feed back on my live rock

[dallascowboys2009]

I am new to saltwater so if some one could tell me if this rock looks sick or if I bought the wrong type. I got it from the local pet store and the lady told me it was from Florida. But I dont think it looks like other pictures that I have seen.

[Ninong]

The reason it looks different is because it's not live rock from the Indo-Pacific, it's Gulf of Mexico aquacultured live rock, which is a lot denser (heavier) than live rock that is collected from the rubble zones of actual reefs. Gulf of Mexico aquacultured live rock is limestone chunks that are dug up in Florida and then placed in the Gulf of Mexico for 18-24 months to acquire some 'life.'

It's not nearly as porous as regular live rock, which makes it so much heavier. You will need a lot more weight of aquacultured live rock to take up the same space in your tank as regular live rock.

Did the salesperson explain to you that it was "aquacultured live rock" and not regular live rock? It has been illegal to collect real live rock from Florida for more than ten years now.

[NanoReefer1]

even washed up live rock?

[dallascowboys2009]

so is it any good

[NanoReefer1]

You have to in no way follow what I say because it is my opinion, but I would question if you really wanted that rock. Personally I would want fuji rock over anything else.

Also what I think ninong was hinting at was that since the aquacultured rock is denser and therefore has less holes it doesn't filter near as well as say fuji rock. Therefore you will need alot more of it causing your tank to weight quite a bit more as well.


Here a link to what fuji rock looks like MACNA XV - Fuji Live Rock prize

not very close up but you get the idea.

Google has some good up close pictures but usually real live rock is the most visually appealing, most porous, and best imo.

[Ninong]

so is it any good

That's up to the buyer. I guess some people like it or they wouldn't still be in business.

[Ninong]

Personally, I prefer live rock from the Indo-Pacific. Some people do like Gulf of Mexico live rock but I'm not one of them.

[TimH07]

rock is rock, whats growing on it is the matter of good or not.

the only real disadvantage would be less porous means less surface area for your beneficial bacteria to propagate.

[NanoReefer1]

I think weight is a disadvantage to...more weight = less rock / $1

[Ninong]

even washed up live rock?

It is illegal to collect live rock from U.S. waters (inculuding the waters of U.S. territories).

Aquacultured live rock requires a permit. If you are found in possession of live rock, you will be asked to show your permit.

I have no idea what happens if you find some pieces of dead stony corals that washed up on the beach somewhere. Maybe the fish and game guy will explain that to you???

Let us know how you make out.



P.S. -- We'll write to you.

P.P.S. -- Maybe you can find something under Florida statues? In fact, I'm sure it's in there but I'm not in the mood to look it up. Help yourself.

It should be somewhere in Section 370, Saltwater Fisheries.

[dallascowboys2009]

Can I add other types of rock or do I have to stick with the same stuff? The only reason why I bought it was because there are only two stores by me and the one had the best looking rock and the other store's rock smelled really bad. Can I attach coral's to the rock I have now? Sorry new at this.

[Ninong]

Can I add other types of rock or do I have to stick with the same stuff? The only reason why I bought it was because there are only two stores by me and the one had the best looking rock and the other store's rock smelled really bad. Can I attach coral's to the rock I have now? Sorry new at this.

Yes, you can add other types of live rock to your Florida aquacultured live rock. Yes, you can attach corals to your aquacultured live rock.

[Ninong]

rock is rock, whats growing on it is the matter of good or not.

Not so. It's not what's "growing on it" that makes it good or not. It's what's inside it that makes it good or not. In fact, most of the fully-cured live rock from the Indo-Pacific has very little "growing on it" at all when you buy it. Aquacultured Gulf of Mexico live rock will have lots of different forms of life (good, bad and merely ugly) growing on it because it is harvested from the water the same day it is shipped, so there is very little die-off.

The disadvantage of Gulf of Mexico life rock is that it starts out life as terrestrial limestone that is mined in Florida and then chopped up into chunks that are placed on racks in the Gulf of Mexico to "age." Limestone that is millions of years old is not nearly as porous as live rock that may have been live coral skeletons just two or three years previously. Live rock is the result of tropical cyclones busting up the reefs. The resulting pieces that are blown around either survive and end up at a new location or they die off and end up in the "rubble zones." It's illegal to hack off pieces of the living reef, but it's sometimes done anyway. In fact, some airports (runways, etc.) were built by simply bulldozing living reefs.

the only real disadvantage would be less porous means less surface area for your beneficial bacteria to propagate.

Exactly, and that's the whole purpose of live rock. The life that may survive on the outside of the rock may be undesirable anyway. Unless you're buying "raw" live rock deliberately because you're looking for a lot of macroalgae on your live rock. "Raw" live rock, which is rarely available, is uncleaned live rock that is shipped immediately after collection without any local cleaning or racking by the collector.

[dallascowboys2009]

what is this thing i just fount on my rock

[Samper]

It appears to be a mantis shrimp to me...I don't know the species. They are not generally desirable although some like to keep them in seperate tanks. I had one for a while that killed every snail I added to the system...was a clubber not a slasher and you could just watch him set the snail like a football for a kicker and smash away he would.

[Ninong]

what is this thing i just fount on my rock

I agree with Samper that it appears to be a mantis shrimp. Do not leave it in your aquarium under any circumstances.



P.S. -- I forgot to caution you about hitchhikers on Gulf of Mexico aquacultured live rock. Besides mantis shrimp, be on the lookout for Aiptasia anemones. Also, if you spot any bristleworms, make sure none of them are Hermodice carunculata, the Caribbean fireworm.

[TimH07]

on the mantis subject. i've had the click clicks in the tank for a year and a half now and not once ever seen a mantis shrimp but its pretty distinct clicking.

how do i lure one out to see if it is indeed one, or even a pistol shrimp.