of base rock above the sand you just have to account for that non-porous rock doesn't have as much surface area for the bacteria to adhere.

As far as seeding, the critters move, the bacteria flows through the water. As the worms etc start to multiply they will move out from their rock homes and seed the sand bed and that goes for the same for the bacteria. As time goes on it will become more and more seeded.

does that help?
 
If it doesn't have Coraline it will as long as you have good parameters. But if it is a non-porous piece of rock I'd put it on the bottom as a support structure for the live rock above. But yes it will be OK to use I have a few chunks of base rock above the sand you just have to account for that non-porous rock doesn't have as much surface area for the bacteria to adhere.

As far as seeding, the critters move, the bacteria flows through the water. As the worms etc start to multiply they will move out from their rock homes and seed the sand bed and that goes for the same for the bacteria. As time goes on it will become more and more seeded.

does that help?

Yes, thank you! I have been looking at this site

http://www.usmarinesystems.com/shop/index.php/cPath/469_88_509

Was looking to get a mix, of base, branchy, that really dark red stuff, and a few of the others. They seem to be decent on prices...much cheaper then many places I looked and ground delivery is like 30.00.

Have you or anyone heard of this site...do you know if they are good?
 
No I haven't heard of them.. But the big thing to check is what is the total price including shipping and how do they ship.. slow/fast? You can find prices for 3 bucks a pound but they don't include shipping in the price so you end up paying 5 or 6 or even 7 bucks a pound. Maybe someone else will chime in here. I got most of my rock from the previous owner and have added an additional 40 or so lbs but I got all of mine locally.

As far as what I like for rock, tonga branch is nice to have several pieces in the tank, but my personal favorite is Marshall Island and then Fiji. But thats more of an asthetics thing.. In my tank I have fiji base, fiji, one piece that I have never been able to identify but its really cool, that half arch piece, Lalo, Marshall Islands and some others. Quite a mix actually.
 
No I haven't heard of them.. But the big thing to check is what is the total price including shipping and how do they ship.. slow/fast? You can find prices for 3 bucks a pound but they don't include shipping in the price so you end up paying 5 or 6 or even 7 bucks a pound. Maybe someone else will chime in here. I got most of my rock from the previous owner and have added an additional 40 or so lbs but I got all of mine locally.

As far as what I like for rock, tonga branch is nice to have several pieces in the tank, but my personal favorite is Marshall Island and then Fiji. But thats more of an asthetics thing.. In my tank I have fiji base, fiji, one piece that I have never been able to identify but its really cool, that half arch piece, Lalo, Marshall Islands and some others. Quite a mix actually.

Well, since it doesn't show shipping unless you order...I started an order and picked what I thought I would want...shipping ground was 53.00, air-cargo would be 20.00 and I'd have to pick it up at the airport. So I just don't know. The order alone was 134.00 to what equaled out to 45lbs of rock. If I estimated correctly that would be around 4/lbs right?? I could make adjustments to what I ordered too, which would make the price come down some.
 
If it was me and you could get a couple of recomendations from other reefers that ordered from there I would go for it. Have you tried looking at premium aquatics? There have been many, many referrals from reefers that I trust who have ordered from there with absolutely no complaints. I'm not sure what they cost as I won't need to order from there unless I start a new tank.
 
So most do agree just the aragonite is best? I would love to save the extra money as there is alot of stuff I still need...so any corners that can safely be cut, OH YEAH I'm for it!!

Concider that corner cut Lady...as said bby others, use normal aragonite sand and it will get seeded on its own over time..all is good.

Niko
 
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