{"product_id":"life-rock-arch-mega-36","title":"Life Rock Arch Mega 36\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA 91 cm span built for tanks where everything else looks small.\u003c\/strong\u003e The CaribSea Life Rock Arch Mega is the largest single piece in the Life Rock range: one hand-made arch, 36 inches (91 cm) long, sold on its own. Like the rest of the range it is built on an aragonitic base rock rather than cement, carries roughly 50% void space, is infused with spored bacteria through CaribSea's AragAlive process, and wears engineered aragonite coatings that read as coralline algae. It needs no curing and carries no pests or algae.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e91 cm in one uninterrupted span\u003c\/strong\u003e - the largest arch CaribSea makes, and the only way to get this reach without bonding pieces together.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOpen swim-through for large fish\u003c\/strong\u003e - the point of a mega arch is that tangs, angels and wrasses use it as a corridor rather than swimming around a wall of rock.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAragonitic base rock, not cement\u003c\/strong\u003e - 97% calcium carbonate with trace strontium, magnesium and barium, so it behaves like reef rock rather than moulded concrete.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAround 50% void space\u003c\/strong\u003e - interconnected micro and macro pores through the body of the piece, which is where the nitrifying bacteria live.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpored bacteria infused\u003c\/strong\u003e - AragAlive treatment gives a new system a biological head start.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo curing and no die-off\u003c\/strong\u003e - dry rock with nothing collected on it, so there is no ammonia release and no weeks of curing before it can go in.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIndividually hand-made\u003c\/strong\u003e - CaribSea states dimensions and weight vary from piece to piece, so no two arches are alike.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it fit my tank?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly length really decides this one. Our rule for a feature rock is that it should span no more than about half the tank's length, so water still moves around and behind it and the scape does not read as a single wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTank length\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eArch spans\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eVerdict\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e120 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e76% of the length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eToo big - use the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/life-rock-arch-xl-24\"\u003eXL Arch 24\"\u003c\/a\u003e instead\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e150 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e61% of the length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWorkable only if the arch is the sole structure in the tank\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e180 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e51% of the length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe natural home for this piece\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e210 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e43% of the length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eComfortable, with space for a second island beside it\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e240 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e38% of the length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlenty of room - consider a second arch for symmetry\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFront-to-back depth matters as much as length. An arch of this reach needs a tank around 60 cm deep before it can sit far enough off the back glass to clean behind, and enough water height above it that fish are not funnelled into the top few centimetres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne Life Rock Mega Arch, 36 inches (91 cm) long\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot included:\u003c\/strong\u003e base rock, aquarium sand, reef putty or cement, and any bacterial starter. This is a single piece sold on its own, not a boxed weight of assorted rock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eThe weight question\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCaribSea does not publish a weight for the Mega Arch, and we will not put a number on a page we cannot source. The manufacturer's position is that these are hand-made products and both dimensions and weight vary between pieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat we can tell you is the shape of the answer. The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/life-rock-arch-xl-24\"\u003eXL Arch\u003c\/a\u003e at 61 cm runs around 11 kg, and the Mega is half again as long with proportionally more mass at the shoulders. Plan on handling it as a genuinely heavy single object, with two people and clear access above the tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf the exact figure matters for a freight quote or a stand calculation, ask us before ordering and we will weigh the piece in stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich Life Rock arch do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePiece\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eLength\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWeight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePieces per box\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSmallest tank we would use it in\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/life-rock-arch-12-4pk\"\u003eLife Rock Arch 12\" 4pk\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 cm each\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 9 kg per box\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/life-rock-arch-xl-24\"\u003eLife Rock Arch XL 24\"\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e61 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 11 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e120 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/life-rock-arch-mega-36\"\u003eLife Rock Arch Mega 36\"\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e91 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot published by CaribSea\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e180 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eLength\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e36 inches (91 cm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWeight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot published by CaribSea - hand-made, varies by piece\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePieces\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOne arch\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMaterial\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAragonitic base rock, 97% calcium carbonate with trace strontium, magnesium and barium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePorosity\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproximately 50% void space\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBacteria\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpored bacteria infused using AragAlive technology\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFinish\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngineered aragonite coatings mimicking coralline algae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCuring\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot required\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMarine and reef; also suits hard alkaline freshwater such as Rift Lake tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSupplier code\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCS0397\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow much other rock will I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA mega arch is the centrepiece of a large scape, never the whole of it. The widely used guideline, and the one CaribSea's own Life Rock listings quote, is 1 lb of rock per US gallon of display volume - about 0.12 kg per litre. Tanks in the size range this arch suits work out like this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDisplay volume\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTypical