Live Rock for Your Saltwater Aquarium · Aquatic Dreams, Clearfield

Live Rock is a Necessary Addition to Saltwater Aquariums

While your aquarium doesn’t require live rock, it is an essential component of a natural saltwater environment. It helps to keep your tank clean by introducing the immediate benefits of bacteria and organisms necessary for a healthy saltwater aquarium. Additionally, it provides shelter for your saltwater fish and other aquatic creatures. You can seed dry rock to perform this function. This is the preferred method because it is both environmentally friendly and also helps to keep harmful hitchhikers out of your tank. Rock that is not manmade may contain small parasites, harmful bacteria, or less-desirable invertebrates. Natural, ocean rock typically costs far more than inert rock as well. Particularly if the shop selling it has tank any steps to help remove harmful organisms before offering it for sale.

Live Rock Filtration

People often think of protein skimmers and socks when it comes to their tanks filtration. However, many may overlook the natural biological filtration their live rock has to offer. Live rock is primarily use to help carry out the nitrification process. This is particularly true of live rock that appears to be extremely porous. All of the pores and fissures in the surface of the rock serve as dwelling places for the previously mentioned bacteria. These bacteria are what break down the harmful organic compounds in your aquarium and turn them into compounds that the fish and other creatures in your aquarium can use.

In nature, live rock is actually a piece of coral rubble sourced from areas where there are large concentrations of coral reefs such as areas of the Caribbean, Fiji and the Philippines. These pieces of coral rubble are not lab created, though you can conceivably seed porous man-made stones to serve the same purpose. Due to regulations regarding the collection of live rock from natural habitats, it has become increasingly common to see live rock that is aquacultured rather than harvested from the wild.

How to choose life rock for your aquarium

When you select a piece of live rock for your aquarium, take into consideration the overall size of the aquarium as well as the amount of water that the live rock will displace. If you select a large rock for a smaller tank, you may find that your rock will displace as much as 1/3 of the water. This will effectively reduce the amount of water available for your fish and invertebrates. Instead, plan to purchase rock that is equivalent to roughly 10% to 25% of the overall volume of the water.

Cured Live Rock

Look for cured live rock if aquacultured rock is not available. Cured live rock has been collected and then subjected to treatments designed to kill off the weaker bacteria and organisms on the rock. This will leave the stronger and more desirable organisms that will then recolonize on the rock. This process can take several weeks so it is best to purchase this cured live rock for your tank or already seeded aquacultured rock from your local saltwater fish store.

Decorative uses of rock

In a decorative sense, there are various types of live rock, many of which display very different characteristics. Some look like fossilized plants and sea life. Others resemble what we commonly think of as rock. After you make your selection, you have approximately 12 hours to install the live rock in your aquarium. If you don’t purchase your rock locally, it will usually come in a Styrofoam cooler to transport the rock in. You should place it in your tank as soon as possible.

Where to buy saltwater live rock in Clearfield, Utah

While live rock may be slightly more expensive than typical inert rock, it will provide a much easier and quicker way to set up your saltwater aquarium, regardless of your present skill level. However, any new saltwater aquarium will likely need to become established before adding corals and fish. For this reason, it may be worthwhile to opt for man-made rocks that will prevent hitchickers and keep more money in your pocket as well. Aquatic Dreams in Clearfield, Utah has a large pool of aquacultured established live rock, ready for your new saltwater aquarium.