brittle live rock

[berkdog]

Is it normal for live rock to decompose or become brittle? I was trying to shave off the next round of hitch-hiker anemone (bad ones), and when picking up the rocks today, the live rock was chipping off and made me worried. Do I need to add more? My tank is just cycling and the pH levels are constant.

[reefhead728]

I dont know what kind of live rock did you have?

[leebca]

Some of the 'best' live rock is relatively porous. But it's not likely a problem to have some break away. It depends upon the kind of rock it is.

[reefhead728]

The Porous the better, but did you pick it up on edge? ive had rock break but that was from transporting it.

[berkdog]

Thanks. I'm not too sure what kind it is. "Live rock" from the LFS Does that mean it's not Fiji or Tonga or wherever?

Anyway, it didn't break in half, but parts of the edge where I pulled it up sorta crumbled off.

If this is normal, how often should one replace/add live rock? (of course going through the proper quarantine, etc) Thanks!

[reefhead728]

Send a Pic and i might be able to help indenify the rock.

[berkdog]

will do later tonight. thanks!

[leebca]

I wouldn't be able to tell the origin of live rock from its photo. Ask the location it came from, to your LFS.

Read this post on live rock to answer your other questions: What is Live Rock, Anyway?

[reefhead728]

You are able to tell the differance in figi and tonga.

[reefhead728]

I have tonga, figi and timora sea live rock and can tell the differance in the rock, but yes lee might be right it could be hard to tell from a photo neways your rock should be ok. Just leave that piece of live rock that broke off in your tank.

[leebca]

Jeremy,

I wrote that I couldn't tell the diff from a photo.

[reefhead728]

Yes Lee and i agreed with you.by the way not trying to highjack anyones thread but do you live near wear the hurricane is going to hit

[leebca]

You're not reading what I wrote close, sport.

I wrote that I (me, myself) could not tell by a photo. That doesn't mean you or others couldn't tell -- just that I couldn't tell. Okay?

Not in its path.

[reefhead728]

Yes i read as close as my eyes would let me without being uncomfortable maybe you need to use bigger letters next time.


Glad you dont have to worry about the storm.

[berkdog]

here are photos of my live rock...

Picasa Web Albums - cafowlr - live rock 200...

(note: photos were too big to upload here)

[reefhead728]

What are you calcium and alkalinty at your rock looks like its not doing to good.

[reefhead728]

Looks like a mix of figi and timora. and some nice peices shape wise im just worryed about the coloration, did you buy cured live rock or uncured live rock. or a little of both, can you tell if the color of your rock has reduced scense you put it in your tank.

[reefplayground]

Live rock can break. Over years, live rock does wear out and "decomposes". So it s nothing to worry about.

[berkdog]

Ammonia (NH3/NH4)ppm(mg/L): 0
Nitrate (NO3)ppm(mg/L): 20
Nitrite (NO2)ppm(mg/L): 0
ppm TOTAL ALKALINITY/BUFFERING CAPACITY: 300 (max)
pH: 8.0

Why do you think my rocks aren't doing so good? The color and shape seem constant (with reddish algae growth and removing the hitch-hiker anemone). I bought a mixture of cured and uncured rock from a couple of LFS. As you can see, one piece came with a lot of green/red hair/grass algae I put it right in front of the filter to disturb it. Maybe it's time for me to get a clean up crew? Cycling has been for 2 weeks now.

Thanks for the help!

[reefhead728]

Berkdog

I didnt know you picked up cured and uncured rock. while you can start up your tank that way and your not wrong in the way you did it, ive just always cured my own before adding it to my tank, I just got concerned when i saw all of that white rock.