REEF AQUARIUM BASE ROCK SELECTION

REEF AQUARIUM CORAL PROPAGATION LAB

PROPAGATION OF COMBINATION ROCKS - BASE ROCK SELECTION

Geothermal Aquaculture Research Foundation, Inc
1321 Warm Springs Ave.
Boise Idaho 83712
U.S.A.
Email: leroy@garf.org

Reef picture

THESE ARAGONITE COMBINATION TANK GROWN LIVE ROCKS HAVE
SEVERAL SPECIES ATTACHED THEY DO NOT LOOK VERY MUCH
LIKE LIVE ROCKS YET. THEY WILL SOON LOOK LIKE THE NEXT PHOTOGRAPH

MUSHROOMS OF SEVERAL COLORS CAN BE ATTACHED TO BASE ROCKS TO FORM
FAST SELLING ARAGONITE COMBINATION TANK GROWN LIVE ROCKS
AS SOON AS THESE ROCKS ARE COVERED WITH CORALINE ALGAE THEY WIIL BE FINISHED

BASE ROCK SELECTION

ARAGONITE

COLOR            - White to tan 
REEF SAFE        - Very
HARDNESS         - From very soft to medium hard
CORALINE GROWTH  - Grows very fast
SHAPE            - Some pieces have great shapes depending on source

This calcium based rock is great for making tank raised combination rocks. Aragonite was formed in the ocean so it is a good choice for reef aquariums

TUFA

COLOR            - Cream to tan and brown 
REEF SAFE        - Most tufa is reef safe
HARDNESS         - From very soft to very hard 
CORALINE GROWTH  - Grows the fastest on some pieces we have tested
SHAPE            - Some pieces have good shapes depending on source

This light brown rock grows coraline algae very fast. Most tufa was formed by geothermal waters rich in minerals. This can be good or bad so use reef safe tufa.

LAVA

COLOR            - Black to red and brown 
REEF SAFE        - Some lava is reef safe - only use tested types
HARDNESS         - From very hard to almost glass like
CORALINE GROWTH  - Grows well on some pieces we have tested  
SHAPE            - Some pieces have wonderful shapes

Reef safe Idaho Lava comes in many textures and colors. Lava can have many minerals in it so be sure the lava has been tested.

ZOANTHIDS COME IN MANY COLORS. THESE DIFFERENT COLORS CAN BE ATTACHED
TO THE SAME ARAGONITE COMBINATION TANK GROWN LIVE ROCKS

THESE PALYTHOA ARE A VERY GOOD SPECIES TO COMBINE WITH ZOANTHIDS
TO CREATE ARAGONITE COMBINATION TANK GROWN LIVE ROCKS

BASE ROCK SIZE SELECTION

The only rule we have on size is related to what we have learned about maketing tank grown live rocks. Easy to grow species will be bought most often by people who are just starting a reef aquarium. These people tend to want to fill the new tank with rock so they will pick out cuttings on larger rocks. After a reef aquarium is full of live rock and it is ready to stock with small polyp stony corals people will often choose cuttings on smaller rocks.

Shape and texture are the two most important things to look for when you purchase base rock. Remember if you start with a lump of rock you will end up with a lump of rock covered with coraline. If you start with a fine looking base rock you will end up with a fine looking live rock.

HOME
NEXT
BACK

Contact: LeRoy Headlee Sally Jo Headlee | Phone: 208-344-6163 | Fax: 208-344-6189
Email: leroy@garf.org

INDEX OF OUR RESEARCH

LOW COST BULLET PROOF REEF AQUARIUM Learn to start an inexpensive reef aquarium
55 GALLON INSTA REEF Visit Rachel Read's 12 week old Bullet Proof Reef Aquarium
MORE PICTURES OF THIS REEF AQUARIUM

Geothermal Aquculture Research Foundation,Inc. online tour Learn why we call it Geothermal
GARF RESEARCH HOME PAGE Learn about the other research we are doing
JOIN THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION You can support our research and learn more about reef aquariums and wetlands
Super glue research page We teach you the Super Glue method of invertebrate propagation
Super Glue evaluaton page Our researchers rate many brands of super glue
Geothermal Aquculture Research Foundation Feed Back page E-mail input so we can make these pages better
Natural Algae Control Reef Janitor Order Page - red leg hermits, snails, grunge.

NEW
Research page for Xenia and related soft coral propagation Learn to propagate xenia. Please enter any data you have about these corals.
Soft Coral Propagation Page Pictures and details of soft coral propagation
Stony Coral Propagation Page Pictures and details of small polyp stony corals
Mushroom Anemone Propagation Page Pictures and details of mushroom propagation
Zoanthid and palythoa Anemone Propagation Page Pictures and details of Sea mat propagation
Learn to construct a 140 gallon plywood amd epoxy reef tank

Image Page for Zoanthids and Palythoa

ALGAE CONTROL CENTRAL
REEF JANITORS ALGAE CONTROL CENTRAL
Use this site to solve your reef aquarium algae problems, and help support our research!!!

MISSION STATEMENT

TO PROVIDE THE CITIZENS OF IDAHO AND THE WORLD A SHOWCASE COLLECTION OF AQUATIC PLANTS, FISH, REEF ANIMALS AND PRODUCTS. TO STIMULATE INTEREST IN, APPRECIATION FOR AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THESE COLLECTIONS. TO BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH PLANT RECORDS, PUBLIC DISPLAYS, COLLECTIONS, APPLIED RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS, INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS, AND SALES OF QUALITY PRODUCTS.

HOME
NEXT
BACK