If I think of all the tanks I've seen up close that have had substitute rock, none of them looked nearly as good as tanks with real rock. Not to knock anyone's methods (check out my glass house), but the more I see and learn the more I think that quality live rock is indispensible.

And for base rock, the closest to the real thing we can find - also indispensible.

JMO, but when you've seen enough DIY rock tanks with serious ugly problems, or even borderline ugly, you tend to get nervous. Try to emulate the best tanks you've ever seen...

(AS to free shipping from J&L, check the fine print: "*Does not apply to salt, chiller, aquarium, sump, or sand orders." They might include Reef Rock with sand...)
:confused:

I hate to speak for someone else, but since I am fairly close to Ross' problems, I will state here and now that Ross did not use Tufa Rock. Ross uses rocks he made himself following a recipe readily available online. As to using unnatural rock, I think Alan is a bit unfair. I have some Calcium Carbonate rock in my tanks. I have never yet encountered any problems. In reality, I got a couple of the pieces from Alan, and you cannot tell it from storebought LR now. :eating:

bob thanks for clarifying that and posting an image of a giant white thing eating a smilie. :smile:

once again, i am stuck between tufa and base rock. so far no one seems to have any base rock to sell and the JL stuff is expensive compared to tufa, which is available in calgary or can be shipped from eastern BC by the people who actually mine it.

i have only read one case of tufa being in a tank overrun with algae, and there's no guarantee the tufa was actually a cause. there are many tufa success stories out there, however. jon (canadianman) also has a lot of tufa in his tank...

http://members.shaw.ca/reefs/canadian_man/index.htm

i am about to begin exam week but once i'm done with that i will probably make my final decision, i will keep everyone posted.

I am sure we are all holding our collective breaths waiting for the announcement. :microwav:

i know you people are behind me 100%!

I would be if I cared. :evil:

Bob, did someone hijack your computer?!? Only a cranky old fart would say something like that!

Because we all you you're one of these: :lilangel:

Not at all. The point is that questions were asked, opinions were given. It is now up to Quinn to make his decision, one he has to live with. It is of no consequence whether we are behind him or not. After all he is the maker of his own fate, and the reality is one that I have to live with. I don't care OK :question:

actually i was referring to my exams, but either way...

Well I hope you studied. If so, you will pass. :eek: