The Puffer Forum

I was wondering if someone could tell me what the differance between the base rock at my lfs and the rocks outside my house are. I guess the "actual" base rock has more surface area. Can anyone please tell me why I should pay for the lfs' rock and not just boil/clean my own?

Thanks!

Base rock is actually not rock. It's some kind of coral thingy. It's very porous and holds tons of bacteria and tiny organisms once it's live again.

I think surface area, and looks is the thing. I mean, there's the whole issue of possible contaminants in what you have outside your house, but...

The more porous the rock, the better. That's why so many people don't like to use Texas holey rock for base rock. They want something less dense, and more porous cause it can act as a better filter once it becomes live rock...

Then again... I'm not a marine expert...

-Rob

Also, from my understanding, coralline algae won't just grow on any type of rock. You probably can't seed the rocks outside your house with coralline algae, which would defeat a significant purpose of having live rock.

Ok thanks! I am about to embark on DIY live rock... wish me luck

Good luck!

Are you going to rinse it in the toilet tank?

Rinse it in the toliet tank sounds odd, yet like it would be strangely effective.... good idea.

Jivenjune wrote:Also, from my understanding, coralline algae won't just grow on any type of rock. You probably can't seed the rocks outside your house with coralline algae, which would defeat a significant purpose of having live rock.

Coraline will grow on anything, pumps, sand, the plastic turkey baster spout that got lost behind my rocks and I can not reach...

The reason you dont want to use any old rock or rocks typicaly used for fresh water is #1 porousness (as stated above) #2 buffering, the rocks will help keep the ph, alk and calcium at better levels. #3 other rocks can release phosphates and silicates causing algae blooms, they can also release much worse things.

Personally I have never seen a man made rock look as good as a live rock in a reef tank. If you are gonna make your own rock look at:

http://www.garf.org
http://www.mindspear.com/reef/concrete/index.htm
http://www.athiel.com/lib3/arago.htm
http://home.comcast.net/~daves-reef/diy_liverock.htm

alexk3303 wrote:Rinse it in the toliet tank sounds odd, yet like it would be strangely effective.... good idea.

Dadof4 did that. Every time someone flushes, it gets a water change. He said his "rock" turned out really well.

I have used limestone-y rocks from my yard, and coralline algae - and other kinds as well - have grown great on it. I also have some sort of lava type rock in there, and it's got lots on it, too.

Unless there's something I'm missing, rinsing rock in your toilet tank would be no different than rinsing it under the tap since both come from your main water line. Are you talking about just letting it sit in there a while, so it gets good and rinsed, kind of more for convenience than anything else? That's not a bad idea, actually.

Yes,leaving it there for a long time, for convenience.

LilGreenPuffer wrote:

alexk3303 wrote:Rinse it in the toliet tank sounds odd, yet like it would be strangely effective.... good idea.

Dadof4 did that. Every time someone flushes, it gets a water change. He said his "rock" turned out really well.

WTF?

You rinsed the man made live rock in the toilet tank? I dont see whats so bad about the hose and a 5g bucket, but hey I guess that works too

I think the recipe he used needed to be soaked and get water changes for a long time.

yeah I know diy live rock has to be soaked for about 3 monthes with water changes, which is what makes the toliet option seem so easy and convenient. I've also heard of people putting it in a river or pond by their house but I would think something(s) might make it their new home.

Yeah... I wouldn't do that either.