The
Safe Way to Add Live Rock
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Live rock is of absolute paramount importance
in either fish only or coral reef eco-systems. In both instances,
the saltwater aquariums live
rock provides both the beneficial organisms for proper water
management and the longevity of delicate live stock species.
Although the benefits, make live rock a must in todays aquarium,
there still are precautions when additing live rock. Though your
live rock has been pre-cured, it is imperative to cure the rock
again upon receipt, before it is placed in the display aquarium
that contains fish, coral, or inverts since some normal die off
will occur during transit. This is simple by either adding your
live rock first with your live sand, and waiting a 7 to 10 days
till 0 ammonia shows upon water testing; or you may place the
live rock in a container with saltwater and a small powerhead
for water movement. Let it stay in this container for 7-10 days
till a water test shows 0 ammonia. It is then ready to add to
your live system...
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When talking about live rock , it is a wrong
to think that the live rock itself is alive. What makes it live
are the many forms of micro and macroscopic marine life that
live inside of it. The aquarium rock itself is only made up of
the calcium carbonate skeletons of long dead corals. The different
live names, refer to the island location where it is collected
from, and the type of rock. Two popular types of live rock for
finishing off a nice reef tank are branch rock and shelf rock.
As the names suggest their shapes provide a great look and good
holding locations to place corals on.
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Aquatic Connection carries 12
different types of live rock, coming from many locations around
the world.
Differences in the live rock's physical make up from area to
area, make for different coraline algae colors to become the
dominant colors once the live rock matures in your tank. For
example, Fiji live rock is predominantly covered with a purple
coraline growth once matured, Tonga , and Carribbean live rock
is more rainbow colored, and Marshall Island live rock, has more
red coraline algae growth than the others once established. Please
note though, that these colors need a short period of time to
reappear on your rock. The curing and shipping process,does diminish
the coloration, but the chemistry of the particular rock is whats
important, and the incredible shapes at time of purchase. Give
your tank the lighting and chemistry nescessary and you will
enjoy for years the results of your effort.
When you buy live rock
from Aquatic Connection, you get the actual live rock weight,
measured on a legal for trade scale. Unlike many of our competitors,
we do not count the box and all packing materiels in with the
live rock weight you ordered.
We purchase only the
nicest live rock from some of the best sources. Once collected,
all our Live Rock is placed in high current ocean vats, not just
misted with water. We make sure it is flown off the island, not
shipped which other suppliers do, (often shipping live rock by
boat delays shipments from 4-6 weeks). We then treat our live
rock in 600 gallon vats with the right chemistry and large skimmers
, it's an almost zero ammonia enviroment for our live rock to
thrive in. This removes unwanted organisms, while adding nourishment
to the existing life forms we wish to have flourish. |
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