Curing Dry Rock

[mseepman]

The new dry rock has no bacterial way to fight off the invasive algae's, so they tend to get them more easily, just like in Doug's situation.

[Coasting]

I boiled mine for a good 20 mins because I read that topic. Just added it to a salt water bin with biomax media I was storing in my SW canister filter. No idea what I'm doing but I hope that adds some good stuff to the dry rock and the boiling helped get rid of stuff I didn't want.

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

[pseudonym]

Well.. I am going to ask an obvious question that it seems no one has thought of.. or maybe I am missing something.

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

http://www.ecoliverock.org/

Not only is it cheap, but all profits go to reef conservation. It is Canadian and shipping is even free and included in the cost. Unless dead rock is waaay cheaper than $2.80/lbs with shipping, there doesn't seem to be a point in using it.

[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.

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

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

That's because you're clearly a "go with the flow" type of guy. I'm an uptight, anal-retentive, class-A personality type of gal.

My blood pressure is fine, thank you.

(that doesn't mean ALL folks who use DR are uptight, anal-retentive, class-a personalities)

[pseudonym]

interesting responses! I can understand not wanting pests, but not being able to play the "Live rock lottery" would be a real disappointment for me! I love the little critters I am finding. Several banded brittle stars, a serpent brittle star and what appears to be two orange co-co worms! (those could also be from my co-co worm). I guess I also have a different view on "pests".. I kind of look on having a pest as having a self renewing food supply for something cool that eats it!

[molotov]

I cured mine with normal tap water. It worked very well for me. Why would you use ro/di water? I don't see a benefit.