Description
Natural Shelf Rock: Closest Thing to a Chunk of Real Reef
Why does AlgaeBarn like Natural Shelf Rock?
Your “live” rock can only be as good as the base you build it on. For a reef aquarium, the best substructure is that which corals grow on in the wild: Natural shelf rock.
Natural shelf rock is simply the underlying deposit that previous stony corals have left behind. In fact, coral reefs are made up almost entirely of base rock, with a relatively thin layer of living corals over its surface. The most freshly deposited material (the base material that rests just below the coral-encrusted upper stratum) can by virtue of its form host many ecologically beneficial organisms ranging from nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria to microcrustaceans.
For aquarists, premium shelf rock is irregularly shaped (not round cobbles) and low-density (lightweight and highly porous). In these respects, it is hard to find an artificial material that performs like the real thing. Our Natural Shelf Rock is premium, hand-selected wild rock. Versatile and attractive, you can add this rock to your existing reef structure or erect a totally new hardscape. It is devoid of organisms that can die if covered by live rock and corals. Allowed to mature and become colonized by various algae and sessile invertebrates, the exposed upper surfaces of Natural Base Rock transform into beautiful “live” rock. As the very foundation of your reef, you’ll never regret an effort to obtain the finest base material!
Natural Shelf Dry Live Rock Information:
This top-quality rock is sustainably extracted from ancient fossilized Florida reefs. As evident from their composition and distinctive striations, these deposits were once part of a massive coral reef structure.
Please contact us to inquire about extra large pieces!
Natural Shelf Rock Key Benefits:
- 1. Its highly irregular shape is not only beautiful but also permits good water circulation while creating hiding places for small animals.
- 2. Its high porosity promotes large populations and high diversity of beneficial microbes.
- 3. It scapes to form intricate structures rather than unnatural-looking stacks or piles.
- 4. It is devoid of any organisms that may die off and foul the water.
- 5. Because it is dry and sterile, it poses to risk of introducing unwanted hitchhikers.
