What exactly are Marco rocks?

jthomps123 · 12/18/2009, 09:31 PM

From what i've seen they look like faux live rock with pieces of dead coral mixed in?

Shane Hoffman · 12/18/2009, 09:39 PM

His site is pretty discriptive.

tufacody · 12/18/2009, 09:39 PM

It depends on what Marco Rock you are referring to, but none of it is manufactured.

jrp1588 · 12/18/2009, 09:41 PM

it's not a manufactured product if that's what you mean. Basically it's rock harvested from ancient coral reefs. It used to be live rock a long time ago

zero26 · 12/18/2009, 09:53 PM

Yes I have some key largo rock, very nice and its mined.

jrp1588 · 12/18/2009, 09:55 PM

I have key largo as well. Very good stuff

davocean · 12/18/2009, 09:58 PM

I saw this stuff in person at our last local club meeting, and it's pretty impressive.
It's like, if you could make the perfect reef rocks, thats what it would look like.
I've always gone w/ good cycled LR from LFS myself, but if I was to go dry, or ship rock, that would be my choice.

jrp1588 · 12/18/2009, 10:04 PM

reefcleaners.org also has some nice dry rock. Basically the same stuff. He's a tad cheaper too if you need a bunch of it.

jthomps123 · 12/18/2009, 10:05 PM

Ok I wasnt sure. Mainly because the Fiji rock doesnt look like what im used to and had seen years ago. I assume Marshall Island rock is long gone now too?

iwishtofish · 12/18/2009, 10:14 PM

I recently received my Key Largo rock, and I think it looks great. It's also super easy to aquascape. I'm eager to get it underwater and coloring up.

I'd really like to know its composition, though. I wonder if it is calcium carbonate. It has lots of holes in it, but no structural features that I can peg as having been created by corals. I also don't see any fossils in mine, or anything that even looks like it was once alive.

Aristarchus · 12/18/2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwishtofish

I recently received my Key Largo rock, and I think it looks great. It's also super easy to aquascape. I'm eager to get it underwater and coloring up.

I'd really like to know its composition, though. I wonder if it is calcium carbonate. It has lots of holes in it, but no structural features that I can peg as having been created by corals. I also don't see any fossils in mine, or anything that even looks like it was once alive.

I have about 50 lbs of Key Largo and I see chunks of shells and agates in a few pieces of the rock

iwishtofish · 12/18/2009, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aristarchus

I have about 50 lbs of Key Largo and I see chunks of shells and agates in a few pieces of the rock

Interesting...maybe I need to examine mine a bit more closely.

jimmyj7090 · 12/18/2009, 10:24 PM

Marc used to have the figi dry rock, but laws changed and importation became a problem (or something like that, I'm not speaking for marc).

Now he has a different type of rock that is also very cool, but definately different. The new rock is something like fossil rock. It's quarried instead of being picked up off the beach/shore.

www.marcorocks.com

jrp1588 · 12/18/2009, 11:05 PM

Here's a recent shot of my tank. About half of it is key largo, the other half is LR I acquired locally. It's been running for around 8 months, and is coloring up nicely

jumpingintosalt · 12/18/2009, 11:07 PM

Has anyone heard of a ban on FIGI rock? I have started to look in to alternatives and these rocks look pretty nice

iwishtofish · 12/18/2009, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrp1588

Here's a recent shot of my tank. About half of it is key largo, the other half is LR I acquired locally. It's been running for around 8 months, and is coloring up nicely

Super nice tank, jrp1588!

ScarletReef · 12/18/2009, 11:24 PM

I set up my tank about a year ago with marco rocks and they have been great. They look even more amazing when they color up too.

jrp1588 · 12/18/2009, 11:58 PM

Thanks! I love it, I just wish corals grew faster. I did planted FW aquaria for a couple years before I started reefs, so I'm used to a little more instant gratification.

eho72 · 12/19/2009, 12:25 AM

Here's my tank 6 months ago when it first started to cycle. All of the rocks are Marco's premium fiji rocks.

eho72 · 12/19/2009, 01:08 AM

Here are the rocks 4 months later. I think they look great and very natural.

bolo7735 · 12/19/2009, 06:29 AM

This my Fiji Rocks I brought from Marco Rocks. The rocks are still in the curing process.

iwishtofish · 12/19/2009, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolo7735

This my Fiji Rocks I brought from Marco Rocks. The rocks are still in the curing process.

Very nice rock, bolo7735!

Yeah, the Fiji looks a lot different - I can see coral growth patterns in it, I think. The Key Largo just looks like rock that had holes form in it through natural processes. Just seems that way to me. Still pretty - I have no regrets buying it, as long as it works well in the tank.

iwishtofish · 12/19/2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eho72

Here are the rocks 4 months later. I think they look great and very natural.

I think they look great, too! Nice tank!

mark728 · 12/19/2009, 10:07 AM

Great rock ,let them know what size rocks you want and you will get exactly what you want ,clean them very good pressure wash them and then do a vinegar soak for a couple of days ,I seeded my new tank with 2 small pieces of live rock and at 6 to 7 months it was covered with purple coraline algae .The rock from Marco that I bought was " Marco Rocks Signature Fiji" and its 100% real not man made its real reef rock it had dead crabs and sponges in it .

some pics of my Marco rock

13 months old 120 tech with Marco rock

davocean · 12/19/2009, 10:13 AM

^^^ nice!!

