Curing Dry Rock

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by pseudonym

Why buy dead rock manufactured rock and then seed it for the same cost as already live manufactured rock??

Pests. I don't want live rock. Ever. Not under any circumstance. I did start my first tank with live rock as I wasn't aware of any other options. I won't use it again: aqua-cultured or not.

I have introduced some pests through corals. That's just the way it is. Live rock can be a really significant source, however. It freaks me out putting a coral that is on a rock in my tank. I wish I could remove the coral first, but that isn't always possible.

[Coasting]

I like the fact that with dry rock, I know what "critters" are in/on the rock. My dry rock was still cheaper.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Coasting

I like the fact that with dry rock, I know what "critters" are in/on the rock. My dry rock was still cheaper.

What I like about live rock is that after 6 months, I'm still finding new critters. And reading this thread now, I'd never use dry rock. Sounds like a bit of a hassle. "IF" there was something in/on a rock that was going to eat my head, it sounds a lot easier to remove that rock than to go through all this "curing" for dry....no? And honestly, in all my years of live rock use, I had "pests" once that took 20 minutes to deal with, and was kinda fun doing it.

I guess I just don't get the dry rock crowd

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by Coasting

Wouldn't it be better to cure longer in sw then fresh so you get the sw bacteria you want?

Absolutely. I just figure that ro/di is easier. Just call me the "lazy reefer." I use bacterial products, so I can get the bacteria into the rock and populating pretty easily and quickly. Sure, it costs more, but the end result is the same and it works well for me.