2007-06-23 12:02:25 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Live rock and live sand just mean that there's active bacteria growing on/in them that will help convert the toxic ammonia produced by your marine fish into nitrite (also toxic) then to nitrate (nontoxic at moderate levels). You don't need to use both (or either), but this will allow the tank to cycle faster so you can add fish and not have them as likely to die from ammonia or nitrite poisoning.
I would only suggest using live rock in a marine tank (neither is for freshwater). This is kept in aquaria where there's flowing water and a constant supply of ammonia from fish wastes. "Live" sand is kept in bags on the shelf. Since the bacteria you want are aerobic (living in and using oxygen from their environment), there may not be much of the bacteria in the bags still "alive". Live rock can be expensive, so I suggest buying some dry reef rock or base rock to put on the bottom, then stack the bettwer quality live rock on the top. In a few months, the bacteria from the live rock will have reproduced and the new bacteria will be in the sand and bottom rocks as well.
The "live" rock also comes with other living organisms on it - I've found shrimp, snails, crabs, urchins, clams, sea stars, tunicates, featherworms, and other things on mine, sometimes not until months after I add it.
Better than what? A filter? It provides biological filtration (removing the ammonia and nitrite), but doesn't take the place of a filter. It's better to have it than not, in my opinion.
2007-06-23 12:20:30 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well live sand and live rock itself is not really alive.What it is is that organisms live on it bacteria. Live rock/sand comes from the ocean, or established tanks. Live sand and rock is better than any other thing for saltwater aquariums. The live sans/rock helps in the cycling process and helps keep the tank clean.
2007-06-23 19:34:14 · answer #2 · answered by brandonleewoods 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is sand or rock that already has the beneficial bacteria living in it. Yes its better. Cycles the tank faster.
2007-06-23 21:51:50 · answer #3 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Live a music band playing in front of you and they are breathing, and the sand is the same thing except there on sand ?
2007-06-23 19:06:24 · answer #4 · answered by Mechanical 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