Creating Live Rock?

ReefNik · 11/21/2017, 01:17 PM

Alright so about 3 months ago I set up a saltwater tank out of nowhere and had a bunch of problems but now everything is going really good water tests are great and doing water changes got filters and all that good stuff.

When I started with my tank I took ocean water and filled my 55 gallon. I then put sand from a fish store(dont remember the name) and found some big rocks on the beach and put them in there. They were white and I am possitive they were not living.

So now the rocks have turned green and brown with some red on them in small patches. They look really nice now giving color to my tank. I have a starfish, sea urchin, and a little baby blue crab for my bottom feeder, couple snails.

So my big question is, have the rocks turned into live rock? Or what? They have been in there for 3 months. The rocks are sand rocks and old coral porus rock.

billdogg · 11/21/2017, 02:11 PM

yes it has.

mcgyvr · 11/21/2017, 02:15 PM

The easiest definition of "live rock" is basically rock that has sufficient bacteria living on it such that its capable of quickly processing ammonia/nitrites into the less toxic nitrate form..

The "live" part is not about any plants or corals or whatever on it.. Its really just about the bacteria "living" on it..

11/21/2017, 01:17 PM	#1
ReefNik Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Florida Posts: 11	Creating Live Rock? Alright so about 3 months ago I set up a saltwater tank out of nowhere and had a bunch of problems but now everything is going really good water tests are great and doing water changes got filters and all that good stuff. When I started with my tank I took ocean water and filled my 55 gallon. I then put sand from a fish store(dont remember the name) and found some big rocks on the beach and put them in there. They were white and I am possitive they were not living. So now the rocks have turned green and brown with some red on them in small patches. They look really nice now giving color to my tank. I have a starfish, sea urchin, and a little baby blue crab for my bottom feeder, couple snails. So my big question is, have the rocks turned into live rock? Or what? They have been in there for 3 months. The rocks are sand rocks and old coral porus rock.

11/21/2017, 02:11 PM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	yes it has. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

11/21/2017, 02:15 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	The easiest definition of "live rock" is basically rock that has sufficient bacteria living on it such that its capable of quickly processing ammonia/nitrites into the less toxic nitrate form.. The "live" part is not about any plants or corals or whatever on it.. Its really just about the bacteria "living" on it.. __________________ Who me?