tank\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTraditional total at 0.12 kg\/L\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFuller scape at 0.18 to 0.24 kg\/L\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e450 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e180 x 50 x 50 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e54 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e81 to 108 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e650 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e180 x 60 x 60 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e78 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e117 to 156 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e800 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e210 x 65 x 60 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e96 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e144 to 192 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1,000 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e240 x 70 x 60 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e120 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e180 to 240 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany large modern reefs run well under these numbers on purpose, keeping open sand for flow and for placing corals later. Treat the table as the traditional ceiling rather than a target.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003ePlacing a piece this size\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDry-fit outside the tank first, on the floor, and decide the orientation before anything is wet. Turning this arch around inside a filled tank is not realistic.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSet it on the base glass, never on the sand bed. Sand settles and burrowing fish undermine it, and a piece of this mass shifting against a glass panel is a real risk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGet two people on it and use a foam or eggcrate pad under the contact points to spread the load, particularly on acrylic or bare-bottom systems.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfirm at least three solid contact points and no rocking before you fill. Shim with flat offcuts of base rock rather than relying on sand to level it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDress sand around the base afterwards, so the arch sits on glass and the sand only looks like it is holding it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDry rock and your cycle\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLife Rock is dry rock with bacteria added, not ocean-collected live rock. That is why no curing is required - there is no collected life on it to die off and release ammonia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe spored bacteria shorten the cycle; they do not replace it. A new system still has to grow a bacterial population matched to its stocking, so dose ammonia or stock slowly and test until ammonia and nitrite both read zero.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e large marine and reef aquariums from about 180 cm; fish-heavy systems where large swimmers need a corridor rather than a wall; show tanks built around a single architectural feature; and large hard-water freshwater displays such as Malawi and Tanganyika setups.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e tanks under about 150 cm, where a 91 cm arch dominates the scape and strangles end-to-end flow; planted, blackwater, shrimp and discus systems, since calcium carbonate raises pH and hardness; and anyone after the biodiversity of collected live rock. It is not a way to skip cycling a new tank either.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCare and maintenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is no maintenance schedule for the rock. In a marine tank the engineered coating is progressively overgrown by real coralline algae, usually inside the first year, after which the piece reads as established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlow detritus out from under the span at water changes with a powerhead or a large baster. A 91 cm overhang shelters a lot of dead water, and settled detritus under it is exactly what feeds nuisance algae in a big tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCoating chips from handling are cosmetic only. The aragonite underneath colours in once coralline establishes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/south-seas-base-rock-40lb-18kg\"\u003eCaribSea South Seas Base Rock 18kg\u003c\/a\u003e - the plain bulk rock that fills out a large scape around the arch.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/life-rock-shelf-rock-40lb-18kg\"\u003eCaribSea Life Rock Shelf Rock 18kg\u003c\/a\u003e - flat plates for coral shelves either side, in the matching finish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/life-rock-mega-cave-16-x-16\"\u003eCaribSea Life Rock Mega Cave 16\" x 16\"\u003c\/a\u003e - the other oversize feature piece, if you want a cave to balance the arch.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/arag-alive-fiji-pink\"\u003eCaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink\u003c\/a\u003e - live aragonite sand to dress the base once the arch is seated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/caribsea-purple-up\"\u003eCaribSea Purple-Up\u003c\/a\u003e - calcium and strontium supplement aimed at bringing coralline over the coating sooner.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCaribSea does not publish a warranty term for Life Rock. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply regardless and are not limited by anything the manufacturer does or does not offer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an oversize, fragile, single-piece item. The Australian distributor notes that because of the fragile nature of this rock, pieces can break in transit, and a 91 cm span is the most vulnerable shape CaribSea ships. Unpack and inspect before the delivery is signed off. Given the size and the freight involved, talk to us before ordering if you want it packed or transported a particular way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big is the CaribSea Life Rock Mega Arch?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is 36 inches (91 cm) long and sold as a single arch. CaribSea does not publish a width, height or weight, because each piece is hand-made and those figures vary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat size tank does the Mega Arch suit?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 180 cm tank is the natural fit, where the arch spans about half the length. It works well in 210 cm and 240 cm tanks. At 150 cm it takes 61% of the length and only works if it is the sole structure. Below that, use the XL Arch 24\" instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow much does it weigh?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCaribSea does not publish a weight and we will not guess one. For reference, the 61 cm XL Arch runs around 11 kg. Contact us before ordering if you need the exact figure and we will weigh the piece in stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes it need curing?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. CaribSea states no curing is required. It is dry rock with no collected marine life on it, so nothing dies off and the rock releases no ammonia. The aquarium itself still needs to be cycled before stocking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eIs one Mega Arch enough rock on its own?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. In the tank sizes it suits, a traditional scape wants 54 to 120 kg of rock in total, so the arch is the feature and base rock makes up the bulk. Some large modern reefs run far less rock than that by design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill my arch look like the photograph?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Every Mega Arch is individually hand-shaped, so the profile, the thickness of the legs and the colour distribution all vary. The photograph shows the shape and finish rather than the specific piece you will receive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"CaribSea","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55293347594531,"sku":"CS0397","price":1002.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/cs0397_1725234422_thumb_b22fe900-ae42-47ab-9903-da08e4453853.png?v=1783216124","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/life-rock-arch-mega-36","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}