Live rock in a freshwater tank?

AJinNY · 04-05-2008, 10:06 AM

This may be a stupid question, but can you put live rock in a freshwater tank? Or will it become 'dead' rock? lol

Im wondering if the rock would have the same effect and grow all that beneficial bacteria on all that surface area. Also, the rock looks great in a tank with all those holes and caves for the fish to swim in and out of.

If you COULD do it, has anyone done it and have pics?

Take care!!

Frankie · 04-05-2008, 10:13 AM

It will become dead rock.
My lfs in NY turned there 600 gallon reef into a chiclid tank. That rock was huge slabs of fiji in there. Waist of LR in my opinion but the tank two years later was beautiful! There was no catching fish out of that tank.

RyanG · 04-05-2008, 11:14 AM

Look into Marco rocks, have the live rock look without the live rock prices.

PEMfish · 04-05-2008, 04:23 PM

No such thing as FW LR. Get a good bio filter. LR has no oxygen zones that house bacteria in SW tanks. It won't live in FW. Nor will much of any bacteria grow in/on the rock in FW...

RyanG · 04-05-2008, 04:27 PM

The denitrifying bacteria in freshwater is differant that the bacteria in saltwater.

SubRosa · 04-08-2008, 12:37 AM

I will respectfully disagree that there is no FW liverock.There are different bacteria which perform the same oxidative and reductive processes on nitrogenous wastes that those found in and on Sw liverock do.Deep sand beds definitely work in FW,so it stands to reason that a rock of suitable porosity would eventually be colonised by the necessary organisms given enough time and flow.

Frankie · 04-08-2008, 09:08 AM

Now that i think about it i have to agree with SubRosa.
It might not have the biological filtration benefits to sustain an aquarium by itself but it will colonize bacteria and microorganisms making it LR. This is very similar to a wet dry set up with bio balls.

johnmaloney · 04-08-2008, 09:19 AM

You are both right. LR in FW won't do what it would in SW, but it still helps give bacteria a home. Base rock is the way to go, or Texas Holey Rock is sweet. There is a guy online that sells the Texas Holey rock real cheap, great guy. Got to look him up forgot where he went, if you are interested pm and I will find him for you.

johnmaloney · 04-08-2008, 09:20 AM

"If we ignore the environment
maybe it will go away...."

-i like that signature. sorry it is off topic

johnmaloney · 04-08-2008, 09:20 AM

"If we ignore the environment
maybe it will go away...."

-i like that signature. sorry it is off topic

04-05-2008, 10:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
AJinNY Plate Coral Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 722 View Gallery Karma Komment	Live rock in a freshwater tank? This may be a stupid question, but can you put live rock in a freshwater tank? Or will it become 'dead' rock? lol Im wondering if the rock would have the same effect and grow all that beneficial bacteria on all that surface area. Also, the rock looks great in a tank with all those holes and caves for the fish to swim in and out of. If you COULD do it, has anyone done it and have pics? Take care!!

04-05-2008, 11:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
RyanG Ricordea Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cuba,NY Posts: 195 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Live rock in a freshwater tank? Look into Marco rocks, have the live rock look without the live rock prices.

04-05-2008, 04:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
PEMfish Manta Ray Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kane Co. Il. Posts: 3,048 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Live rock in a freshwater tank? No such thing as FW LR. Get a good bio filter. LR has no oxygen zones that house bacteria in SW tanks. It won't live in FW. Nor will much of any bacteria grow in/on the rock in FW... __________________ Paul `EM My new 48" reef chronicle; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...chronicle.html My new planted; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-planted.html# Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot. I'll make the whole damn world jealous if given the money to do so. Don't make mistakes and learn from them, read and learn how to avoid mistakes. a)Fix the damn problem b)live with it -But absolutely no b*tching

04-05-2008, 04:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
RyanG Ricordea Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cuba,NY Posts: 195 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Live rock in a freshwater tank? The denitrifying bacteria in freshwater is differant that the bacteria in saltwater.

04-08-2008, 12:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
SubRosa Torch coral Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 563 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Live rock in a freshwater tank? I will respectfully disagree that there is no FW liverock.There are different bacteria which perform the same oxidative and reductive processes on nitrogenous wastes that those found in and on Sw liverock do.Deep sand beds definitely work in FW,so it stands to reason that a rock of suitable porosity would eventually be colonised by the necessary organisms given enough time and flow. __________________ Life is a comedy to those who think and a tragedy to those who feel.HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

04-08-2008, 09:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
johnmaloney Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Live rock in a freshwater tank? You are both right. LR in FW won't do what it would in SW, but it still helps give bacteria a home. Base rock is the way to go, or Texas Holey Rock is sweet. There is a guy online that sells the Texas Holey rock real cheap, great guy. Got to look him up forgot where he went, if you are interested pm and I will find him for you.

04-08-2008, 09:20 AM	#9 (permalink)
johnmaloney Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Live rock in a freshwater tank? "If we ignore the environment maybe it will go away...." -i like that signature. sorry it is off topic

04-08-2008, 09:20 AM	#10 (permalink)
johnmaloney Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 600 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Live rock in a freshwater tank? "If we ignore the environment maybe it will go away...." -i like that signature. sorry it is off topic

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