Reefers

[TheRealAndyCook]

No, this isn't another 420 tribute thread.


For those of you who keep reefs...why do you get "live rock" and "live sand" to try and infect your tank with life?

(and the reason I didn't post this just in the salt forum)

Why do FW aquariumists panic at the thought of bringing unquarantined plants and such into there tank?

 

[FLESHY]

Plants is more about snails and algae. If you have ever had either in a planted tank, you know what sorts of havoc they can wreak.

LR is a great form of biological filtration. The life in it also feeds corals and sometimes other fish and invertebrates. The reef is a huge ecosystem, and part of replicating that success in home aquaria has to do with creating a smaller, equally balanced version to the best of your ability.

My .02

 

[Miguel]

There are substantial differences between the organisms inhabiting LR and LS and the organisms that come with plants and wood into FW tanks.

But this is an interesting question, and it makes perfect sense, put in broad terms as it was.

 

[FLESHY]

Well the OP's point is that there are negatives to both. I think that the negatives to LR are outweighed by the positives, and honestly there really isnt a reason NOT to treat your plants before adding them to your tank. You know?

 

[FLESHY]

Well. I guess you might lose some more sensitive plants, but if you were to do a similar process to LR, you would lose most of the benefits of having it.

 

[Laticauda]

I quarantine any new fish, because I know my fish are healthy, and new fish can carry outside organisms. Plants I treat with PP or a light bleach solution, because snails are intermediate host for Camallanus (won't make that mistake again!)

 

[insanity0x1]

plants can reak havoc if youre new to em, first plant was my last, snails all over the place, but maybe just a bad one.. and the purpose with LR and LS is to create the mini reef scenerio with rock and sand being the main filtration rather than a filter. it helps deteriorate nitrates etc, its to a point where its somewhat self reliant.

 

[TheRealAndyCook]

and aglae and snails do this for freshwater, do they not?

 

[FLESHY]

Kind of...but snails dont (usually) eat your corals.

Yes, there are some negative things that come on LR, but there really isnt an easy fix all like there is with treating plants.

 

[KvltBird]

Yes what fleshy said, planktons and little critters live in the live rock, and it feeds corals and other inverts. While technically I think you could do a reef without live rock, it would just be much harder and more unstable then with live rock. Some people hate live rock with fish only tanks because the rock harbors parasites and other bad bacteria that can kill your expensive fish. But its usually a must for reef tanks.