Real saltwater and live rock. PLS advise

thebradybunch · 12/11/2007, 07:58 PM

I just set up a 72 gallon bowfront and am brand new to this awesome hobby. I started my tank this week with live sand but have ran out of money to buy live rock right now. Here's my question. I live 2-3 hours from the beach. I know if I drove to the beach and brought back live rock I would have to cure it but that doesn't seem too bad. Are there other issues I need to be aware of or this just a bad idea?

Thank you

demonsp · 12/11/2007, 08:04 PM

If you use anything from sand to LR from the ocean never get it from the shore. You need to go out away from the beach. The beach is the oceans filter and is not very clean or healthy for your system.
The key is control. Controlling all aspects helps you narrow down problems as avoiding any problems.
I think its illegal in any state to remove rock from reefs and most LR collected is from storms that have broke off pieces or man made rock thats cured in the ocean legally.

bertoni · 12/11/2007, 08:24 PM

Collecting live rock is illegal in the US, but not everywhere in the world. I agree with avoiding live rock collected on most beaches, due to the pollution issue.

Aquarist007 · 12/11/2007, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
Collecting live rock is illegal in the US, but not everywhere in the world. I agree with avoiding live rock collected on most beaches, due to the pollution issue.

I was just going to add then when he asked what else he should be looking out for----the state troopers--aka live rock patrollers

the live rock and substrate for the basis for your filtration system for the life of your tank. buy good quality live rock and good argonite sand.
If you can't afford the live rock yet---then don't add anything to the tank either until you can afford to buy the live rock.

Aquarist007 · 12/11/2007, 08:58 PM

btw---there are lots of deals around on live rock--esp right now--there is also the buy and sell adds etc
I have over 250 lbs of live rock----I probably only bought from the dealer--around 75 lbs of it.

CarmieJo · 12/11/2007, 09:01 PM

You can also use base rock and "seed" it with live rock.

thebradybunch · 12/11/2007, 09:09 PM

Thanks everyone for your help and advise. I have a base set up now of about 50lbs of Fiji rock but it has been out of the water for a long time so it is dead now but makes a good looking base.

12/11/2007, 07:58 PM	#1
thebradybunch Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Greensboro,NC Posts: 351	Real saltwater and live rock. PLS advise I just set up a 72 gallon bowfront and am brand new to this awesome hobby. I started my tank this week with live sand but have ran out of money to buy live rock right now. Here's my question. I live 2-3 hours from the beach. I know if I drove to the beach and brought back live rock I would have to cure it but that doesn't seem too bad. Are there other issues I need to be aware of or this just a bad idea? Thank you

12/11/2007, 08:24 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Collecting live rock is illegal in the US, but not everywhere in the world. I agree with avoiding live rock collected on most beaches, due to the pollution issue. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/11/2007, 08:58 PM	#5
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	btw---there are lots of deals around on live rock--esp right now--there is also the buy and sell adds etc I have over 250 lbs of live rock----I probably only bought from the dealer--around 75 lbs of it. __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

12/11/2007, 09:01 PM	#6
CarmieJo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NC Posts: 390	You can also use base rock and "seed" it with live rock. __________________ Carmie Only disasters happen fast! Current Tank Info: 54 gal AGA corner tank with a Solaris LED fixture; NanoCube 24

12/11/2007, 09:09 PM	#7
thebradybunch Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Greensboro,NC Posts: 351	Thanks everyone for your help and advise. I have a base set up now of about 50lbs of Fiji rock but it has been out of the water for a long time so it is dead now but makes a good looking base. Last edited by thebradybunch; 12/11/2007 at 09:19 PM.

12/11/2007, 08:04 PM	#2
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	If you use anything from sand to LR from the ocean never get it from the shore. You need to go out away from the beach. The beach is the oceans filter and is not very clean or healthy for your system. The key is control. Controlling all aspects helps you narrow down problems as avoiding any problems. I think its illegal in any state to remove rock from reefs and most LR collected is from storms that have broke off pieces or man made rock thats cured in the ocean legally.