Since 2005, we have been producing very porous flat ceramic rocks; The purpose is to cultivate them as live rocks and, new, they are used in the setting up of decors with our " reef scene system" elements.

Partners in France, specialists in fish, invertebrates and corals, got involved in the production of these aquaroche live rocks on a large scale.

Besides, some retailers product their own live rocks in their aquariums, on a smaller scale.

La Ferme de Corail.

Rémi and Johann created their Ferme de Corail (coral farm) in former fish auction premises in Camaret/mer in Brittany in Februar 2007. There, in former lobster tanks, they specialised in growing corals.

Concerned with protection of natural resources, they make mainly coral frags, aquaroche live rocks, and bred amphiprions.

Aquaroche rocks are stored in production tanks for at least 8 months, to ensure a good bacterian development and a good 'corallinisation'. For Rémi and Johann, it's important to find other alternatives to the depletion of natural coral reefs and to provide products of quality .

Aquaroche rocks, correctly 'seeded' are largely equivalent to imported live rocks of very good quality.

Pisciculture d' Estalens : "extensive" production

Settled in the south west of France, in Armagnac region, this company has 3 buildings and greenhouses, with geothermic heating, over 5000 sq m. A kind of tropical oasis.

This pisciculture was made the ecologic way, much before the actual trend: Autonomous recycling of waters with a private purifying lagoon equivalent to a station made for several thousands of inhabitants.

At the beginning made only for fish and plants, the system is also adapted to acclimate live rocks. In 2006 was added the activity of production of live rocks.

Natural sea water (catchments), regularly delivered by lorries.

Natural light.

Biological filtration.

Fittings of new specific ponds for culture of live rocks are now ready.

Visit of the "marine" greenhouses.

Over 110 000 litres of water!

A big pond with 45000 litres receives the new sea water and ensures a regulating effect. This pond is connected to 12 smaller ponds of each 6000 litres, dedicated to live rocks, inverts and corals. When a new delivery of sea water arrives in these ponds, the rejected waters are used for the marine fish section.

Culture of live rocks with aquaroche products.

At the beginning, new aquaroche rocks have been stored in the ponds together with wild live rocks from different origins: Indonesia, Caribean, Fiji... to get the maximum of diversity. These tons of rocks, distributed in the different ponds recreate a new varied and rich eco system

Then a population of organisms is acclimated and is able to colonise new rocks. In the ponds, there are very few predatory elements and this is equivalent to what you can find in a refuge with a very rich and active micro-fauna.

"Aquaroche" rocks are stored in different ways: first on several levels for colonisation in micro-organisms and bacteria. Then they are laid on 1 level to get maximum of light, for colonisation with algae, caulerpa, corallinacea and inverts frags.

Commercial side.

After 6 or 8 months of culture, these rocks (ceramic rocks and eco reef plates) are sold at different stages of colonisation:

Colonized with micro-organisms and bacteria for rocks that will be underneath and will always be covered with others. They are full of copepods, snails... These active rocks will contribute to start rapidly your aquariums.

One step more with colonization with algae and frags for rocks that will be in well lit places. Rocks begin to have corallinacae : once in the aquarium with a good lightning, they will develop rapidly.

One single rock, coming from Pisciculture d'Estalens, brought into our aquarium quite a lot of snails...

Contact for retailers: Pisciculture d'Estalens :

tel : 00.33.5.62.09.11.34

Contact

When we visited, last November, the construction of new ponds was still on. Project is a very big tank, with a series of connected aquariums.

Production, stopped during the construction, will be intensive, with a very good (quality and quantity) lightning, rich and equilibrated water, pumps for a good water circulation...

It was proved during last Interzoo (Mai 2006) that their method was very efficient: rocks had been colonized in a very short time (2 months)

Rocks will be sold at different stages of colonisation.

Custom sizes decor - booth Tropic N'Guyen - made only with colonised aquaroche rocks

Custom sizes, height: 90 cm.

This decor, had been prepared for Interzoo: colonisation in 2 months in an aquarium at Tropic International.

Decor made of 4 columns, hiding a square part. Eco reef plates are set in the "slots" of the columns, at different levels, to have the best lightning conditions.

Contact N'Guyen Tropic International :

tel 03.89.53.72.72

Contact