Tips on Buying

Here,s a good read I found thank,s to Raven.
The Marine Center: Your source for the rarest, net-collected fish and corals

 

the marine center is pricey

 

why buy all live

HI,
I buy about 90 % dead rock or clean white looking dead coral pile it in the back of the tank then I buy 10 pounds or so of live rock this goes on top of the dead rock, I then add a few cheep critters peprmint shrimp couple hermits. and let the tank run a while, I use dead sand rinse the dead sand well,and buy a few pound of fresh healthy live sand at my LPS, add this after the tank clears and let it go.
The dead rock changes to live rock over time you save a lot of money, and you don't have to kill fish to cycle a system.
Its works for me and I don't spend a ton money.
I ve added a 37 to my system with dead rock and dead sand but put it in the water column using a siphon box to the sump, a cheep return I use pvc and a power head its cycles as it will but the water quality is perfect cause the establised system is carring the load till the new tank cycles.
No problems so far.
This tank has only been up two weeks no spikes cause it shares water with the sump and my established tank. Thats what most pet stores do just add another tank to the bigger loop ,the down may be if you get ich every tank in the loop will have ich. When I see sick animals at the lps I make sure not to buy from any tank in that closed system loop.

Doug

 

thats why my lfs has 6 sumps/loops ahhhhh it all makes sense now!!

 

Hey what is dead rock!??

 

that cheep white looking doa coral rock

HI,
I call it dead rock cause it been bleached in the sun like rocks all over fla those 10,ooo year old coral rocks that are white like chalk pretty light and seem to cycle fast for me after I soak it in Vinegar/water over night to prevent the water from turning to a milky white (base rock). and that sand I buy at home depot is dead sand.
Doug

psps I am very new to salt water so I may be off the mark..

 

That stuff you are rinsing off is base element's that many Co. sell back to you some call it agramilk and purple up or agromight .. Its good to have it in the system.. (I have always only used base rock and I have never rinsed it . The cloudy will settle out and the dust won't harm anything until it settles ..

 

Dead rock and live sand is the way to go! Its cheaper and a good way to keep from introducing nasty parasites and undesireable critters.