What is the difference between base rock and live rock? What are the functions of both? What do you try and do with your live/base rock in you display tank? (you rock work and what you try and do with your rock)
Difference between live rock and base rock?
- Thread starter Batmanjay28
- Start date
Live rock is rock that has been cured and it generally speaking is full of "good" bacteria and other critters. It will act as your filtration so to speak. All the nookies and crannies (provide homes for bacteria) on your live rock will help break down ammonia, nitrite and toxins in your water column. In some systems, you don't even need a mechanical filter because your live rock is your filtration.
Base rock is either uncured rock or rock that doesn't have any bacteria on it. Often times people buy "base rock" as the foundation of their rockpile. Its far cheaper. They use it on the bottom or in the back of your aquascaping and put good quality live rock over or on top of the base rock.
Live rock is way more expensive, but better. Over time your base rock will get critters and whatnot from your live rock. So in essence over time, your base rock will become live rock.
Nothing beats a high quality live rock... and not only for the great filtration and critters, but for beauty as well. Live rock can have really nice colors on it after a few weeks or months under light.
hope that helps, if I forgot anything, someone else chime in! :dance2:
Germanman
My fish are my babies