View Full Version : Vida Rock versus Live Rock
mling
01/15/2014, 09:06 AM
I am considering adding Vida Rocks ( http://cerameco.com/ ) to my systems. They are not cheap but they look real good.
The manufactures claims that it will behave just like live rock once it get colonized.
Has anyone had experience with these in their system ?
Pastey
01/15/2014, 09:10 AM
I have 2 pieces in my tank with some mature rock from my old tank. I really like the unique look. I have nothing bad to say about the rock at all. Good coral real estate without taking up a ton of space in the swimming column or the sand.
thegrun
01/15/2014, 09:12 AM
They look great but are not nearly as porous as real reef rock. You will not get as much surface area for bacteria and certainly no crevasses for denitrifying bacteria. That said if you like the look and add real rock to your sump go for it.
mling
01/15/2014, 09:31 AM
I have 2 pieces in my tank with some mature rock from my old tank. I really like the unique look. I have nothing bad to say about the rock at all. Good coral real estate without taking up a ton of space in the swimming column or the sand.
How long have you had your Vida Rocks ? What did you get ?
hart24601
01/15/2014, 11:15 AM
I have a large one in my 65g. I disagree about not being as porous. I think they are quite a bit more porous. Not vida rock but close:
http://aquaroche.fr/en/live-rocks/comparison-of-porosity-of-live-rocks/
The vida rock people mix organics that burn off when fired making a great deal of pores. Heck even normal bricks are generally around 20-30% porous.
I prefer vida rock to calcium based live rock.
Pastey
01/15/2014, 11:24 AM
I got a 2 piece package from Vidarock and supplemented with LR from my previous tank. This tank has been running for about 5 months. I, too, find the Vidrarock to be pretty porous. It's certainly not just a chunk of "rock".
FTS:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/deadwrx/C7407E85-69B8-4818-895B-8EC44393819C-28740-00003A8A2288177D_zps1d424520.jpg
hart24601
01/15/2014, 11:28 AM
Some folks think calcium based live rock buffers the tank but according to Randy that isn't the case in a reef tank with acceptable parameters (which is why in a Ca reactor one must use C02 to lower pH):
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1987490&highlight=buffer+sand
In fact phosphate can bind to calcium based live rock and then be released back into the water if conditions were poor and then resolve.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2111931
Aside from the high price I don't know a reason to not use vida rock unless the look doesn't appeal to you, but they can make any shape you can imagine.
lumbeejerk
01/15/2014, 04:25 PM
Who sells it
Ssteve
01/15/2014, 05:20 PM
I have a cerameco arch and I can tell you that it holds a ton of water in it, as I had to move it when I upgraded tanks and water drained out for a long time. Not much algae growth on it over the last 3months, but I don't have much algae(good or bad) in my tank.
4bruceinc
01/31/2014, 09:54 PM
Who sells it
I place an order a few hours ago at http://aqua-tecture.com
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