live rock/base rock recommendations

[lochelle]

i want to use base rock and seed it with live rock..i know the recommendation is 1 to 2 pounds of rock per gallon..but have also read what is important is surface area..not exactly weight..so my question is can someone recommend a lighter weight rock? i know i found some but i forgot to bookmark it and cannot remember.

 

[sen5241b]

Here you go. Note the rock is lightweight:

25 Pound box Key Largo Nano Sizes, <br>New from Marco Rocks<br>Now Pre Cured Free Shipping <br>*in the contiential US* - DSnan-25

 

[chiqui bb]

I used base rock from marcorocks. Love it and it has colored up with coralline nicely.

 

[Hiker4twenty]

Pukani rock is quite porous as well. Check out BRS Pukani Dry Aquarium Eco Rock - English

 

[little_fish]

But you still need the 1-2 lbs per gallon with these porous rocks.

 

[Hiker4twenty]

I've been doing some random reading on other forums about live rock. Many reefers are now realizing that the total lbs of LR isn't really as important as available surface area to grow bacteria. It's almost getting outdated like the watts per gallon formula...it's just a general rule of thumb. It's the premise that more rock provides better filtration. Well, that only goes so far when the rocks are packed so tightly togeher that water movement is compromised. It can then becomes a trap for junk and waste. I think a more open aquascape with good water flow and tons of nooks and crannies for bacteria to grow is the optiomal goal to help with filtration.

You can have one 10lbs piece of fiji rock that is pretty much a solid chunk and then you can have that same 10lbs of a more pours rock that will actually provide more useable surface area.

 

[little_fish]

True, but i always thought that the 1-2 lbs per gallon was for very porous rock. If you had more solid rock i would say you would need more than that.

 

[sen5241b]

I've been doing some random reading on other forums about live rock. Many reefers are now realizing that the total lbs of LR isn't really as important as available surface area to grow bacteria. It's almost getting outdated like the watts per gallon formula...it's just a general rule of thumb. It's the premise that more rock provides better filtration. Well, that only goes so far when the rocks are packed so tightly togeher that water movement is compromised. It can then becomes a trap for junk and waste. I think a more open aquascape with good water flow and tons of nooks and crannies for bacteria to grow is the optiomal goal to help with filtration.

You can have one 10lbs piece of fiji rock that is pretty much a solid chunk and then you can have that same 10lbs of a more pours rock that will actually provide more useable surface area.

True.

 

[Pwny]

marco rock is sweet they gave me a ton extra with my last order