Florida Live Rock?

tent-tacal · 07/09/2008, 12:36 PM

what do you guys think of florida lr compared to fiji for example check it out? http://www.gulf-view.com/prem_coraline.html

little_squid · 07/09/2008, 12:40 PM

i dont like nor will buy it again to be honest
yes is will come in with more life but more bad than good imo
just very dense rock

bubbas12 · 07/09/2008, 01:35 PM

I bought about 50 lbs of Florida Live Rock, and live sand from www.sealifeinc.net.

They are located in Key Largo and and I visited their shop to hand pick my rock for my reef tank.

The rock is loaded with feather dusters, coralline algae, and all kinds of life.

Yes I did wind up with a really cool pistol shrimp and a small mantis. Some people say that these kinds of hitch hikers are bad, but I am very pleased with the life and character of my tank.

I would certainly order Florida Live Rock again.

twoodall · 07/09/2008, 01:52 PM

The hitch hikers are the very reason I haven't ordered any Florida live rock, my tank is fairly new and I really don't need a steep learning curve. :-)

little_squid · 07/09/2008, 01:56 PM

spend the extra money and get some good fiji rock you will be happier

abulgin · 07/09/2008, 01:58 PM

In Anthony Calfo's book, Reef Invertebrates, he discusses the pros and cons of Florida Aquacultured Rock and generally recommends Pacific "wild" rock over aquacultured rock. First, as stated above, the rock is very dense--they dig up tons of rock from some Caribbean Island and dump it in the Gulf of Mexico to cook for 5-10 years. Rock harvested from land is not the same as rock harvested from the reefs. Contrary to claims, aquacultured rock is not environmentally friendly as compared to Pacific rock. As stated, they're digging up islands, and destroying ecosystems not only by destroying the land but also by smothering whatever lives in the Gulf. Another misconception is that harvesting Pacific rock destroys the reefs. Anthony states that almost all Pacific rock is collected after it's been broken off the reef naturally (storms, etc.). Pacific rock is much more porous and, thus, much better as a bio-filter. Pound for pound, you'll get more, and better, rock if you buy Pacific.

Now, for the pro, or I should say pro. The transit time for Fla aquacultured rock is very short and it doesn't sit on some rack in a warehouse in Fiji, so you have very little die-off which is why this rock comes covered in Coralline algae and loaded with great life.

I have 2 or 3 pieces of Fla rock in my tank. It did come loaded with lots of algae, small stony corals, etc., but honestly all of that has either been eaten by my fish or died off. Also, I notice that the Fla rock tends to attract cyanobacteria, whereas my Pacific rock has none.

Given all of the above, if I were going to stock a tank full of rock, I would opt for Pacific rock.

twoodall · 07/09/2008, 02:03 PM

Very good explanation abulgin!

07/09/2008, 12:36 PM	#1
tent-tacal Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: west palm Posts: 148	Florida Live Rock? what do you guys think of florida lr compared to fiji for example check it out? http://www.gulf-view.com/prem_coraline.html

07/09/2008, 01:52 PM	#4
twoodall Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Marianna, FL Posts: 201	The hitch hikers are the very reason I haven't ordered any Florida live rock, my tank is fairly new and I really don't need a steep learning curve. :-) __________________ Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop drinking coffee..... Current Tank Info: 150 gallon, 3-150w MH, 4 96w Actinic, 4 Lunar Blue Moon Glow LEDs, Aquac EV180 skimmer w/ mag7, Mag18 return pump, 3 #4 Koralia, 250# LR, 3" Live Sand Bed, 55 G sump/fuge

07/09/2008, 02:03 PM	#7
twoodall Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Marianna, FL Posts: 201	Very good explanation abulgin! __________________ Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop drinking coffee..... Current Tank Info: 150 gallon, 3-150w MH, 4 96w Actinic, 4 Lunar Blue Moon Glow LEDs, Aquac EV180 skimmer w/ mag7, Mag18 return pump, 3 #4 Koralia, 250# LR, 3" Live Sand Bed, 55 G sump/fuge

07/09/2008, 12:40 PM	#2
little_squid Moved On Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: joliet,il Posts: 2,395	i dont like nor will buy it again to be honest yes is will come in with more life but more bad than good imo just very dense rock

07/09/2008, 01:35 PM	#3
bubbas12 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 11	I bought about 50 lbs of Florida Live Rock, and live sand from www.sealifeinc.net. They are located in Key Largo and and I visited their shop to hand pick my rock for my reef tank. The rock is loaded with feather dusters, coralline algae, and all kinds of life. Yes I did wind up with a really cool pistol shrimp and a small mantis. Some people say that these kinds of hitch hikers are bad, but I am very pleased with the life and character of my tank. I would certainly order Florida Live Rock again.

07/09/2008, 01:56 PM	#5
little_squid Moved On Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: joliet,il Posts: 2,395	spend the extra money and get some good fiji rock you will be happier

07/09/2008, 01:58 PM	#6
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	In Anthony Calfo's book, Reef Invertebrates, he discusses the pros and cons of Florida Aquacultured Rock and generally recommends Pacific "wild" rock over aquacultured rock. First, as stated above, the rock is very dense--they dig up tons of rock from some Caribbean Island and dump it in the Gulf of Mexico to cook for 5-10 years. Rock harvested from land is not the same as rock harvested from the reefs. Contrary to claims, aquacultured rock is not environmentally friendly as compared to Pacific rock. As stated, they're digging up islands, and destroying ecosystems not only by destroying the land but also by smothering whatever lives in the Gulf. Another misconception is that harvesting Pacific rock destroys the reefs. Anthony states that almost all Pacific rock is collected after it's been broken off the reef naturally (storms, etc.). Pacific rock is much more porous and, thus, much better as a bio-filter. Pound for pound, you'll get more, and better, rock if you buy Pacific. Now, for the pro, or I should say pro. The transit time for Fla aquacultured rock is very short and it doesn't sit on some rack in a warehouse in Fiji, so you have very little die-off which is why this rock comes covered in Coralline algae and loaded with great life. I have 2 or 3 pieces of Fla rock in my tank. It did come loaded with lots of algae, small stony corals, etc., but honestly all of that has either been eaten by my fish or died off. Also, I notice that the Fla rock tends to attract cyanobacteria, whereas my Pacific rock has none. Given all of the above, if I were going to stock a tank full of rock, I would opt for Pacific rock.