Live Rock

[Deb91]

Hello! This is my first post,never mind my first time typing on a forum.My guestion is where I can get about 50 lbs. of live rock.If anyone knows where I can buy some good rock at a reasonable price could you let me know?I called my local LPS and they sold it for $7.99.Any help would be appreciated.I looked on line but don't know what sites are good or bad. Thanks for any help, Deb 91

[barbra]

Welcome to Reef Central

I would go to Tampa Bay saltwater. Their live rock has actually got living things on it.

[daven]

There's a lot of places. It will get confusing because there are so many different types available. Here are a couple to start you off.

www.tampabaysaltwater.com
www.reeferrocks.com
www.livestockusa.com

Good luck.

[pikachusalad]

To Reef Central

[pikachusalad]

I was extremely pleased with the live rock I ordered from Premium Aquatics. If you call them, they can tell you what they have at that time, they can make recommendations, and they will try to find what you are looking for.

Also, my rock came in big pieces, no bad smell, excellent shapes, no bad hitchikers.

[Deb91]

Thank you for the welcome!Tampabaysaltwater is out if I have to go to the airport,and it's to expensive via ground.Daven I checked the other sites you posted but they didn't work.Mike the rock I liked at Premium Aquatics was too expensive for me.I saw some Figi rock on sale at Ocean Pro Aquatics for $1.99. Anyone know about that site.Is it a good deal or hunk of junk? Any help would be appreciated!

[pikachusalad]

I was all ready to buy Marshall from Premium Aquatics - after talking to the guy on the phone, he said the Fiji they had at the time was really good, and he'd recommend it over the Marshall...blah blah - anyway - it is worth calling them.

I don't know about Ocean Pro, but here are some threads...seems there are mixed opinions.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...n+pro+aquatics

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...n+pro+aquatics

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...n+pro+aquatics

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...n+pro+aquatics

[Deb91]

Thanks pikachusalad,I appreciate the treads.I guess everyone has their own opinions and experinces! Could you let me no if you come across some rock that you find? Anyone else who bought any live rock lately that is nice and not to expencive? I would like about 50 lbs. thanks.....

[bmcq]

How big is your tank and how long has it been set up? Do you have anything in the tank now? Depending on these questions you may be able to start with base rock and then add a few select pieces of live to seed the base.

[natejonesis]

I'm with bmcq. You want a good amount of live rock to start the tank and provide life, but you can reduce cost ...(if that's a concern based on your 7.99 comment) .... by using some dry rock as well. They will become live over time.

[Chibils]

pacificeastaquaculture.com's lr is on sale last time I checked, and from the reviews I've seen, it gets better reviews than anything else I've seen around here.

[Deb91]

It's all taken down now.Long story ,was ill for a long time. I had fish only but would love to have rock.It's 46 gallon bow

[pikachusalad]

Originally posted by Chibils
pacificeastaquaculture.com's lr is on sale last time I checked, and from the reviews I've seen, it gets better reviews than anything else I've seen around here.

I have not bought rock from Pacific East, but I've bought coral, and I will definitely do business with them again. Everything I ordered was great, and I even got a phone call from them to make sure everything arrived OK and was doing well.

I know that doesn't help specifically with live rock, but in my opinion, this is a good company...and as of right now, their hand picked Fiji Premium is 2.98/lb (reg 4.79) and Tonga Nuku Fusion is 3.98 (reg 5.99)...

Tempted to order some myself...

[aupilot]

I would go with www.wholesaleaquaticsupplies.com . I purchased rock from them not too long ago and can tell you it was better than any other rock that i have purchased. They have Ultra Premium for $3.75 / lb and Super for $2.24 I bought the Ultra and can tell you that it was so fresh I still could smell the ocean. They air cargoed it to me and I got it next day in Atlanta. They told me it had only been out of the ocean 1 day.

[jim70]

I purchase mine from dr. foster and smith and it was perfect size and lots of good hitchhikers

[jeffreyr]

I purchased my live rock from Premium Aquatics. Would highly recommend.

[Turbovinny]

Deb, Sea Creatures in Revere sells cured rocks for 5 bucks a lb, when u add shipping its cheaper to buy it from them and you get to cherry pick them. they also have dry base rock for 1.99 a lb

[pikachusalad]

There are advantages to buying cured rock locally if possible, considerably less die-off compared to having them shipped, you get to pick the rocks you like, etc.

