Base rock or Not or strictly live, also cleanup crew

[MikeP]

I was sitting at a customer site daydreaming about how to spend money I don't have and thinking about my planned trek to my LFS. I do not have any base rock in my 29, about 15 lbs of live rock, I am going to pick up some this weekend but don't know if I should pick up some base rock there or just some more live. Can I get away with adding any type of base rock(Home Depot) or buy a rock from Home Depot(trying to get away chep) and let the live rock multiply on it???
Also I really don't have much in the way of a cleanup crew about 10 snails and a small red hermit, and a bleeny and a cool peppermint shrimp.
Any does or don'ts?? thank

[FishDaddy]

Mike,
I wouldn't take any chances on common rocks...don't know where they've been and what they've been exposed to. Best bet is more live rock; another 15#~ or so. If uncured is available, you can usually get it cheaper and cure it yourself in a Rubbermaid container or large bucket.
Do you have a substrate in yet?
Dick

[MikeP]

I have about 3 " of live sand that has all these cool little worms in it.

[fgto250]

I have about a 50/50 mix of dry coral rock and prem LR. after a year it is hard to tell the DR from the LR. the DR is now covered in coralline and feather worms. I bought is from a LFS for $.75/LB and they are very large pieces.

I have also read about how make rocks from concrete. Has anyone tried this? seems like it could be a good way to kill time since I have to use up my vacation day before the 1st.

I don't think I could trust rocks from HD but I'm sure most said that about the SD sand also.

[OodleyBoodely]

More cool cleanup crew that won't eat your 'cool little worms', could include a sand-sifting cucumber (the plain colored ones are generally safe/non-toxic), serpent stars, brittle stars (avoid the green brittles-they catch and eat fish!), Nassarius snails (really cool scavangers), and, a Blue Linkia star (avoid other 'sand sifting stars-they'll eat your worms).

The safest alternative to base rock would probably be to make your own rock using cement and aragonite sand or oyster shell. If you are interested in this do a search here. There have been many excellant posts regarding diy rock. I use native limestone for base in my tank. Other stones safe for use include, shale, slate, obsidian, quartz, tuffa, and, marble. As FishDaddy stated, however, you don't know what contaminates might have been in contact with unknown sources of rock (copper, gas, pesticides, ect) that could end up poisoning your tank.:santa:

[Scodz]

I just washed my hands off actually. I have been making rocks for the past couple weeks and if you are looking for a new and cheap way to be involved in your tank I would highly recomend it. Many people complain that the cement mix rocks leach phosphates in the tanbks but i have not had the experiece. Curing the rocks is absolutely crucial to prevent this, but an initial mix that is stable is the real secret. Making your rocks means you can aquascape the heck out of your tank. you can create any caves ledges, plateaus or arches you can dream up. Also you can control the density of your rock. Porous for aerobic and dense for anerobic. I actually sell the rock I make and have sold a bit of it uncured without anything living on it, this is because I let my imagination go nuts. Here are my three best sellers
1. powerhead in a rock
2. Refugium in a rock
3. Worlds lightest and most porous rock

1 is self explanatory
2 I have a couple different designs One is for tangs and other herbivores which grows macros in its hollow out center and as the algaes creep out small holes they get munch. This is a glass top rock, I also sell a glass side rock which allows you to have a clear view inside your refugium this way you can see all the fun amphipods and mysids and copepods and whatever else in the plants. my favorite is the glass top and glass side rock which allows people with fish only tanks to keep certain inverts and reef tank critters. One client has a refu rock filled with gobies and mushrooms in his tank with triggers,groupers, an eel and a jack! kinda a miny diadorama

anyway just to get your imagination going a little creativity and experimentation and you can break all the rules. My favorite rule to break is that this is an expensive hobby. if you decide to go for it and have any questions shoot me an email or something.

When I get a digi cam I will post pix

[MontanaRocknReefer]

Oodley Boodely if I may, I would like to comment on what you said about Green Brittle Star catching fish and to avoid them. I have a very large green brittle star in my 80 gallon reef tank and have had it for quite some time. I have 2 little purple gobies, a magneta dottyback, a sharpnosed puffer and a bonded pair of maroon clownfish and the green brittle star does not bother any of them.
Alot of hobbyists have a great misunderstanding about these inverts and the secret to keeping them is to feed them well as they grow larger. I feed mine raw shrimp, scallop, clam, krill and spirulina discs(100% vegetable food) and feed it every other day and what a joy to watch it come out from among the rocks and capture its meal.
As long as they are well fed they have no reason to look for food elsewhere like your fish and inverts. I have had mine for well over a year and what a great addition to my reef. Here is a pic:

The cave behind the star is where he stays!

[Doug1]

I gotta agree with Johnny on GBS, if you feed them they prolly wont eat your prized fish.
As for aragrocrete, I will neve make it with oyster shell again, it does leach phosphates. The stuff made with aragonite and shellhash is still cheap and works better, You could cure it in a rubbermaid tub with a powerhead and RO water feeding a float valve auto top off system. Since it leaches calcium hydroxide any way why not use the CCCCH for buffering

[OodleyBoodely]

Johnny and Doug, Re; the GBS,
Actually I'm glad to hear that they may not be so predatory. My info is hearsay, but, is based on numerous posts from people keeping them. None of those post, however, mentioned what or how much was being fed. I'm sure a few that reported predation at least were keeping the stars as scavagers and not really feeding them. I keep two large serpents in my tank and they are really fun to watch at feeding time. I saw two really large GBS for sale and was very tempted to buy-they are very beautiful stars-their true colors don't show up in photos. Perhaps I'll reconsider if I see another one. BTW, nice photo, Johnny!:frosty: