# Live rock > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Live_rock > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Live_rock.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_rock > Source revision: 1338787352 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Rock from the ocean introduced into a saltwater aquarium}} [[File:Coralline algae encrusted live rock.jpg|thumb|300px|Mature live rock in a [marine aquarium](/source/marine_aquarium), well encrusted with a variety of [coralline algae](/source/coralline_algae)]] '''Live rock''' is [rock](/source/rock_(geology)) from the [ocean](/source/ocean) that has been introduced into a [saltwater aquarium](/source/marine_aquarium). Along with [live sand](/source/live_sand), it confers to the closed marine system multiple benefits desired by the saltwater aquarium [hobbyist](/source/fishkeeping). The name sometimes leads to misunderstandings, as the "live rock" itself is not actually alive, but rather is simply made from the [aragonite](/source/aragonite) skeletons of long dead [coral](/source/coral)s, or other calcareous organisms, which in the ocean form the majority of [coral reefs](/source/coral_reefs). When taken from the ocean it is usually encrusted with [coralline algae](/source/coralline_algae) and inhabited by a multitude of marine organisms. The many forms of micro and macroscopic marine life that live on and inside of the rock, which acts as an ideal habitat, give it the name "live rock". ==Origin== [[File:LiveRockLease.jpg|thumb|left|300px|[Aquacultured](/source/Aquacultured) live rock formed by planting mined [limestone](/source/limestone) on a [lease site](/source/Lease) in the [Gulf of Mexico](/source/Gulf_of_Mexico)]] Live rock is harvested for use in the aquarium from reefs, either from natural or human breakage. It may also be "seeded" from small coralline rocks by an [aquaculturalist](/source/aquaculture) in warm ocean water, to be harvested later. Live rock can also be seeded by adding base rock to an active [reef aquarium](/source/reef_aquarium) that already has live rock. Live rock harbors a wide variety of corals, [algae](/source/algae), [sponges](/source/sea_sponge), and other [invertebrates](/source/marine_invertebrate), when they are collected. Corals added to the aquarium later will often become attached to the rock. ==Purpose== Live rock is highly valued in the aquarium trade. It introduces a diverse array of bacteria, algae, and invertebrates to the closed marine environment and functions as a superior [biological filter](/source/biological_filter) that hosts aerobic and anaerobic [nitrifying](/source/nitrifier) [bacteria](/source/bacterium) required for the [nitrogen cycle](/source/nitrogen_cycle) that processes [waste](/source/waste). Live rock becomes the main biological nitrification base or biological filter of a saltwater aquarium. Harmful elements dissolved in the water of the aquarium, including ammonia, phosphates, and nitrates, are processed with the help of the organisms that are introduced from the live rock into the aquarium's ecosystem. Excess ammonia, nitrate, and phosphates are eliminated with the help of the algae and corals growing on the live rock's surface, while other bacteria supplement the process and restore balance in the water chemistry.{{Cite web|last=Richy|date=2020-08-20|title=How to Choose the Right Aquarium Rocks and Substrate for Saltwater and Freshwater Tanks|url=https://www.aquariumstuffs.com/aquarium-rocks-and-substrate/|access-date=2020-08-30|website=Aquarium Stuffs|language=en-US}} Additionally, live rocks have a stabilizing effect on the water chemistry, in particular on helping to maintain constant [pH](/source/pH) by release of [calcium carbonate](/source/calcium_carbonate). Lastly, live rock, especially when encrusted with multiple species of coralline algae (producing differing colors), becomes a major decorative element of the aquarium and provides shelter for the inhabitants. It is often used to build caves, arches, overhangs, or other structures in the tank, a practice known as [aquascaping](/source/aquascaping). thumb|right|225px|Live rock prior to installation into a reef tank In J. Charles Delbeek's article ''Your First Reef Aquarium'',published in ''Aquarium USA'' in 1994, under the Live Rock section he states, {{Cquote|The use of live rock immediately introduces into the aquarium numerous algae, bacteria and small invertebrates all of which contribute to the overall quality of the aquarium water. Live rock has just as much, if not more, surface area for bacteria than a trickle filter. Since live rock in the aquarium contains various types of bacteria, algae and corals, waste products such as ammonia, nitrate and phosphate can have a number of fates. Ammonia, nitrate and phosphate are readily assimilated by algae and photosynthetic corals growing on and in the rock. Ammonia can also be quickly converted into nitrate by the bacteria on and in the rock. This nitrate can be either absorbed by the algae and corals, or it can be denitrified by bacteria in close proximity to the nitrate-producing bacteria."