sera guide - Marine aquariums

You now require the live rock chunks, which can easily be transported and stored moist for a couple of hours. However, the longer the rock chunks are exposed to air, the more attached biomass may die. When purchasing them, see that the rock chunks have good and diverse growth on them, and that they have different shapes. The more diverse the growth attached to the rock chunks and the shorter they were stored at the retailer’s, the more different animal species are attached to them. You will find these animals in your aquarium later on. By no means ever wash live rock with freshwa- ter. The rock chunks should be piled up in a way that small caves are formed, into which the animals can retreat later on. Also, such an open setup allows for good and hardly inhib- ited water agitation. Take your time when building the setup. The rocks should not cast shadows on the ones underneath them, as a 6.2 Live rock 34 shadowy place is not suitable for positioning animals that require light. The construction must be firm and must not totter, because rocks falling down might damage the bottom or side panes of the aquarium or injure aquarium inhabitants. Allow for crevices be- tween the rock chunks that serve for fixing sessile invertebrates. Examples of overgrown live rock with additionally added invertebrates in larger marine aquariums