Beginner Live Rock Questions

[catfishblues]

I am thinking about setting up a 75 gallon saltwater tank. I'm not new to aquariums but I have never tried saltwater. I've tried reading about live rock and sand but it is all so confusing! Can I get live rock from just any rocks? Do I need the rock to be live if I am not growing any coral or other similar invertebrates? Do I need a layer of gravel underneath my crushed coral sand? This is all so overwhelming compared to freshwater! Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[lljdma06]

I am thinking about setting up a 75 gallon saltwater tank. I'm not new to aquariums but I have never tried saltwater. I've tried reading about live rock and sand but it is all so confusing! Can I get live rock from just any rocks? Do I need the rock to be live if I am not growing any coral or other similar invertebrates? Do I need a layer of gravel underneath my crushed coral sand? This is all so overwhelming compared to freshwater! Any help is greatly appreciated!

Think of Live rock as a filter. It carries the bacteria that the Marine system needs to process waste. You know, the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate we get in FW systems. The effect of the Live rock is enhanced by the use of power heads to distribute circulation throughout your entire tank. When you had a FW tank, you worried when your filter stopped working because the bacteria in the media would die, right? Same thing is sort of taking place.

No, you can't really just use any rock, though you can seed what we call base rock (rock without bacteria, or that isn't LR) with smaller pieces of LR to cut costs.

Yes, even tanks without corals run best with live rock. Prior to the use of LR, marine systems were run with complicated filtration systems and dead coral skeletons for decoration.

No, you don't need a layer of gravel under your sand. But use an Aragonite sand. What's called "Reef grade" is usually very popular. I use oolite, which is very fine, but my system is a bit different (planted marine)

Out of curiosity, what have you read? I like Michael S. Paletta's The New Marine Aquarium. He explains the concepts very clearly, IMO.

Welcome to the salty side.

L

 

[catfishblues]

Thank you so much for all of the help! All I had read was a lot of things off of the internet. I guess a book probably would be a better choice I'll try to find that book!

 

[lljdma06]

Thank you so much for all of the help! All I had read was a lot of things off of the internet. I guess a book probably would be a better choice I'll try to find that book!

The Internet is a great source but not everything there is reliable. You need some sort of background.

Pros to a book...

1. the methods tend to be tried already
2. the reference material is better; it's not just "when I had my tank..."
3. the material is better explained. Authors sell books. Success means it has to be simple enough that it's accessible

Cons to a book...

1. Some of the information is outdated. For example... Paletta says that you need 10x turnover. Unless your doing a planted marine or something with less current, we aim for 20x or even more now. But the general concepts are very sound
2. Expense, yes books cost more than internet

I'd get the Paletta. It's a decent introduction to the ideas behind SW. I read it and was able to bounce off questions much better.

L