Reef/Live Rock

[upstoday]

This is gonna be a real noob question for you guys.

What exactly is the difference between a Reef tank and tank with Live rock?

I'm real new to all this and just trying to figure some things out. I always thought that Live rock with all the stuff living upon it was pretty much the same as a reef?

Pls explain to me the difference, I'm sure I'm way off the mark with my own ideas. Just looking to learn.

As of right now I have FO tank. The only things I have in the tank as for a rock or anythings is one 4lb piece of base rock with nothing living on it and two pieces of coral skeleton.

I would love to try to do something with live rock but want to learn a whole lot more about it first.

[MikeS]

well, basically, almost all reef tanks use live rock as the "framework" for our reefs...the LR also provides biological filtration, detrivores, ect. (when I say "reef" tank I'm referring to a tank with corals and other inverts, basically).

Some use live rock in marine fish only tanks (no corals) for the same reason, biological filtration, scavengers, detrivores, ect. Live rock also gives the tank a much more natural appearance, most believe.

Live rock is a good addition to any marine tank, IMO.

Mike

[upstoday]

Right now I'm running a 46gal bowfront, with a Cyclone Bak Pak filter. If I were to add any sort of LR to my tank, would there be anything that would need to be done to my filter, or could I add the LR in to the tank as the tank is.

[MikeS]

are you referring to the CPR Bak Pak skimmer?

if you already have livestock in your tank (ie fish, inverts, ect) you'll want to make sure that the LR is cured before adding it...if not, you can just let it cure in the tank...

Mike