What is the best dry reef rock?
Fish aren’t the only living organisms that take aquariums as their habitat.
To their dismay, aquarium rocks share their home, although most passers-by think the rocks are artificial. You’d be surprised to find out the number of benefits aquarium rocks have.
Aquarium rocks have several functions, from aquascaping to deterring unneeded pests. In this article, we’ll shed some light on aquarium dry rock and its uses.
Aquarium Dry Reef Rock
 | CaribSea Aquarium Dry Rock |
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 | ARC Reef Rock |
| View On AmazonView On Petco |
 | AquaMaxx Dry Reef Rock |
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To know what aquarium dry rock is, you should know first what live rock is.
Live rock is an underwater organism that forms from old pieces of coral reefs. The reefs usually break off their roots until they end up in the shallow water.
In this phase, they’re called live rocks. When they’re taken out, dried, and cleaned, they’re called dry rock.
Dry rock can be used as aquarium decor and to mount corals.
Some people also add them to the aquariums for biological filtration to keep the aquarium healthy for fish. It works alongside a good protein skimmer and quality powerhead.
Here are our top picks for reef rock with plenty more information down below. Remember that cheap dry rock isn’t always the best!
1. CaribSea Life Rock
If you want an attractive-looking rock in your aquarium, you may want to consider the Life Rock from CaribSea.
It’s a calcium carbonate rock that’s available in a wide variety of shapes to fit all aquariums. You can get a rock, a shelf, or an arch; it depends on your tank’s styling.
The Life Rock has a distinctive purple color that’s ideal for growing Coralline algae, which has almost the same color. Additionally, the textured surface of the Life Rock is suitable for growing encrusting corals.
That’s not the only good thing about the surface; it’s also coated with bacterial spores that maintain the tank’s cycle.
Pros:
- Available in various shapes
- The bacterial spores regulate the tank’s cycle
- Moderate price
Cons:
- Easily break
2. ARC Reef Stacker Reef Rock
The ARC Reef Stacker lies on the expensive side of the market, but it’s worth every penny you’ll pay.
It’s topped off by multiple holes that you can use for aquascaping. On top of that, it comes fully equipped with 6 acrylic rods for attaching. You can connect several rocks, and they’ll be as stable as a mountain.
The Stacker is calcium carbonate-based, and it’s low on phosphates, which opens the door for harmful algae to grow. Besides, it requires no curing. Once you purchase it, it’s ready for placing in the tank.
Pros:
- Attaching rods included
- Highly stable
- No curing required
Cons:
- High price
3. AquaMaxx Tonga Shelf
The AquaMaxx Tonga Shelf is an ideal option to consider if you want to mount corals.
It has a flat build that’s easy to place in the aquarium. Plus, stacking several ones on top of each other creates an eye-pleasing design.
The Tonga Shelf is very easy to use; the flat design and the number of holes on it make mounting corals a breeze.
In addition to that, you won’t have to worry about hitchhikers and pests. The rock goes through sun drying before shipping.
Not to mention that the natural pores on it increase the efficiency of biological filtration. So, your tank will be empty of unwanted guests.
Pros:
- Available in several shapes
- Suitable for mounting corals
- Keeps the tank healthy for fish
Cons:
- Some plates aren’t completely flat
4. CaribSea South Seas Aquascaping Base Rock
The South Seas rock has a unique structure that’ll steal focus in any aquarium.
It has tons of pores that’ll make your mission easier when attaching corals. Moreover, the calcium carbonate-based rock serves as an ideal alternative for live rock because it actively filtrates the tank.
Upon purchasing, you receive a box that contains various rocks in different shapes.
The rocks are quite fragile, so it’s normal to find a couple of broken pieces in the box. You can use them to create shelves or stack them together.
Pros:
- Affordable price
- A lot of pores are available on the surface
- Active filtration of the tank
Cons:
- You may receive some broken rocks
Can Dry Rock Turn Into Live Rock?
Since dry rock is originally a live rock that underwent a drying process, many people wonder whether the opposite can happen.
To give you an answer, all dry rocks eventually turn into live rocks. In fact, that’s why most people buy them in the first place. It’s not that hard to believe, once you understand the process.
What makes a rock live is the bacteria living in it. Once you put a dry rock in your aquarium, the bacteria start to populate, thereby taking the rock as their habitat.
Remnants of fish food also speed up this process because it encourages the growth of nitrifying bacteria.
So, it’s an inevitable process, but at least you’ll have live rock without having to deal with crabs and shrimp.
The live rock Vs dry rock debate is as old as the hills.
Is Dry Rock Good for Aquariums?
Dry rock has multiple functions, aside from aquascaping, which is the main reason people buy it.
It’s an ideal companion for aquariums. For starters, it reduces the chances of pests growing inside, unlike live rock, which can be home to unwanted guests.
Additionally, with dry rock, you won’t be getting any surprising hitchhikers who usually live on live rock. In the cleaning process, the dry rock gets rid of any inhabitants residing inside.
Crab and mantis shrimp are the most common species that take live rock as their home. You don’t want to buy a rock only to find a crab greeting you from inside. So, that’s another advantage of dry rock.
Along with all that, dry rock acts as a biologic filter for your aquarium.
It maintains the health of the fish inside by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria. This nitrifying bacteria turns the ammonia your fish produces into nitrate.
Dry Reef Rock Review
If your aquarium is still empty of dry reef rock, you shouldn’t wait any longer.
Once you get the multifunctional rock, you’ll regret not getting it earlier.
Our favorite aquarium dry rock on the list is the CaribSea Life Rock.
Other than its unique purple color, it’s highly efficient in renewing the aquarium’s cycle. Besides, it’s suitable for growing several coral types, thanks to the number of holes on its surface.
Whether you have a nano-reef tank or something larger, make sure you get some of this helpful and attractive reef rock for your fish tank.