CaribSea Life Rock Original

What is live rock actually for?

A reef structure made of rock or reef ceramic is the basis for your saltwater aquarium. The rock provides enough space for corals and numerous hiding places for fish, shrimp, etc. In addition to the visual aspect, it also fulfills another important function: due to its high porosity, numerous bacteria can settle on the rock, which in turn improves the water quality. Basically, live rock is nothing more than a biological filter.

Real, cultivated and artificial live rock – what are the differences?

Live rock is generally characterized by the existence of a film of bacteria on the rock, which are active in seawater and break down nutrients. While "real live rock" is taken from natural coral reefs, "cultivated live rock" is originally dry rock that is left in natural seawater for a certain period of time and is populated with bacteria and other organisms during this time. There is also "artificial live rock". These are natural or man-made stones that are then covered with a film of bacteria. From an ecological point of view, every aquarist should avoid "real live rock". Live rock from aquaculture or artificial live rock are sustainable alternatives.

CaribSea Life Rocks

The Life Rocks from CaribSea are all naturally grown. That's why each stone looks unique and offers many design options. The stones are silicate-free and contain no other chemical additives. Since the rock is stored and delivered dry, you can take your time putting together your reef structure.

Tips for reef building – less is often more

Ideally, the reef structure will not look "finished" when you put it in the aquarium. The optimal picture will only emerge over time, when the rock is completely covered with corals. So leave enough space between the panes and the surface. Avoid a symmetrical structure, as this looks unnatural (good keyword here: golden ratio). Last but not least, think about where you want to place the flow pumps and avoid the flow bouncing off the rock. Otherwise, there are no limits to your creativity and you can have fun with the rock!

Note on shipping

The stones will be sent to you in the best possible packaging. Despite this, minor damage or breakages can occur in normal parcel shipping with DHL, DPD & Co. These do not constitute grounds for complaint, as we have no influence on how the stones are packed in the box itself and how our shipping service providers handle the packages. Please choose to collect them yourself (free shipping, of course) or contact us if you would like secure pallet shipping via a freight forwarder (from €65, depending on the delivery address).