REEF AQUARIUM BASE ROCK SELECTION

REEF AQUARIUM CORAL PROPAGATION LAB

PROPAGATION OF COMBINATION ROCKS - BASE ROCK SELECTION

Geothermal Aquaculture Research Foundation, Inc
1726 Merrill St.
Boise Idaho 83705 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.

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.