12/18/2009, 09:31 PM	#1
jthomps123 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: East NC Posts: 249	What exactly are Marco rocks? From what i've seen they look like faux live rock with pieces of dead coral mixed in?

12/18/2009, 09:39 PM	#2
Shane Hoffman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 45 mins from Chicago Posts: 2,009	His site is pretty discriptive. __________________ A wise man once said "Never play leap frog with a unicorn" Current Tank Info: 150 gallon glass with 20 gallon sump, 175lbs of coraline covered live rock, EuroReef skimmer rated for 250gal, 25watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Fluval FX5, Hamilton 3x250watt MH, 160 watt Blue actinic....Mixed reef

12/18/2009, 09:53 PM	#5
zero26 MoneyPit Maestro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Washington MO Posts: 1,866	Yes I have some key largo rock, very nice and its mined. __________________ 90 DT, 50 gal basement sump. Current Tank Info: LPS, SPS

12/18/2009, 09:58 PM	#7
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I saw this stuff in person at our last local club meeting, and it's pretty impressive. It's like, if you could make the perfect reef rocks, thats what it would look like. I've always gone w/ good cycled LR from LFS myself, but if I was to go dry, or ship rock, that would be my choice. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

12/18/2009, 10:24 PM	#13
jimmyj7090 aka John K Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sudbury Posts: 2,367	Marc used to have the figi dry rock, but laws changed and importation became a problem (or something like that, I'm not speaking for marc). Now he has a different type of rock that is also very cool, but definately different. The new rock is something like fossil rock. It's quarried instead of being picked up off the beach/shore. www.marcorocks.com __________________ my reef ate my wallet Current Tank Info: 57G, RBTA's Zoa's and softies

12/18/2009, 09:39 PM	#3
tufacody Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,890	It depends on what Marco Rock you are referring to, but none of it is manufactured.

12/18/2009, 09:41 PM	#4
jrp1588 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 1,864	it's not a manufactured product if that's what you mean. Basically it's rock harvested from ancient coral reefs. It used to be live rock a long time ago

12/18/2009, 09:55 PM	#6
jrp1588 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 1,864	I have key largo as well. Very good stuff

12/18/2009, 10:04 PM	#8
jrp1588 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 1,864	reefcleaners.org also has some nice dry rock. Basically the same stuff. He's a tad cheaper too if you need a bunch of it.

12/18/2009, 10:05 PM	#9
jthomps123 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: East NC Posts: 249	Ok I wasnt sure. Mainly because the Fiji rock doesnt look like what im used to and had seen years ago. I assume Marshall Island rock is long gone now too?

12/18/2009, 10:14 PM	#10
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	I recently received my Key Largo rock, and I think it looks great. It's also super easy to aquascape. I'm eager to get it underwater and coloring up. I'd really like to know its composition, though. I wonder if it is calcium carbonate. It has lots of holes in it, but no structural features that I can peg as having been created by corals. I also don't see any fossils in mine, or anything that even looks like it was once alive.

12/18/2009, 11:05 PM	#14
jrp1588 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 1,864	Here's a recent shot of my tank. About half of it is key largo, the other half is LR I acquired locally. It's been running for around 8 months, and is coloring up nicely

12/18/2009, 11:07 PM	#15
jumpingintosalt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 53	Has anyone heard of a ban on FIGI rock? I have started to look in to alternatives and these rocks look pretty nice

12/18/2009, 11:24 PM	#17
ScarletReef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 227	I set up my tank about a year ago with marco rocks and they have been great. They look even more amazing when they color up too.

12/18/2009, 11:58 PM	#18
jrp1588 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 1,864	Thanks! I love it, I just wish corals grew faster. I did planted FW aquaria for a couple years before I started reefs, so I'm used to a little more instant gratification.

12/19/2009, 12:25 AM	#19
eho72 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 322	Here's my tank 6 months ago when it first started to cycle. All of the rocks are Marco's premium fiji rocks.

12/19/2009, 01:08 AM	#20
eho72 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 322	Here are the rocks 4 months later. I think they look great and very natural.

12/19/2009, 06:29 AM	#21
bolo7735 Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1,156	This my Fiji Rocks I brought from Marco Rocks. The rocks are still in the curing process.

12/19/2009, 10:07 AM	#24
mark728 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 471	Great rock ,let them know what size rocks you want and you will get exactly what you want ,clean them very good pressure wash them and then do a vinegar soak for a couple of days ,I seeded my new tank with 2 small pieces of live rock and at 6 to 7 months it was covered with purple coraline algae .The rock from Marco that I bought was " Marco Rocks Signature Fiji" and its 100% real not man made its real reef rock it had dead crabs and sponges in it . some pics of my Marco rock 13 months old 120 tech with Marco rock __________________ 120g tech 2 X 250W Reeflux 10k, Center,400w Reeflux 20k ,GEO618,2 Vortechs/1VHO Actinic,3Ati Blue+ 54w T5,2 Fiji purp 54w T5,Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer w/purp/pinwheels,130+ lbs Marco rock,200 + lbs sand,Mag 18,Sps & Nepthea Current Tank Info: 120g TECH SPS & GREEN LEATHERS,NEPTHEA & SINULARIA Last edited by mark728; 12/19/2009 at 10:16 AM.

12/19/2009, 10:13 AM	#25
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	^^^ nice!! __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD