Help for replica rock

[orsony]

I would like to hear comments from any reefer concerning about replica rock. What are the advantages and disadvantages?

[yikai]

i never used it before, but i hope you find my thoughts about this useful.

i think the disadvantage of using replica LR for a reef system is the biological filtration? good quality liverock brings good biological filtration with it and is home to alot of good bacteria, and also home for your inhabitants (like holes for gobies to sleep in or other fish to hide). also think about all the wonderful and diverse fauna it will bring with it, that will help to create a more "living" look, with things such as natural sponges, tunicates, feather worms, coraline algae and other unique things living in liverock. Its quite exciting to see what turns up in your liverock or what grows out of it. sometimes xenia, gsp or mushrooms can grow.

i think artificial liverock also have their pros too. such as you can shape your reef to your desired look since you can pick and choose the shape you want. and also, no need to worry about curing or die off since its artificial. no more nuisence crabs and unwanted pests too.

this just my opinion. i find both very cool to have. maybe mix both?

[orsony]

i never used it before, but i hope you find my thoughts about this useful.

i think the disadvantage of using replica LR for a reef system is the biological filtration? good quality liverock brings good biological filtration with it and is home to alot of good bacteria, and also home for your inhabitants (like holes for gobies to sleep in or other fish to hide). also think about all the wonderful and diverse fauna it will bring with it, that will help to create a more "living" look, with things such as natural sponges, tunicates, feather worms, coraline algae and other unique things living in liverock. Its quite exciting to see what turns up in your liverock or what grows out of it. sometimes xenia, gsp or mushrooms can grow.

i think artificial liverock also have their pros too. such as you can shape your reef to your desired look since you can pick and choose the shape you want. and also, no need to worry about curing or die off since its artificial. no more nuisence crabs and unwanted pests too.

this just my opinion. i find both very cool to have. maybe mix both?

Thanks bro.

Anybody had any experience in using the replica rock? Heard that there are some hollows in the rock to make it sink. And this hollow is a danger spot cos it trapped those toxin gas in it. If dun handle carefully, gas will discharge to the water. Please share your experience in handling this issue for our benefit. Thanks

[Solo77]

for art. rock, i think is weight and nice shape. However, negative reviews are stagnant water(dead spot) and brittle(GO art. rock get brittle but if you change yr scape often, this might not be a problem). So far, hasn't heard any case of tank crash due to art. rock.

Use them and let coraline algae grows on them. Saw some reefers's art. rocks all coated with coraline algae....very natural.....

maybe you want to call bro earth, hammy, ...me using mixed....so far so good(touch wood).

[[V]tEc]

if u r someone who always change ur scaping, then not realli gd to use replica rocks. after a certain period of time the water in the replica rock will be toxic. when u lift ur rocks out, toxic go back to the tank......tank crash.....personally i heard someone tank crash after he rescaped. i did tot of an idea when i was thinking of using LR or RR for my 4ft. for RR, maybe can drill more holes n slightly bigger at the back to allow water to flow in n out more freely. this way maybe the RR will not be a dead spot for water to turn toxic? n 1 more thing is rr dun realli allow bacteria to house in them, so if u use 100% rr for ur main tank, put bio home or LR in ur sump.

[dachkie]

actually having stagnant water in the lr wouldnt it be like having a plenum? just a thought

[orsony]

if u r someone who always change ur scaping, then not realli gd to use replica rocks. after a certain period of time the water in the replica rock will be toxic. when u lift ur rocks out, toxic go back to the tank......tank crash.....personally i heard someone tank crash after he rescaped. i did tot of an idea when i was thinking of using LR or RR for my 4ft. for RR, maybe can drill more holes n slightly bigger at the back to allow water to flow in n out more freely. this way maybe the RR will not be a dead spot for water to turn toxic? n 1 more thing is rr dun realli allow bacteria to house in them, so if u use 100% rr for ur main tank, put bio home or LR in ur sump.

Thanks bro for the enlightenment. Too high risk to take cos I might need to rescape.