LIVE rock ???

[Myteemouse]

Correct me if I'm wrong but
Are those out there selling "LIVE ROCK" that is dry
it is not "LIVE" rock anymore..
This is one thing that is bothering me..,,,
I see people selling live rock dry and trying to charge 3-4 $ a pound on the threads..
But isn't it now "base rock" now that it is dry and out of circulating saltwater??

 

[Reefbound]

I would consider this dry rock and not live anymore...And I would not pay 4$ a pound 2$ would be tops for dry...

 

[returnofsid]

It isn't live, but it's also not base. I'd consider it "Dead" rock, or dry live rock....lol.

The term "Base rock" has more to do with the look of the rock, than the life on it, or lack of. Base rock is usually not as attractive. Not as many nooks and crannies, no coralline algae...etc. It's used as the "base" because you don't see as much of it, so the look of it isn't as important. "Base rock" can still be alive.

As we all know, Dry rock will also become live rock.

Depending on what one pays for "live rock," $4.00/pound for dry rock might not be bad, for a couple of reasons. If it's dried out, there's no chance of pest anemones or bad hitchhikers. No chance of bad algaes being introduced either. Over here, Live Rock generally sells for $6.00-$8.00/pound at various LFS. This isn't necessarily fully cured and ready to put in an established reef tank either. So, if the quality of the rock is good, $4.00/pound would still save you 25-50%. If I were in the market for several hundred pounds of rock, saving 25-50% could become a big deal. A tank full of dry rock, seeding with a couple pieces of quality live rock, will quickly become a tank full of quality live rock, with less of the negative side effects that wet live rock can bring to a tank. (bad hitchhiker algaes, anemones, crabs etc.....)

 

[Myteemouse]

Thats what I thought..
I was under the same understanding..

 

[Saltyfish]

ahhhhhhhhh

I bought all "base rock" according to Marc for Marcorocks.com.

I was told it was once live they cleaned, dried, and cleaned again.

Now that I have planeted the seeds it just a matter of time before the "Base Rock" is alive once again. The good thing about dry base rock is that you pay for the rock not the water weight and no hitch hikers.

So yes Adam, once it is Dried Live Rock it is considered Dead Rock. Once they nuke it, dry it and clean it again it is base rock.
Unless it is in the tank already, not removed and you never see it because it was used a base support of the other rocks.

One term meaning two things, base rock.

Unless you are ordering special pieces like I did for my tank I would not pay over $2.00 a lb for dry or base rock.

I paid $2.40 a lb for mine but these pieces were larger and a special order. Of course that incluced the shipping.

 

[luisse25]

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/liverockberlinsetups/a/aaliverocklive.htm

 

[Saltyfish]

So the last statement

as soon as microscopic nitrifying bacteria starts to grow on any rock, because these unseen organisms ARE living entities, at this point it becomes "live".

By me adding the nitrifying bacteria to the water when I set up the tank so long as some of it made it to live on my rocks they are alive. hmmmmmm ok I now have Live Rock in my tank, just waiting for it to color up.