Cultivating Live Rock

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Rick - 28 Mar 2005 23:48 GMT

I'm thinking of trying to starting to make some of my own live rock.

I would like to know if anyone has any experience or suggestion on this
subject.

I have a 40 gal tank that I'm not using and I want to fill it with
45-50lbs of rock and some local sea water, set it out on my back patio
so that the sunlight would start the algae growth on it own.

I would then drop in a pump so to circulate the water 24/7. I would
think that within a couple of months I would have some nice rock to
then put into another reek tank. I'm just not sure what to expect?

Will I need to do some partial water changes?

I will add some algae accelerators.

Once the rock has a lot of algae I would then use it in another tank.
I would not use the water that was in the tank with the rock, but use
only the rocks.

Any links or website that may have info on this. I guess what I want
to do is make my own home grown Live rock using an old aquarium/natural
seawater and sunlight outside. I live in CA so the temp and sunlight
is no problem. I know I can purchase live rock, but seeing that I dont
use this aquarium, I thought why not try an experiment?

Rick

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Xdudimus Maximus - 29 Mar 2005 02:02 GMT

> I'm thinking of trying to starting to make some of my own live rock.
>
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> is no problem. I know I can purchase live rock, but seeing that I dont
> use this aquarium, I thought why not try an experiment?

I really don't recommend doing the rock that way. You'll get no life on it
other
than algae.

I also hope this is after you cure your homemade rock for 4-6 weeks in
freshwater.
If you're making agrocrete (Cement & Sand), the curing process will be
needed to
leech the toxins from the rock.

What I have found is best is to stick your rock in a tank with other peices
of live
rock and life will eventually move to it.

I don't think there is a way to reproduce the porousness (spelling?) of real
live rock,
but you can always try.

I've made 6 peices and was not happy with any of them. They're now at the
bottom
of my tank holding up my real pieces. The only thing that likes them seems
to be
my brittle star. She likes her little fort to hide under.

Xdude

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Rick - 29 Mar 2005 07:56 GMT

Thanks for the info
I think if I should decide to continue to do this I will add some local
Catalina
Island Rock?

THKS/Rick

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RicSeyler - 30 Mar 2005 22:33 GMT

You might run into some serious heat problems with a 40 gal out in the sun.

>I'm thinking of trying to starting to make some of my own live rock.
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>so that the sunlight would start the algae growth on it own.
>

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Ric Seyler

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kryppy - 31 Mar 2005 15:35 GMT

>You might run into some serious heat problems with a 40 gal out in the sun.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>>so that the sunlight would start the algae growth on it own.
>>

I'll bet it smells like the lowest tide ever!!! lol

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Pet Forum / Aquaria / Marine Reef / March 2005

Cultivating Live Rock