Live Rock and Base Rock Requirements

[runningboy01]

I've brought this up before, but wanted to start a new post here so that I could make sure I am understanding correctly.

As I understand it, the average rule is 1.75lbs of live rock per gallon. Correct?

If that is the case, then a 55 gallon tank would be 96lbs of live rock (55*1.75). Correct?

I know this has been said before, but having never done this, that just seems like a lot of rock for tank that is only 55gallons.

Next, would be the base (or dry) rock. From my understanding the rule is approx 1.5lb of dry rock per gallon. Correct?

This is where I need some clarification:

If my tank is 55 gallon and I am using a mixture of dry and live rock, what is the total amount of each that should be put in? Is it 55*1.5 (which would be 82.5lbs total) / 2 where 41.25 of it is live and the other 41.25 of it is dry?

I understand that dry rock will become live rock over time, but I'm trying to understand what would be a good ratio to start off with. I found a good deal on about 40lbs of live rock that someone is selling for $2/lb. They are about 2.5 hours from me, but a guy I work with could probably pick it up and keep it for me (I assume keep it in a bucket of water [what type of water?] with a powerhead on it)?

I also found this deal on live rock, which seems too good to be true:
http://www.marinedepot.com/Fiji_Best_Sa ... LR-vi.html

Anyone have any experience with that website or have any feedback on this?

Again, I apologize for the mess of questions, but at this point I'm 99% sure on a tank/stand combo and want to start figuring out for sure which way I'm going to go (Figure 8 or GSP).

[ILoveLola]

From what I have seen, 1 to 1.5 lbs of live rock are required per gallon, so you're a little high there.

As for how much dry v. live, I guess a really disatisfying answer would be it depends on how patient you are. I think I have read 50/50 is a good way to start, but wait until someone who has actually seeded their dry rock chimes in.

For me, I am getting a 55 with everything, including dry rock, in a few weeks when my family comes into town, and I am considering going the slow and cheap route of only buying a couple pounds of live rock and just waiting half of an eternity for it to seed, so I am interested in what others have to say as far as the seeding process goes..

[Nuclear_Glitter]

This isn't for you 55 gallon F8 tank is it? cause f8's are only light-brackish.

Anyway, as far as live rock and base rock, I recommend patience. I say you should make your dry live rock. There are plenty of DIY live rock recipes around the web. The ED video on youtube is a very common one to follow. It's super cheap and then you can just get some live rock to seed. You will have to be very patient with curing the DIY live rock and seeding it.

[Pufferpunk]

I had 70lbs of LR in my 46g bowfront & it didn't look full at all.

[J-P]

Dry rock is dry and very light thus is about 1 lb per gallon. 1 lb of dry rock takes up the same amount of space as about 1.5 ~2 lb of live rock.

[runningboy01]

From what I have seen, 1 to 1.5 lbs of live rock are required per gallon, so you're a little high there.

As for how much dry v. live, I guess a really disatisfying answer would be it depends on how patient you are. I think I have read 50/50 is a good way to start, but wait until someone who has actually seeded their dry rock chimes in.

For me, I am getting a 55 with everything, including dry rock, in a few weeks when my family comes into town, and I am considering going the slow and cheap route of only buying a couple pounds of live rock and just waiting half of an eternity for it to seed, so I am interested in what others have to say as far as the seeding process goes..

I thought about doing approximately 50lbs of dry rock and then just getting a few pounds (maybe 4lbs or so) of live rock from my LFS. If I do this, I believe the LR will seed the Dry rock and turn it into LR eventually.

It sounds like ultimately I need to end up with approx 1-1.5lbs of rock per gallon. If that is true, then I would need between 55-82.5 lbs of rock total correct? I guess the big question is how do you know when you have enough?

If I go this route, is it best to have all of my rock in the tank before I add the GSP? Or, can I put him in with some of it (mixture of live and dry) and then add more as time goes?

[Pufferpunk]

Where are you located? I've got a whole bunch of live & dry rock.

[runningboy01]

Where are you located? I've got a whole bunch of live & dry rock.

I'm in Ohio, near Cleveland.