{{cite magazine|last=Delbeek|first=J. Charles|via=[University of Hawaiʻi](/source/University_of_Hawai%CA%BBi) |url=http://www2.hawaii.edu/~delbeek/homerf1.html |title=Your First Reef aquarium: How to Create a Miniature Coral Reef System at Home |magazine=Aquarium USA|orig-date=1994|date=2009-04-27 |access-date=2012-10-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427150109/http://www2.hawaii.edu/~delbeek/homerf1.html |archive-date=2009-04-27 }}}} Live rock must however be cured prior to aquarium installation. Many of the organisms that previously lived in the rock would have died off during the harvesting and transportation process posing a risk to an immature aquarium of rapid ammonia production due to the dead organisms decomposing. To combat this a curing process must be carried out involving leaving the rock to sit in water for up to several weeks to ensure all dead organisms have decomposed and no longer pose a threat to water quality.{{cite web |author=Steven Caller |url=http://aquaristmagazine.com/What%20is%20live%20rock.html |title=What is live rock? |publisher=Aquaristmagazine.com |access-date=2012-10-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008122720/http://aquaristmagazine.com/What%20is%20live%20rock.html |archive-date=2012-10-08 }} ==Types== thumb|150px|Bleached coral skeletons, which can be inhabited by micro- and macro-organisms to form live rock There are many different types of live rock. Each is named after the area from which it originated. A large amount of live rock comes from the Southern Pacific region, in areas such as [Fiji](/source/Fiji), [Tonga](/source/Tonga), and the [Marshall Islands](/source/Marshall_Islands), as well as from the [Caribbean](/source/Caribbean). Each has its own distinct qualities that make it preferable to certain reef aquarists. For instance, live rock from the Fiji region is often porous and large, and rock from the Tonga region is often dense and elongated. ===Base rock=== Base rock, or dry rock, is a generic term for aragonite rock that has no organisms growing in or on the rock.[http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/liverockberlinsetups/a/aaliverockfaq.htm What is Live Rock] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928092553/http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/liverockberlinsetups/a/aaliverockfaq.htm |date=2011-09-28 }} in [About.com](/source/About.com) Base rock is often used as filler rock in the aquarium as it is much cheaper to purchase than live rock. In time, base rock will become colonized by living organisms. Recently base rock that is mined from inland ancient reefs has become a popular way to keep the aquarium trade going sustainably. This rock is either maricultured and sold as live rock, or can be purchased and grown in the home aquarium. Base rock can also be made from artificial rock called aragocrete, which is a hand made [concrete](/source/concrete) from combining crushed aragonite, [sand](/source/sand), and [Portland cement](/source/Portland_cement). After allowing the cement to dry, the pieces are sometimes acid washed to counteract the high pH of the materials, and then allowed to soak in clean water for one or more months. They generally tend to be heavier and less attractive when compared to natural base rock.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} ==Collection ban== In 2008, [CITES](/source/CITES) (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) banned the collection of live rock from [Tonga](/source/Tonga), the [Marshall Islands](/source/Marshall_Islands), and the [Cook Islands](/source/Cook_Islands). This is due to the over-collecting of rock in these areas. This ban remains in effect as of late 2021.{{Cite web |title=FAOLEX |url=https://www.fao.org/faolex/results/details/en/c/LEX-FAOC220049/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=www.fao.org}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Prone to spam|date=October 2012}} * [http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/liverockberlinsetups/a/What-Is-Live-Rock.htm About Live Rock] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830153454/http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/liverockberlinsetups/a/What-Is-Live-Rock.htm |date=2012-08-30 }} and its purpose {{Aquarium}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Live Rock}} Category:Fishkeeping --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Live rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_rock) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_rock?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.