The rock that was available to me locally (at the time I was buying rock) was 9.99 / lb, boring, and infested with aptasia anemones.

I was in the 2-day ground zone for Premium Aquatics, so shipping was only $15.88. At 40lbs or more, prices go down, so I got 40 lbs of cured Fiji for $4/lb. Total with Shipping was $175.88. The rock was CONSIDERABLY better than anything I could have gotten locally, great shapes, no smell at all, and there was only a small 1 day mini-cycle in my "curing vat". There were no aptasias, no mantis shrimp. There was one small colony of four tiny hydroids which were very easy to deal with. There was not a lot of coralline when I got the rocks, as I would expect from fully cured rock, but now there are about 15 different colors of coralline growing all over it.

Anyway...I would have paid $399.60 plus tax for the same amount locally.

So for me...the choice was clear.

[K' Family Reef]

Originally posted by Deb91
Hello! This is my first post,never mind my first time typing on a forum.My guestion is where I can get about 50 lbs. of live rock.If anyone knows where I can buy some good rock at a reasonable price could you let me know?I called my local LPS and they sold it for $7.99.Any help would be appreciated.I looked on line but don't know what sites are good or bad. Thanks for any help, Deb 91

havent read thru this entire thread yet

encourage you to buy it used if you want to save some cash!
(espec considering all the other purch it takes to get started reefing)

try craigslist.org for city near you
or backpage.com
newspaper
for sale here on RC
local reef clubs etc

i purchased all my LR from other reefers
basically over 300# of LR havent spent more then 300 total on all of it - and its a good variety...

there are some risks to doing this way
just be sure to QT and to get familiar w/ what to look out for regarding PESTS that came infest our tanks etc

[Ryeseedboy]

I had made a purchase from a seller of Ocean Pro and I have to tell you I am deeply disappointed. I paid "Top-Dollar" for what they had to offer (best of the best) and it took 2 months, a wrong 1st delivery, and then a final delivery that what no where close to what I expected from thier site or from the discussions that I had from them. I would try another supplier that is mentioned here as long as there are positive feelings about the order. In the future I WILL NOT buy from OceanPro...

[Deb91]

Hello, Thanks to all that gave me Ideas but now my head is spinning!When they say air cargo does that mean I have to pick it up at the airport? Also I wanted to ask if I went with base and live rock what would be a good ratio for a 46 gal tank?Thanks so much for the help!!

[Ryeseedboy]

Hi Deb, Yes when they say air cargo that would be delivered to the cargo area of an airport near you. You would need to go and pick it up. It is the best (and cheapest) way for an overnight delivery. Plus you do not want more die off than is going to happen anyway. so the quickest way to get it back in water the best.

[Deb91]

Well that stinks! I am not well enough to go to the airport in Boston so I guess that means air cargo is out. Thanks anyway for your time!

[Red Firefish]

Something to consider about mail ordering live rock, especially at dirt cheap prices, is that it's going to have to be cured (usually even the ones that say "cured" on the website). Doing it right involves lots of water changes, scrubbing the rock, and several weeks of waiting before you can put in anything exciting. Plus, the added nutrients (nitrate, phosphate, and organics) from curing can manifest themselves long after the process is finished, especially in a tank with a sandbed. Basically, curing rock is a dirty and labor-intensive job. If you factor in the cost of shipping, gas to get to air cargo, the salt for all those water changes, and the time involved, many people don't save as much money as they think they will.

Not that hobbyists don't have success with curing live rock, because many do. And some people just dig having a project. For a small tank like yours though, it may be worth avoiding the hassle and just paying for pre-cured live rock from the store. You'd be able to pick pieces that look nice to you, only get the pieces you want, and you can start buying animals right away, in a day or so rather than a month or so. That is, of course, assuming your LFS is offering quality cured rock. Good luck!

[Jocephus]

Do you have a local reef club? Have you looked on craigslist? Both usually better quality, and cheaper...

Joe

PS- If that doesn't work, I always buy from Dr Mac

www.pacificeastaquaculture.com