do you feed live rock?

[rhoptowit]

im reading that people feed live rock? is this needed?

[cmejaf30]

no you don't have to "feed" live rock. The only way you would have to introduce anything else into the tank is if you don't have somethign producing ammonia i.e. new tank. If this is the case just add a couple pellets of food...after that breaks down and creates an ammonia spike in your system your denitrifying bacteria that "live" in the rock will have plenty to feast from. If you already have fish in the system then you have nothing to worry about. Fish create ammonia from their urine (their kidneys do not reduce ammonia to ammonium) and they also excrete it during normal respiration through their gills.

BTW...WELCOME TO RC!!!

[bertoni]

A bit of fish food now and then will help, if there's nothing else in the tank. Also, a bit of phytoplankton will keep various animals going.

[rhoptowit]

yea i read that people use EVS's spray-dried phytoplankton to feed there live rock, confused me a little but now i get it. thanks.

[NeveSSL]

FWIW, you're actually feeding the bacteria that makes the rock "alive".

Just to clarify in case someone gets confused.

Brandon

[demonsp]

LR is your filter.LR confirts denitrification into harmless nitrogen gas as well as detoxify waste. And supports bacteria , pods , worms and give the fish a place to call home. Besides it just looks cool.

But every once in awile you could throw some pellets on the rock at night and see lots of life . Oh wait im feeding the rock. Heh rock dont need feeding its already eating.

[sruiz]

Be careful not to feed it with your hand . it might bite you. Just joking.

[NeveSSL]

lol... thats awesome.

Brandon

[uscharalph]

Are you just starting a new system? Has you tank cycled yet? Are you adding more LR?