Best live rock?

airtime23 · 02/25/2014, 12:26 AM

Anyone have any recommendations for great quality live rock?

How is the live rock from Walt Smith (Fiji)?

Any recommendations would be much appreciated!

Thanks.

Speed · 02/25/2014, 12:43 AM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=213

I will be ordering a "package" from them this spring for my 125g

airtime23 · 02/25/2014, 01:16 AM

The only concern is that that particular rock looks like it has quite a bit of macroalgae on it. That's not a look that I want, personally. I've had a tank before and it was hard to keep the growth under control. Even if I manually removed it, it always grew back.

dkeller_nc · 02/25/2014, 08:12 AM

FYI - "Walt Smith Premium LR" is man-made concretion that's put in the ocean for a while. If you're going to pay for LR, I'd strongly suggest that you avoid anything where the actual substrate is man-made, including the Walt Smith product and the so-called "Real Reef Rock".

The aquacultured material from the gulf is actually natural rock, and is a high quality product.

shifty51008 · 02/25/2014, 08:14 AM

totoka was and still is my fav.

clay12340 · 02/25/2014, 08:23 AM

The best live rock is probably whatever has the look you want, meets your filtration needs, and has the bio diversity level that you're comfortable with.

If you're really concerned about hitch hikers, then probably dry rock that you let mature from a clean piece of seed rock. Then keep up really strong quarantine practices to reduce chance of future infestations.

If you like seeing tons of diversity, then I don't think you can beat the aquacultured rock from the gulf. The amount of life on that stuff is amazing and it is shipped in water to prevent a lot of the die off.

If you've got a specific aquascaping plan in mind, then you'll need to find the type of rock that meets your vision or make it yourself.

airtime23 · 02/25/2014, 02:01 PM

Which type of rock has the most different shapes, like arches or holes? What I don't want is just a big bunch of similar rock resembling small boulders.

ReefNate · 02/25/2014, 02:04 PM

Shifty where did you get that totoka from?

shifty51008 · 02/25/2014, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefNate

Shifty where did you get that totoka from?

Aquatic technology

The nice thing about this rock besides the shape is when i received it it came directly to me from the collection site, didnt sit around in a holding vat. It did take a couple weeks to get as they had to line the order up with when they collected it though. Worth the wait though imo.

ReefNate · 02/25/2014, 02:22 PM

Thanks I think ill be picking up some of this along with some tonga shelf for my next build. How many pounds did you use in you 75?

shifty51008 · 02/25/2014, 02:42 PM

I ordered 100lbs but only about 50 lbs went into the display as it is light rock so you gey more than you think. Ill post a pic of what the 50-60 lbs looked like when i first set it up when i get home.

shifty51008 · 02/25/2014, 03:24 PM

this pic was just a rough aquascape.

clay12340 · 02/25/2014, 03:36 PM

That is some nice looking rock, but Oct 17th is when it is available again according to the site. That's quite the wait.

02/25/2014, 12:26 AM	#1
airtime23 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Charlotte Posts: 488	Best live rock? Anyone have any recommendations for great quality live rock? How is the live rock from Walt Smith (Fiji)? Any recommendations would be much appreciated! Thanks.

02/25/2014, 12:43 AM	#2
Speed Unregister Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Outside of Philly Posts: 195	http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=213 I will be ordering a "package" from them this spring for my 125g __________________ Good Things Happen Slowly..... Bad Things Happen Fast! Current Tank Info: Slowest 125g build in history

02/25/2014, 01:16 AM	#3
airtime23 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Charlotte Posts: 488	The only concern is that that particular rock looks like it has quite a bit of macroalgae on it. That's not a look that I want, personally. I've had a tank before and it was hard to keep the growth under control. Even if I manually removed it, it always grew back. __________________ Left hand, right hand. It doesn't matter. I'm amphibious. Current Tank Info: 20g (long) reef, PC lighting, skimmer, 4 fish, lots of LR, shooms, zoos, colt, leather, toadstool, hammer, torch, frogspawn, cleaner shrimp, hermits, & snails

02/25/2014, 08:14 AM	#5
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	totoka was and still is my fav. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

02/25/2014, 02:42 PM	#11
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	I ordered 100lbs but only about 50 lbs went into the display as it is light rock so you gey more than you think. Ill post a pic of what the 50-60 lbs looked like when i first set it up when i get home. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

02/25/2014, 08:12 AM	#4
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	FYI - "Walt Smith Premium LR" is man-made concretion that's put in the ocean for a while. If you're going to pay for LR, I'd strongly suggest that you avoid anything where the actual substrate is man-made, including the Walt Smith product and the so-called "Real Reef Rock". The aquacultured material from the gulf is actually natural rock, and is a high quality product.

02/25/2014, 08:23 AM	#6
clay12340 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Bloomington, Indiana Posts: 312	The best live rock is probably whatever has the look you want, meets your filtration needs, and has the bio diversity level that you're comfortable with. If you're really concerned about hitch hikers, then probably dry rock that you let mature from a clean piece of seed rock. Then keep up really strong quarantine practices to reduce chance of future infestations. If you like seeing tons of diversity, then I don't think you can beat the aquacultured rock from the gulf. The amount of life on that stuff is amazing and it is shipped in water to prevent a lot of the die off. If you've got a specific aquascaping plan in mind, then you'll need to find the type of rock that meets your vision or make it yourself.

02/25/2014, 02:01 PM	#7
airtime23 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Charlotte Posts: 488	Which type of rock has the most different shapes, like arches or holes? What I don't want is just a big bunch of similar rock resembling small boulders.

02/25/2014, 02:04 PM	#8
ReefNate Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 45	Shifty where did you get that totoka from?

02/25/2014, 02:22 PM	#10
ReefNate Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 45	Thanks I think ill be picking up some of this along with some tonga shelf for my next build. How many pounds did you use in you 75?

02/25/2014, 03:24 PM	#12
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	this pic was just a rough aquascape. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

02/25/2014, 03:36 PM	#13
clay12340 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Bloomington, Indiana Posts: 312	That is some nice looking rock, but Oct 17th is when it is available again according to the site. That's quite the wait.