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05/10/2011, 11:04 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 465
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live rock hitchhikers
I am setting up a new 125 gal FOWLR tank.
I am trying to figure out what I want to do for rock. the last tank we used 75 LBS of well established rock from the LFS for $5 per LB (this rock is a mix of different stuff) on this tank we are trying to figure out what to do. I was thinking about buying rock online as a possibility as well we tossed around the idea of dead rock as well as live rock one thing that I love about rock is hitchhikers and I was wondering what you could tell me to expect if I ordered uncured rock online in terms of hitchhikers VS the occasional emerald crab and pistol shrimp that hitched from the LFS established rock. |
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05/10/2011, 11:31 PM
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#2 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 253
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Mostly nuisance crabs, feather dusters, bristle worms, maybe a micro brittle starfish.
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05/10/2011, 11:41 PM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 465
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would I be better off just going with the established rock from my LFS?
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05/11/2011, 05:06 AM
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#4 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: West Hartford, CT
Posts: 100
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How much is cost a factor? I'd say local is the superior choice if quality is your only consideration.
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CUC: 2 nas, 2 cerith, 2 bumble bee, 1 blue hermit, 1 stomatella Stock: zoas, palys, kenya tree, shrooms, candy cane, blasto, xenia, gsp, monti Current Tank Info: BC8 est. 9/2010, chambers: 70w +LR, fuge w/ floss +cheato +chemipure elite, M606 +hydor flo |
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05/11/2011, 06:07 AM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Coastal Georgia
Posts: 269
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I purchased fresh from the ocean live rock and I have to say I am happy with my hitchhikers take a look
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1991764 |
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05/11/2011, 06:59 AM
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#6 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Brunswick, Ohio
Posts: 3,306
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I think it's always a possibility to get a bad hitchhiker from any live rock. I used mostly dry rock in my tank and only got 2 live rocks. On those 2 live rocks, I got a bad crab and some pistol shrimp not to mention byprosis algae. It just depends on what you would prefer. I'm sure if I got more live rock, I could have gotten plenty more hitch hikers, whether good or bad. It's really up to you. I hear you get some pretty nice hitchhikers from tampa bay saltwater live rock, but then again some people get some mantis shrimp as well.
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equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon |
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05/11/2011, 10:28 AM
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#7 |
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cats and large squashes
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The fresh "uncured" live rock is probably likely to have more hitchhikers, but like Lynn said, they can come in on any LR. My personal preference is to avoid Florida rock because I would rather not bother trying to catch a mantis, which is pretty common on Florida rock. Crabs are easier to catch in my experience.
That's not to say that rock from other locations is guaranteed to be mantis free, of course. I'm inclined to buy rock from the LFS so I can pick and choose the pieces. I've also used some manmade rock because it had some cool swim throughs.
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Marie So long, & thanks for all the fish! __________________________ Current Tank Info: Pairs: flame angels, cherub angels, Red Sea mimic blennies, yellow fin fairy wrasses, clowns, mandarins, blackcap basslets, shrimp gobies, damsels, dispar anthias, yellow clown gobies, threadfin cardinals --- Tanks: 100g reef, 2 x 30g refugiums |
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05/11/2011, 10:58 AM
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#8 | |
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Moved On
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 14,854
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Quote:
I like to cherry pick too. It's fairly easy to avoid some of the nasties if you know what to look out for. |
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05/11/2011, 12:50 PM
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#9 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 465
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the LFS never does sound happy when they hear about the critters that hitchhike in their rock... since it's the same critters they sell lol
I was delighted to discover my tiger pistol shrimp as well as my emerald crab. the problem is my LFS rock is a mix of all different types of rock and none of it matches it also doesn't stack worth a crap |
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05/11/2011, 12:54 PM
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#10 |
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cats and large squashes
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if you haven't already tried this, a good trick is to find out when they're getting the rock in and get there before it's picked over.
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Marie So long, & thanks for all the fish! __________________________ Current Tank Info: Pairs: flame angels, cherub angels, Red Sea mimic blennies, yellow fin fairy wrasses, clowns, mandarins, blackcap basslets, shrimp gobies, damsels, dispar anthias, yellow clown gobies, threadfin cardinals --- Tanks: 100g reef, 2 x 30g refugiums |
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05/11/2011, 04:04 PM
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#11 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 69
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I always liked the maricultured live rock I bought online vs what I've seen at any LFS, although I did need to remove some mantis shrimp.
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