Critters For Dsb

[hoppinghippos]

Hi, read in a mag where this guy was advocating full crew for DSB, with bristleworms, pods, etc etc (can't rem the rest) to burrow in the DSB and improve water circulation. He says he buys starter kits several times a year to maintain a high level of critters. I"m thinking these kits might be great for refugiums? And I bought some LR from SL for the first time, and the aunty said all their LR are "cleaned and brushed, algae removed, etc" by them hence the higher price ($10), but then I bring home and look at my rocks and wonder if they should be so clean? I don't see no worm nor star nor anything much, other than one tiny sponge. So my question is: should the LR be cleaned or as "dirty" as possible. and good idea to get the "starter" kits? If so where to get?

[ervine]

Huh cleaned live rocks? Why clean them of all the bio-diversity?

Well anyway, IMO, I rather have everything that is originally on the rock... worms, snails, crabs, anything will do... it's better than having a dead rock right?

[cool water]

????? SL sell LR????, IMO i don't think they are. I have bought some from them and they are now my base rock.

Go R**f W**** and CF, take a look and you will know what is really LR.

[CooL_anakin]

I don't think we have such starter kits in SG... I think you may have to get them at the beaches or mangroves..

[junyong84]

how did the LFS manage to get those creatures living in the LRs to come out??? using chemicals???

lolz

thats bad...

[bum]

as far as i know,

SL snips off the algae, sponges.

by scraping off the unwanted algae and sponges,

you can prevent die-offs in your tank.

removal of sponges is good as they also

use up the nutrients that your nice corals need and use like

calcium, strontium and other trace elements...

also since LR is sold by weight, its cheaper?

personally, i prefer mine that way

LR at CF cost a lot more,

but are cured, and of a better grade,

you get what you pay for.

the good stuff like pods, brittlestars and worms are still in there.

and over time, they will 'fertilize' your DSB.

if you want to seed it faster, you can ask around for

reefers with mature tank who can spare you a handful of their sand.

or if you are on good terms with some LFS, you can ask the owners too.

I saw someone getting some Henry of ML.

if you have a refugium, just buy some caulerpa and place there,

the pods will thrive.

[CooL_anakin]

http://www.rshimek.com/reef/sediment.htm This can help, know more about what the critters do in DSB. I guess it's more for small amounts of sand shifting. Without disturbing too much of the sand bed and preventing clumps from forming.

[Razo]

????? SL sell LR????, IMO i don't think they are. I have bought some from them and they are now my base rock.

Go R**f W**** and CF, take a look and you will know what is really LR.

i got half my LR from SL... not that bad la.. morever most of the LR i got from there have bits of mushrooms in it

[hoppinghippos]

Well I think its nice they snip off the algae from LR, (tho still got bits left here and there, so still need to DIY), but was hoping more sponges and more worms and the like were left, hmmm wonder what they do with all the live stuff in the rock when they clean it? but thanx for all your replies, will go check out CF!

[SpiderOne]

starter kits of critters?? where can i get that. my tank has been rescaped so many times i probably dont have any sandbed fauna.

[Clownfish]

SL LR not live 1.....

dun buy from there in the future...

last time bought 4kg now still looks as gd as dead...

[CooL_anakin]

starter kits of critters?? where can i get that. my tank has been rescaped so many times i probably dont have any sandbed fauna.

I don't think there are any in SG.

[junyong84]

SL LR not live 1.....

dun buy from there in the future...

last time bought 4kg now still looks as gd as dead...

how long did u put em in ur tanks???

creatures normally come out at night...

sometimes they cme out only if ur water conditions are good... and the environment looks safe to me.

i had LRs from SL too...

My sand now have lots of funny creatures around...

[mUAr_cHEe]

wad u mean by farnie creatures??

i bought sum LRs today frm Para### R33F... fiji ones... 16 a kilo.... abit $$ ahz??

so anyway,... wad kinda creatures or thing can i expect??? besides fiji critters... duh....

wad kinda critters???

[Razo]

how long did u put em in ur tanks???

creatures normally come out at night...

sometimes they cme out only if ur water conditions are good... and the environment looks safe to me.

i had LRs from SL too...

My sand now have lots of funny creatures around...

ya... during my cycling period..i used to watch all the critters crawling around...removed about 5 crabs from it so far.... so who wants the crab?? hehheh i just caught 1 more..will throw away tomorrow..

[Golden Tooth]

SL LR not live 1.....

dun buy from there in the future...

last time bought 4kg now still looks as gd as dead...

R u sure? Mine still looks good.

[tigershark]

R u sure? Mine still looks good.

mine too... even though the caroline algea is not that much, but I'm sure there are "life" in there.... u could know it at the moment you pick those LR with your bare hand... those bristle worms will sting your hand.

[Golden Tooth]

Don't forget the smell. Mmm... The smell of LR.

[hoppinghippos]

arrrr hhmmmm what does a bristleworm sting feel like? cuz I think I may have got when handling my LR, a bit like splinter?

[Air]

Hi, read in a mag where this guy was advocating full crew for DSB, with bristleworms, pods, etc etc (can't rem the rest) to burrow in the DSB and improve water circulation. He says he buys starter kits several times a year to maintain a high level of critters. I"m thinking these kits might be great for refugiums? And I bought some LR from SL for the first time, and the aunty said all their LR are "cleaned and brushed, algae removed, etc" by them hence the higher price ($10), but then I bring home and look at my rocks and wonder if they should be so clean? I don't see no worm nor star nor anything much, other than one tiny sponge. So my question is: should the LR be cleaned or as "dirty" as possible. and good idea to get the "starter" kits? If so where to get?

water circulation for DSB?? i tot thats wat ppl do not 1?

[Clownfish]

R u sure? Mine still looks good.

if all of u r having gd rocks then i must hav got some leftovers... cos onli few pieces left n dun noe how to choose a gd LR last time when i first started out.... sigh... tink i hav myself to blame