LIVE ROCK

J. Charles Delbeek was among the first to explain live rock in his 1994 article Your First Reef Aquarium; “The use of live rock immediately introduces into the aquarium numerous algae, bacteria and small invertebrates all of which contribute to the overall quality of the aquarium water.”

A healthy saltwater aquarium will have 1 to 1.5lbs of live rock for every gallon of water. The live rock will provide your system with beneficial bacteria to denitrify the water, and algae and microorganisms to provide a natural food source for fish and corals. Aquarium Illusions stocks premium Walt Smith Fiji, Kailini Branch and Bali Live Rock. Our 450 gallon curing tank, with 250 gallon sump, protein skimmer, calcium reactor and sulphur reactor allows us to fully cure live rock within weeks of it arriving. With metal halide lighting on our system its not uncommon to find small corals sprouting from our rock. We import over 10 000 lbs each year, so we always have a great selection on hand!

Macro Algae

Algae in a saltwater aquarium can have several uses; it helps to remove nitrates and phosphates, provides a breeding ground for beneficial microorganisms and is an excellent food source for herbivorous fish. In addition to importing macro algae, we grow our own in one of our 4 refugium systems to ensure a good supply. Florida sea grass, chaetomorpha and caulerpa are regularly available.